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RENTAL BASICS
String instruments are available to rent at many local music stores. I recommend staying away from online rental offers; renting from a local shop is preferred as they will easily handle any necessary repairs. Many students start out on rental, or school instruments. Lots of music shops have a "rent-to-own" policy in their rental contracts, meaning that for the first "x" amount of months that you rent, "x%" of your monthly payment will be credited to your account and that amount will be discounted from the price if/when you decide to stop renting and purchase an instrument. Typically, there is a stipulation that after one to two years, the rent-to-own credit stops accumulating (varies by shop). Rental instruments can cost anywhere from $25 to $100 per month, depending on the instrument (violin, cello, bass), shop, and quality of the instrument. Rentals normally provide: instrument, bow, instrument case, rosin (sometimes cleaning cloth, or instrument case straps).
For violin and violas, a shoulder rest will likely NOT be included with your rental. Violas, be careful that you purchase a shoulder rest that will fit the specific size of your instrument. Finding the right shoulder rest / chin rest combination for you can take time, but here are some links for shoulder rests that I recommend:
For cellos and basses, your rental may or may not come with an "endpin stopper." An endpin stopper is something that you place between the endpin of your instrument, and the floor. This can have multiple purposes. First, if the floor where you're playing is made of wood, you may not want to damage the wood. Second, the floor where you're playing may be slippery and the endpin stopper will help hold your instrument in place easily and safely. Here are links to some endpin stoppers that I recommend:
for basses: https://shorturl.at/Ka5g3
HOW DO I KNOW IF RENTING IS FOR ME? RENTING VS BUYING
1. Violin and violas can often be found for purchase for more affordable prices than cellos and bases.
If you/your student play the violin or viola and money is tight, you can often find affordable instruments on websites like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp. I've purchased violins on Facebook for $50, $200, and $300. Do check the instrument upon pick up to make sure that it's playable, has all necessary components (instrument, strings, bridge, tailpiece, fine tuners, endpin, chinrest, case, bow), no cracks, has reasonable action (distance between the strings and fingerboard should not be too high), and is of decent quality (try and avoid bright orange, bright read, or non-natural wood colors like black, purple; look for wood grain).
2. In a music shop, the cost of an instrument for purchase can range dramatically. Violins typically start at around $650; violas typically start at $750; cellos typically start at $1,300; basses typically start at $1,900. (I got these prices from the Kamimoto website.)
3. When purchasing an instrument from a local music store, only the instrument itself is for sale. You should also plan to purchase a bow and instrument case. Occasionally, the shop may sell the "full package" including the bow, case, etc. for a decent bow, look to spend at least $200. Carbon fiber bows will be less prone to breaking.
4. When it comes to bowed string instruments, there is NO advantage to buying a brand new instrument, buying used is normal. As long as the instrument is in good condition, a used instrument is just as good as a new instruments.
5. Some families chose to rent at first while their student figures out what role music will play in their life long term. If so, families may then chose to purchase a nicer instrument at a higher price point, rather than a cheap beginner/student instrument.
6. Renting is more common for basses and cellos, however, cellos and bases can still be found online on websites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for prices that beat in store.
7. If purchasing a used instrument from a website like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, plan to take it to your teacher or a local shop to have them check it out, and also plan to potentially spend a little more on things like: bow rehair, new strings, new bridge, etc.
8. If you chose to purchase to avoid a monthly bill, know that you can always upgrade your instrument later. Sometimes when upgrading, trading in or selling your previous instrument is also an option.
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