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Choosing and Instrument
Choosing and Instrument
As a parent of a new stringed instrument student, you may have some questions about purchasing versus leasing an instrument. Perhaps you have seen instruments available at stores such as Costco or Wal-Mart. You may have checked Internet instrument sales sites to see if any instruments might be available. When choosing an instrument for your child, please select a quality instrument in order to ensure that your child will have a successful beginning experience. Please look for the following when choosing an instrument:
As a parent of a new stringed instrument student, you may have some questions about purchasing versus leasing an instrument. Perhaps you have seen instruments available at stores such as Costco or Wal-Mart. You may have checked Internet instrument sales sites to see if any instruments might be available. When choosing an instrument for your child, please select a quality instrument in order to ensure that your child will have a successful beginning experience. Please look for the following when choosing an instrument:
*An appropriately sized instrument. Please check the size that was indicated on your child’s leasing form.
*An instrument that has been professionally adjusted in the United States.
*Working tuning pegs and four fine tuners.
*Fittings such as the nut, fingerboard and tailpiece made of ebony, not painted black wood. Avoid instruments with fittings labeled Ebonized.
*Instruments made from spruce or maple, not plywood or particle board.
*A fiberglass, brazilwood, or composite bow with horsehair. Cherrywood bows are not acceptable.
Purchase or lease?
Purchase or lease?
We recommend leasing an instrument until your child is ready for a full size instrument. Instruments smaller than full size are very difficult to resell. Lease agreements usually come with a maintenance and repair clause; costs for maintenance and repair is almost always covered by your rental agreement and can be facilitated by the leasing representative. If you purchase an instrument, it will be your responsibility to take care of all maintenance and repair.
We recommend leasing an instrument until your child is ready for a full size instrument. Instruments smaller than full size are very difficult to resell. Lease agreements usually come with a maintenance and repair clause; costs for maintenance and repair is almost always covered by your rental agreement and can be facilitated by the leasing representative. If you purchase an instrument, it will be your responsibility to take care of all maintenance and repair.
Brands to choose:
Brands to choose:
*Eastman or Shen (can be leased from Zeswitz )
*Meisel or Scherl and Roth (older brands that can be found as good used instruments)
*Shar (can be ordered from www.sharmusic.com; consult your child's teacher before purchasing)
*Southwest Strings (can be ordered from www.southweststrings.com; consult your child's teacher before purchasing)
Please avoid these characteristics when choosing an instrument:
Please avoid these characteristics when choosing an instrument:
*“Colorful” instruments i.e. pink, blue, green, black. These instruments are made from a very poor quality of “wood” such as plywood or particle board.
*Internet instruments where the shipping charges exceed the costs of the instrument.
*Instruments that need to have bridges or strings installed upon purchase.
DO NOT PURCHASE THE FOLLOWING BRANDS OF INSTRUMENTS:
DO NOT PURCHASE THE FOLLOWING BRANDS OF INSTRUMENTS:
*Anything sold by Costco or Wal-Mart.
*Lark, Skylark, Bellafina, Palatino (older models of poorer quality instruments found at yard sales and flea markets; not suitable for student use
*Mendini, Cecilio, Cremona, Crescent, Ohuhu, Glory, ADM, Mugig Fiddle (all sold by Amazon; none of them are acceptable for student use)
Saving money up front on a deal that's "too good to be true" will most likely end up costing you more money in the long run. Poor quality instruments have often required $200-300 in repairs to make them playable.
Saving money up front on a deal that's "too good to be true" will most likely end up costing you more money in the long run. Poor quality instruments have often required $200-300 in repairs to make them playable.
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