FAQs

Good quality instruments are a significant investment, and so it makes sense to 'try out' an instrument by hiring for a time before making the financial commitment to buy, regardless of the age of the player.

For children there is even more reason. Violins, violas and cellos come in a range of sizes, and children need to upsize regularly as they grow. On average, a child will be on a given size instrument for around 18 months, but depending on the unpredictable timing of growth spurts, this may be as much as 3 years, or as little as 6 months. This means hiring is more convenient and cost effective for most families.  At 4Strings, upsizing can take place at any time, you don't need to wait until the end of the hire term. 

When players have grown enough to use a full sized instrument, it makes sense to purchase one. Having the opportunity to try before you buy takes the risk out of buying. 4Strings offers this through the hire-purchase option that allows the purchase of a hired instrument after at least one hire term.

Unlike many instruments, violins, violas and cellos come in a range of sizes that young musicians move through as they grow, and it is important to have the right size, particularly as players advance. 

In person sizing is best, but where this is not possible, you can use a violin, viola or cello sizing chart. There are many available online, and they all differ slightly, particularly for smaller sizes where instrument sizes are less uniform between brands. Fractional size Suzuki instruments, for example, may be a whole size smaller than a comparable instrument made in Germany. If you are borderline between two sizes, it is usually recommended to start with a smaller instrument. Where possible, consult your tutor before choosing a size, or check the chart estimate when you collect your instrument.

At 4Strings, upsizing can take place at any time, you don't need to wait until the end of the hire term.  

Usually the same bond and hire fee will apply across size changes, but occasionally a larger instrument will have a higher hire or bond fee. In this case the new fee will be applied from the next term.

While we endeavour to have instruments in each size available on hand,  we are not able to guarantee we will always have all sizes available. In the unusual situation that we are not able to provide the size you need immediately, every effort will be made to source a suitable instrument as quickly as possible. 

Hire instruments may be purchased after at least one hire period  (1 school term, or 3 months). If you choose to purchase, the bond and one term's hire fees can be credited to your purchase. 

Many people decide to purchase when they've grown into a full sized instrument and no longer need to upsize. 4Strings has a range of full size instruments suitable for intermediate and advancing students, and offers the option to purchase an instrument of your choice after at least one hire term. Choosing to purchase in this way gives you the opportunity to try the instrument over a few months, and ensure you and your tutor are happy with it before committing.  This takes the risk out of buying a second-hand instrument,  which may require unexpected and expensive repairs, parts, or further set-up to get it into good working order, and usually allows a better quality instrument to be purchased for a given price than if buying a new instrument.

The standard hire period is a school term (for school students), or 3 months. Shorter periods are also possible by special arrangement.

Hire by school term includes the holiday period after the term, only if hiring is continuing into the subsequent term or a special arrangement has been made. Otherwise you will be charged the subsequent term hire fee. E.g. If you hire an instrument in Term 4, you can keep it over the summer holidays if you are contining to hire it in Term 1 of the following year. But if you are not planning to continue hiring in Term 1, you must return the instrument at the end of the Term 4, or you will be charged for Term 1.

This is to allow returning instruments to be serviced, cleaned, and available to be hired out in the new term.

It is best to collect your instrument in person so that sizing can be checked and basic instrument care be demonstrated.

However where this is not possible or convenient, there are a number of delivery options available (conditions apply).

String breakages happen from time to time. They may be a result of wear and tear, or due to poor tuning technique. Instruments should only be tuned by tutors and players who have been taught how to tune. 

Broken strings must be replaced at the hirer's expense with a new string of matching or better quality than the broken string. New strings can be purchased and fitted at 4Strings, and many music shops that carry string instruments. You may want to ask your tutor to fit the new string, or there are many 'how to' videos on YouTube. Do not buy cheap and nasty strings online - they sound awful and you will regret it! If you are not sure which brand or type to buy, talk to your tutor or contact Dani at 4Strings. When purchasing a replacement string, you wil need to specify the following:

• instrument, string, and size (eg, 1/4 violin E string; 15" viola C string)

• ball end not loop end 

• medium tension

How long bow hair will last is greatly affected by whether the hair is kept under tension. Bow hair should be loosened  whenever the bow is not in use. 

Bow hair can come loose in a couple of ways. 

Occasionally, and dramatically, all the bow hair can come free from one end of the bow at once, and a new bow or rehair is required. More commonly, individual hairs break or come loose due to normal wear and tear. Eventually, enough hairs will have broken that it is time to retire or rehair the bow, but this is a long process. When a hair breaks, carefully cut it off the bow at either end so it isn't in the way. When the amount of hair left on the bow is getting 'low', it's time to rehair the bow or purchase a new one (purchasing a new bow is usually the most cost effective option for student bows).

Where the bow needs to be replaced or rehaired as a result of proper use wear and tear, a replacement bow may be supplied free of charge by 4Strings once during the tenure of the hire. Subsequent rehairings or replacement bows must be paid for by the hirer. 

If a bow requires rehairing or replacement due to accident or mistreatment (e.g. if it results from bow being dropped, used as a light saber (!), the bow hair being kept under tension when not in use, or the hair gets caught on something), the rehairing or replacement bow must be paid for by the hirer.

Replacement bows are available through 4Strings (subject to availability) or at many music shops. When purchasing a bow, you will need to specify the instrument and size it is for (e.g. 15" viola, 3/4 cello, 1/8 violin). Violin bows may be used for violas up to 14" long (1/4 violin bow for 11" viola; 1/2 viola bow for 12" viola; 3/4 violin bow for 13" viola; 4/4 violin bow for 14" viola). If you are unsure, contact Dani at 4Strings.

The bridge is held into place by the strings - it is not glued or screwed in - and so occasionally it can pop out while the instrument is being played. While this is alarming for the player, be reassured that it is unlikely anything is broken. Bridges can usually be put back in by your tutor without any problems, as long as the sound post is still standing up and the bridge is not broken,

The sound post is a short wooden 'post' that stands between the front and back plates of the instrument near the bridge, and helps transfer the vibrations from the strings to the back of the instrument to make it resonate. It is wedged in and held in place by the pressure of the strings on the bridge. When the bridge falls down or pops out, the soundpost can fall much more easily, so it's good to replace the bridge as soon as possible. Until the bridge is replaced, you should minimise the movement of your instrument as much as possible (put it gently in its case and where it won't be bumped).

If the soundpost falls down, you will probably need to take the instrument to a music shop to get it (and the bridge) refitted - unless you have a particularly handy music tutor with the relevant tools!

If the bridge breaks, it will need to be replaced - contact 4Strings.

Contact 4Strings as soon as possible if the instrument or bow is damaged, and do not attempt repairs yourself.

Wear and tear to the instrument or accessories as a result of proper normal use is covered by 4Strings. Where damage is the result of 

• accident or mistreatment of the instrument or accessories, or 

• the instrument not being cared for according to the provided care instructions 

it is the responsibility of the hirer to cover the cost of the repair up to the value of the bond.

All instruments, bows and accessories remain the property of 4Strings (regardless of damage) and must be returned.

Lost or stolen instruments, or instruments damaged beyond reasonable expectation of repair, must be replaced by an instrument of the same quality at the hirer’s expense, or the bond and any paid hire fees forfeited. 

Contact 4Strings to arrange an appointment to return your instrument or find out about collection options.