Hiring an Instrument

Good quality instruments are a significant investment 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.

The standard hire period is a school term (for school students), or 3 months. Shorter periods are also possible by 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. This is to allow returning instruments to be serviced, cleaned, and available to be hired out in the new term.

E.g. If you hire an instrument in Term 4, you can keep it over the summer holidays if you are continuing to hire it in Term 1 of the following year. However if you are not planning to continue hiring in Term 1, you must return the instrument at the end of Term 4, or you will be charged for Term 1 hire.

Violins, violas and cellos come in a range of sizes that young musicians move through as they grow. It is important to have the right size, particularly as players advance in their skills. 

 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 makes hiring more convenient and cost effective than buying for most families until the player is ready for a full size instrument.  At 4Strings, you can upsize your instrument at any time, you don't need to wait until the end of the hire term. 

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 in person when you collect your instrument.

You can move up instrument size 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 sometimes a larger instrument will have a higher hire fee or bond. In this case the new fee will be applied from the next term.

To organise a bigger instrument, contact 4Strings directly or fill out the Instrument Hire Request Form.

Where possible, it is best to collect your instrument in person so that sizing can be checked and basic instrument care demonstrated. Collection is from Bexley, in the St George region of Sydney. Contact 4Strings to arrange an appointment.

If coming in person is not possible or convenient, there are a number of delivery options available (indicate option on Instrument Hire Request Form).  

• Postal delivery is available for violins and violas (not cellos). Allow at least 5 business days.

  • Violin or Viola up to 14"  $50

  • Viola 15" and above $55

• Direct delivery door to door is usually possible for cellos, and combined orders involving at least one cello or multiple violins/violas within the Sydney region, depending on driver availability and a suitable delivery time being arranged.

  • Price varies depending on distance from $60 - $120. This can be split between hirers if multiple instruments are being delivered.

• School collection from Mount Annan Christian College is available due to special arrangement with the school. MACC famiies have the option of ordering an instrument to be collected from the school near the beginning of each school term. 

  • Orders should be placed as early as possible to ensure they can be processed in time, though every effort will be made to fill later orders. 

Payment in full must be received prior to delivery for all delivery options.

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 fee can be credited to your purchase. Payment can be spread over up to four instalments.

Responsibility for repair and maintenance shifts to the purchaser from the beginning of the period covered by the first hire-purchase instalment.

Many people decide to purchase when they grow into a full sized instrument and will 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 when buying a new instrument.

Contact 4Strings to arrange an appointment to return your instrument or enquire about other collection options.

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

E.g. If you hire an instrument in Term 4, you can keep it over the summer holidays only if you are continuing to hire it in Term 1 of the following year. If you are not planning to continue hiring in Term 1, you must return the instrument at the end of Term 4, or you will be charged for Term 1 hire.

I.      Hire Fees & Bond

1.    Hire fees will be invoiced at the beginning of each quarter or school term, and are to be paid within two weeks of receiving the invoice. 

2.   Hires organised by school term will include the holiday period after to the school term only if the hire is continuing into the subsequent term. Otherwise the instrument must be returned at the end of the term. If instruments are not returned at the end of the term, and no other arrangement has been made with 4Strings for its return, hire fees for the subsequent term will be charged.

3.   Invoicing is via email, so ensure you inform 4Strings of any changes to your email details, and check your junk folder if you do not receive an invoice you expect. Payments should be made by electronic bank deposit unless other arrangements have been made, and the invoice number included in the transfer description.

4.   Fees are non-refundable if the instrument is returned before the end of the term/quarter. However, they are transferable to a different 4Strings instrument (e.g. if a larger size is required during the hire period).[1]

5.   A bond must be paid before the instrument can be issued. This bond is fully refundable when the instrument is returned, unless:

(i)  The hired instrument is returned in damaged condition and the repair is not otherwise paid for by the hirer. In this case, the cost of the damages will be deducted from the bond.

(ii)  Accessories that were initially issued are missing from the hired instrument (e.g. bow, rosin, shoulder rest) in which case the cost of replacing the missing accessory or accessories will be deducted from the bond.

(iii) Hire payments are not up to date, in which case any outstanding fees will be deducted from the bond.

(iv) The returned instrument requires significant cleaning, including the removal of animal hair from the case, in which case a cleaning fee of $30 will be deducted.

   II.       Instrument Maintenance

1.    Contact 4Strings as soon as possible if any maintenance issues arise, or loss or damage occurs to the hired instrument or accessories (4strings4hire@gmail.com, 0434 522 177).

2.   The hirer is responsible for maintaining the instrument and accessories in good condition, and following the care instructions carefully. Ensure children using the hire instrument understand these instructions and follow them.

3.   Any broken strings must be replaced at the hirer’s expense.[2] These are available through 4Strings or may be purchased elsewhere. Replacement strings should be of equal or better quality to the original string.  

4.   If the bow hair comes loose from the bow due to normal wear and tear, the bow will be replaced or rehaired 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, or 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.

5.    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 as a result of the instrument not being cared for according to the 4Strings Care and Maintenance Instructions, it is the responsibility of the hirer to cover the cost of the repair up to the value of the bond.

Lost instruments, or instruments damaged beyond reasonable expectation of repair[3] must be replaced by an instrument of the same quality at the hirer’s expense, or the bond and any paid hire fees forfeited. 

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

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[1] Subject to availability. Every effort will be made to source a suitable instrument if we have none in stock. If we are not able to find an instrument of the appropriate size, a refund may be arranged.

[2] One common and easily avoidable cause of string breakage occurs when inexperienced players attempt to tune using the pegs. See Care Instructions, point 4.

[3] Where repair costs would be greater than or close to the cost of replacing the instrument.