Should I Buy or Rent a Violin?

Baton Rouge viola lessons for kidsWhen looking at stringed instruments like violins and cellos, you will be faced with the choice of buying or renting. This guide will help you make that choice.

This is general advice that can be applied worldwide as well as specific recommendations tailored to Greater Baton Rouge area in Louisiana, where I do most of my teaching. 

Acquiring a violin, fiddle, viola, cello, or bass is best done in consultation with a trusted expert, preferably your teacher. 

Avoid cheap instruments, even for beginners. Especially for beginners! Cheap instruments may be improperly set up, with a bridge that’s too high or slippery pegs. These problems make the instruments difficult and unsatisfying to play. Novices may think they don’t like playing fiddle, when actually it’s their specific instrument that’s the problem.

Since this is the case, you may be inclined to rent an instrument instead of buying. Most rental instruments are sturdy, quality instruments.

When you rent, there’s no long-term commitment. You also don’t have to worry about resale. 

But here are a handful of reasons why it might be better to buy instead of rent:

  1. Rental fees can add up quickly. Many music shops will credit a portion of the rent toward a future purchase. But if you’re sure you’ll stick with the instrument, it might be a better deal to buy it outright.
  2. Music shops will often allow you to trade up instruments. If you need a bigger or better instrument, they will deduct at least a portion of the resale value of the instrument you’re trading in.
  3. A well-chosen beginner’s instrument that is responsibly maintained will retain its value. You can often resell it for a large portion of the purchase price. Or you may choose to keep it in the family!
  4. Well kept higher-quality instruments may actually increase in value over time. These involve a larger investment and are not suitable for most young children.
  5. Some rental instruments are in less than optimal condition. They may have cosmetic issues such as nicks, scratches, and tape marks on the fingerboard. They may also have deeper issues like pitted fingerboards and worn strings. You may be liable for any damage on a rented instrument–check the contract. Definitely buy insurance if it’s offered.

Renting an instrument is a good idea if:

  • You only have the budget for a low monthly payment.
  • You don’t want the responsibility of owning an instrument outright.
  • The student is experimenting with different instruments.

Buying an instrument is a good idea if:

 

  • You have the budget for the instrument itself.
  • You can afford the time and money to maintain it properly.
  • You will treat it carefully and respectfully, like a work of art.
  • You’re pretty sure the student will continue playing after the first year.
online fiddle lessons

These shops have quality instruments:

Sola Rental 

**DEPOSIT REQUIRED**
**FAMILY DISCOUNTS**
$24 – 34/month Violin
$34/month Viola
$46 – 56/month Cello

SHAR Rental
Beginning instruments 
$15/month Guitar
$18/month Violin
$24/month Viola
$52/month Cello

Don’t set out to buy or rent without having an idea of what size instrument you need. I’ll post about this issue soon. If you need help before then, contact me.

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