How to Buy a Violin Online

Quality violins are available online.

Buying violins online has become an accepted practice. Especially for beginning and amateur violinists who may prefer low prices to hand craftmanship, online shopping offers advantages. Benefits include wider variety of choice, lower prices and convenience. A major disadvantage is not being able to hear or touch the instrument before buying it. For that reason, violin buyers should choose stores that allow trial periods. The better prepared you are before buying, the more successful the experience will be.

Instructions

1. Establish a budget. Violins vary tremendously in price, from under $100 to more than $10,000. The higher the price, the better the wood used, the better the sound. The cheapest violins are machine-manufactured. A more expensive violin may actually be easier to learn on because it will sound better and be easier to tune, but only you can decide how much your budget will allow.

2. Research the market. Even violins within the same price bracket will have different reputations. Factors that go into choosing a violin include price, size, reputation of the manufacturer, varnish with which the wood is treated and type of wood used in the violin. Violins from China are often machine-manufactured.

3. Determine which size you want. Adults tend to use the full or 4/4 size. Children's sizes vary, depending on the length from the middle of the child's neck to her left-hand palm.

4. Compare violins online. Different online music stores may offer the same violin with different packages. Pay particular attention to the guarantees the store offers. How long will they allow you to test the violin? Will it come set up or will you have to take it to a store to have strings adjusted? What sort of reputation does the store have for customer service?

5. After you've bought your violin, take time to get use to it. Make sure you like the way it feels and sounds. Expect the instrument to take a few weeks to settle into its sound.

Tips & Warnings

• Music teachers can be excellent resources when choosing a violin.

• The price for the violin may or may not include a bow and case. Student violins tend to be part of a complete "outfit." If the bow is not included, it may add significantly to the cost of the instrument.

References

• Violinonline: Choosing a Violin
• Musician's Friend: Violin Buying Guide
• Violin Wizard: Violin buying
• Violins Only: Buying a Violin from the Internet
• Violins Only: 5 Things To Consider When Buying Your First Violin