• Guidelines for purchasing an instrument

    Be sure to ask your teacher to help you with selecting instrument.  Also, select a store that can also help you maintain the instrument, because string instruments need to receive regular maintenance just like a car.  Here are several articles to help you with selecting an instrument:

    What I look for in a quality instrument package

    1. Ebony pegs & fingerboard (black wood) - not painted black, but real ebony, which is a very hard wood.

    2. Spruce top & Maple sides and back.  Sometimes cellos & basses have willow on the back.

    3. Quality strings - Thomastik-Infeld (especially violin & viola Dominant strings), Pirastro, and D’Addarrio(especially Helicore strings) brand strings are the most common.  There are several different models by these brands that our good.  Some cheaper instruments use imitations of these brands. The imitation strings break more easily and are difficult to keep in tune, and don't sound as good (more twang and less resonant tone).

    4. Proper bridge and sound post set-up -  Best to purchase instrument locally so these can be adjusted every six months to a year. If instrument being mailed, you will need to pay someone local to set this up (can be as much as $70 set up fee depending on how much adjustment is needed).

    5. Quality bow with real horse hair.  Better wood bows are made with Pernambuco or Brazil wood, and very cheap bows made with fiberglass.  There are also carbon fiber bows, and these come in a wide range of quality and price ($60 to $1000+).  Please ask teacher for help selecting the best bow.  Usually the more expensive the better response and easier they are to play your instrument.

    6. High quality case to protect the instrument and bow.  For violins and violas it is helpful if there is space to put shoulder rest inside.  For cello/bass a good shoulder strap and lots of handles makes it easier to carry the case.

    7. 4 fine tuners - however, more advanced players & advanced instruments usually have only one fine tuner on top string.  Can typically add more fine tuners to instrument if needed.

    Recommended Local Stores

    This list is not meant to be comprehensive. However, these shops specialize in strings and/or have staff that are very knowledgeable about string instruments. Additionally, they come highly recommended by parents & students at CRHS.

     

    All Strings Attached - 8224 Olson Memorial Hwy., Minneapolis, MN, 763-542-9542 (www.allstringsattached.com)

    Claire Givens Violins - 1004 Marquette Avenue, Suite 205, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403, (612) 375-0708 (www.givensviolins.com)

    Fein String Instruments - 1850 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, (651) 228-0783 (www.feinviolins.com)

    Groth Music - 8056 Nicollet Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55420, 952-884-4772 (www.grothmusic.com)

    House of Note - 7210 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55426, 952-929-0026 (www.houseofnote.com)

    Quinn Violins - 1081 21st Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, 612-378-5470 (www.quinnviolins.com)

    Schmitt Music - Brooklyn Center Store, 2400 Freeway Boulevard, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430-1799, 763-566-4560 (check their website for more locations: www.schmittmusic.com)

     

    Recommended Web-based Catalogs

    Although it is best to buy locally, especially instruments & bows, these stores are well respected.

    Quinn Violins - www.quinnviolins.com

    Shar Music - www.sharmusic.com

    Lemur Music (bass only) - www.lemur-music.com

    Johnson String Instruments - www.johnsonstring.com

    Southwest Strings - www.swstrings.com