Should I Rent or Buy a Violin, Viola, Cello, or Bass?

A common question that we get at the shop is: “My child is interested in learning to play the violin, viola, cello, or bass. Should I rent one or just go ahead and buy?” It’s a good question and it follows the thinking, “my son or daughter seems really interested and I don’t want to throw money away by renting if they’re serious about it.” This is an understandable thought process, but I’d like to provide some clarity on why renting is often the best route to take when beginning the journey of playing a stringed instrument.

Size

Stringed instruments have an advantage over band instruments for younger children because they come in multiple sizes. In our shop we rent violins as small as 1/32 size all the way to 4/4, or full size. Children as young as 2 can play on a 1/32 size violin. The body of a 1/16 size violin is 8 inches long whereas a 4/4 (or full size) violin has a body 14 inches long. This allows for the instruments to grow along with the child. If your child is not yet in a full size instrument, then renting is the best option. Rather than buy a new size instrument every few months, you can exchange your rental for a larger size. Many music stores, including ours, do not charge a fee when you move to a larger size so it’s an even swap.

Commitment

What happens once you, or your child, is using a full-size instrument? Is now the time to buy? There are a few things to consider. If you’re a beginning adult, renting could still be the better choice. Learning a stringed instrument takes commitment, so if you just want to test the waters and see if it’s right for you, renting makes sense. Also if you know you want to play a stringed instrument but are unsure which one is the best fit, renting gives you the flexibility to try them all to see what sound you prefer or which comes more naturally to you.

Benefits of Renting

Renting gives you, or your child, the ability to explore an instrument and find out if it is something you enjoy doing, with minimal financial impact. Our monthly rental rates are $16 per month for violin and viola, $35 for cello, and $45 for bass. Compare those amounts to the sale amounts of our entry level instruments, which are $950, $1800, and $2800 respectively. Many shops, including ours, will also apply your rental payments as a credit towards the purchase of a new instrument when that time comes. This rental credit means that you are building equity with each of your rental payments which can significantly reduce the cost of a full price instrument.

Benefits of Purchasing

If you or your child are playing a full size instrument and have decided this is something that will be enjoyed for the foreseeable future, then it very well could be time to purchase. Purchasing your own instrument provides the opportunity to find the specific violin, viola, cello or bass that has the exact sound that you prefer. It also allows you to customize the fittings and to play on an instrument that matches your ability. If you or your child have been taking lessons privately or in school orchestra for many years, there is a good chance that your abilities have surpassed the capabilities of a rental instrument. Purchasing allows you to maximize your talents and improve sound quality by moving to an instrument of better quality. Sticking with a rental instrument may limit your ability for continued growth.

I hope this post answers some of your questions. At our shop there are no stupid questions and we do our best to make sure you are as informed as possible before making decisions, for you or your child, that often involve a significant financial investment. If you have additional questions please don’t hesitate to reach out, and we’ll do our best to make your musical experience as simple and easy to understand as possible.