When it comes to starting a new hobby, the first step is to get the supplies. In this case, stringed instruments can have almost ludicrously high prices, making it daunting and unapproachable to the beginner. Most often, beginners purchase a cheap instrument from Amazon and lose interest after some time as the low quality woods fail to produce that coveted beautiful sound. Furthermore, when something breaks, most luthiers cannot fix the instrument because they were so poorly put together from the start. When this happens, we suggest patrons to start renting through the LAVS Rental Program.
Renting
The rental program is an affordable monthly option that brings high quality instruments to beginners. Our instruments are made from genuine European tonewoods, such as maple, spruce, and ebony, and hand-varnished to provide the player with a full and resonant sound. Additionally, our luthiers fit the instruments with a hand-carved bridge for optimal playability.
We strongly recommend our rental program for kids; they’re constantly growing, always have shifting interests, and can be a bit clumsy at times. Our rental program accommodates their physical growth by providing free upsizes during the rental contract. If your child loses interest after some time, then you can simply return the instrument to us rather than searching for a buyer for the unwanted instrument. Finally, our renters are provided with a protection plan that covers minor mishaps. However, if the instrument is broken in half or mysteriously disappears from the school lockers, then the renter must pay the damages/loss.
The LAVS rental program also provides renters with a credit accrual system. Rather than a rent-to-own program, we save a portion of your monthly rental cost under your name for every month paid - indefinitely. When you decide it’s time to terminate the rental contract and purchase your very own violin, you can apply the credit as a discount to the cost of the instrument. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the rental credit discount can only be applied up to 50% of the instrument’s cost, excluding case and bow.
By renting first, players are allowed the time to learn the instrument, improve their skills, and save up money before purchasing an instrument that’s not beginner-friendly, both in price and quality. This is one way we make higher quality instruments more accessible to those who need more support. A higher quality instrument can last decades and grow with the player, making it a worthwhile investment.
Buying
When it comes to purchasing an instrument, our advice is this: buy the best one you can afford. For beginners, within the $700-$3k range, there is an immense difference in the quality of materials, craftsmanship, and most importantly, the quality of its sound. Rental instruments are an excellent way to begin your musical journey, while purchased instruments offer an even greater depth of sound quality and expressive range. It can be a bit of an upfront investment, but if you find yourself constantly drawn to the instrument, then it would have been well worth the cost.
We recommend purchasing an instrument to anyone who has been committed to playing and has some playing experience. It can be tricky to purchase an instrument when you’re a complete beginner because you have no frame of reference, no preferences, and are unable to take it for a test drive. We can help, but it’s better for you to be the final decision maker. When you come into the shop to buy, there will be a wide variety of instruments to choose from and the selection is always changing. If you don’t find one you like, visit again in a few months and your luck might be different.
With ownership, a different program becomes available to you: the trade-in program. This program allows you to upgrade your instrument as you advance in skill by trading in your current instrument, applying its value towards your desired instrument, and paying off the difference. To maximize your trade-in credit, it’s important to keep it clean through daily maintenance and be free of any damages.
Along with full-sizes, we carry fractional sized instruments for children. These high quality instruments will provide a better tonal color palette and give them a wider range of expression from the start. When your child grows out of their current instrument, then you can upsize and upgrade in one go with the trade-in program. When they reach a full-sized instrument, it's likely that you’ve acquired a high quality instrument through years of steady investment and ownership. Owning an instrument promotes a sense of responsibility and pride in young players, leading to increased practice time and better daily maintenance.
Our team is here to guide you every step of the way, answer your questions, and help you find the perfect instrument for your needs. Visit our shop today—we’d love to help you choose!
LA Violin Shop
3350 W Olympic blvd Los angeles CA 90019
Mon-Fri 10am-6:30pm/Sat 10am-5pm
Call:213-471-2124
Text:251-292-1957