Should I buy this violin?

Question:I have a little problem. Let's start from the beginning: I have been learning to play violin for about 6 months. I am currently renting a $300 violin from a music store using a rent-to-own program, in which I own the violin after renting it for a year. I have a private teacher who recommends that I stop renting, and buy a violin in about a month. He gave me a catalog for a string instrument dealer called Shar, and he recommend I buy the Franz Hoffman Prelude violin from the catalog. It costs $170. I have been unsure (many books and people have told me sometimes teachers recommend things so they get commission from the company for convincing someone to buy it) about this because even though I am a beginner, I know that it is unlikely that someone can get a quality instrument for such a cheap price. I have also been eyeing another violin in the catalog, the Franz Hoffman Maestro, for $330, which I see as a good step up from my current violin.

Please tell me what to do, thanks!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I have a little problem. Let's start from the beginning: I have been learning to play violin for about 6 months. I am currently renting a $300 violin from a music store using a rent-to-own program, in which I own the violin after renting it for a year. I have a private teacher who recommends that I stop renting, and buy a violin in about a month. He gave me a catalog for a string instrument dealer called Shar, and he recommend I buy the Franz Hoffman Prelude violin from the catalog. It costs $170. I have been unsure (many books and people have told me sometimes teachers recommend things so they get commission from the company for convincing someone to buy it) about this because even though I am a beginner, I know that it is unlikely that someone can get a quality instrument for such a cheap price. I have also been eyeing another violin in the catalog, the Franz Hoffman Maestro, for $330, which I see as a good step up from my current violin.

Please tell me what to do, thanks!

First of all, Shar does not give commissions to teachers. Some companies do give teacher's discounts, but they do that whether we recommend students to them or not! (They are hoping of course, that we do) Shar is a reputable company and I would not hesitate to shove a catalog under a student's nose if I thought it would facilitate their progress.

Before you get any instrument from a mail order company, find out what their return policy is. The fact is, many local vendors are inflating the price of their rental instruments and offering pretty looking stencil instruments in place of the sturdy dependable instruments they used to be depended on to sell in the past. Ask your teacher if he or she has a Franz Hoffman Meastro you can try. Also ask your teacher why he or she recommends that instrument over the one you have now. I am sure that the answer will surprise you.

The factors you have to take into consideration:

1. How much money do you have invested in your instrument now? If your instrument is almost paid off, you may not want to give that up and spend money all over again. If you only have a couple months rent invested so far, you might save some real money by following your teacher's advice.

2. What does your instrument cost on the internet. Put in the name and model of your instrument and find out what other vendors are selling it for. If the price is about the same as your local store, you may be getting a good deal. If it is significantly lower, contact your better business bureau and take your teacher's advice!

3. Do you have the money to spend all at once? Most people rent to own because they do not have the one hundred to eight hundred dollars that it takes to furnish their student with an entry level instrument. They are also not sure that the student will follow through and want to see the level of commitment that the student has before they commit the entire price of an instrument. If this were an eight thousand dollar Bassoon, I would say that this is a factor, but an entry level violin that meets MENC standards can be purchased for less than one hundred dollars these days, and that is certainly less expensive than renting!

No matter what you decide, best of luck in your career and I hope you get a lot of joy with the instrument you eventually decide to commit a long term relationship to. By the way, be sure to thank your teacher in any case. It sounds like he or she is looking out for you and that is a good thing. All you need to do is go online, and check out the Shar instrument, order it yourself without ever mentioning the teacher's name, and then you will realize tht the teacher isn't doing this for personal gain.

I had a student who was renting an instrument to own from a local dealer here in town. I showed him wehre he could get the same instrument for less than half the price from a vendor out of town, and it was actually the next model up and the same brand. I did tell him not to even mention my name until the sale was concluded. You see, I was testing the dealer, not trying to make a profit. I want to know that the dealers that I send my students to are doing right by them. Believe it or not, that is probably your teacher's only concern!

yaaa

if i was you think about it alot.. compare every slighest thing and find out for yourself. which ever one you prefer :)

yes no maybe so

Well, if the violin you are renting is good and you dont have too long to pay... why start over?

well if u really want it buy it and ask ur self a few questions

1.can i take good care of this violin?
2.will i play it often not just set it up for display?
3.do i really really like music so much i should buy it?

or maybe u could ask it for a christmas present

Hey Dude, good for you to finally plan to get one violin for yourself!

I understand that playing violin is more of an artistic matter therefore you should buy the one you like and you feel comfortable with rather than accepting blindly what others suggest.

You know what? When you play with the violin you love so much, there is a big difference in the spur in your artistic creativity.

I would say go get the $330 violin! You own it for good, you have so many potentials to unfold with it!

maybe u should if u dont wont to keep spending 300 dollars know how it is my violin teacher wants me to get a 500 dollar violin you should go to the stores ask about the violins then bye one

welcome

You should definitely get your own. My daughter has played for 8 years and is on her third violin. Close to $2,000 for her latest purchase, but well worth it. I would recommend you go to a local store to find a violin. My daughter tried violins ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 before choosing. You really have to play each one, feel it and hear it for yourself. The type of bow also makes a big difference. You should stay in the $200 to $400 range for your first violin. Plenty of good choices out there in that range for beginners.

well ,when I first started playing guitar I was unsure weather or not I would stick with it.so I did not want to blow a bunch of money on a dust collector.now that I have been playing for awhile,I upgraded. when I did I got as much info from as many sources as possible(not just one). if you are serious about your instrument, you should get what you want, why by something that you will out grow in a year.get yourself a quality instrument. renting,was good to start but after a while its a ripoff. you would have been able to by a much nicer instrument on credit with that money.good luck

Not being a violin player, but a guitar player, here's what you do: Tell him that you appreciate the recommendation, then go home and check out pawn shops, local colleges, ebay, google, and a few music stores. Find another musician that can also make a few good recommendations for you. Ultimately, it is still your decision. If your teacher continues to push product in favor of helping you develop your talent as a musician, find another teacher.

I would advise not going with the instruments from Shar and see what your music store has in the area of step up violins. Every violin is different and I would never buy one before I had the opportunity to play it first.

I have a lot of students of my own renting and what I reccommend is that they use their rental credit and apply it to a step up instrument. You should be able to do this!! You would definately not want to buy the student model that you have.

I like the Eastman violins personally www.eastmanstrings.com and several music dealers around the country do carry these and other great brands.

Hope this helps.
E-mail me if you have any more questions!