Frequently Asked Questions
Students, Parents and Resources
GUIDANCE
How to buy an instrument
We strongly advise against buying an instrument online if it's from a "big box retailer". There are a few online music retailers that have luthiers and specialists on staff that you can call directly for help. However, while you may find a comfortable price point with these businesses, instrument repairs may be more expensive because work must be done locally by a shop.
“Please be aware of the instrument teachers call the VSO or Violin Shaped Object! They look shiny, and have well written descriptions, but they do not work, will not stay in tune, have parts that easily break, hurt to play, and of course sound really bad.”
“We see these instruments every day in the shop. Students and teachers are frustrated with the instrument and ask Henry to fix it. There is no way to fix it and any effort to do so would cost many hundreds of dollars more than the violin is worth!”
- Henry Bischofberger, Henry Bischofberger Violins, Kirkland
If you find an instrument online or elsewhere you can make an appointment to bring it in for a complimentary verbal appraisal.
