Our Rental Program

Monthly subscription

A small portion of the payment every month covers maintenance and repairs

Significantly less than what you can expect to pay to maintain an instrument you own.
Covers replacing spoiled ('false') or broken strings, providing a fresh bow when it is time to rehair, minor cosmetic wear, and expected repairs.

The remainder is held as equity towards a purchase

100% of your payment after maintenance and tax
Again, there is no cap on how much equity you can build
For each instrument, there is a flat mininum purchase price set at an entry level threshold for an instrument worth maintaining.
You are able to convert your active rental into equity at any time toward any outfit

What if I just buy an inexpensive instrument?

The Cost of Cheap Materials

Cheaper instruments are more high maintenance. It is common in this case to spend more than their upfront costs within the first year.
Often, the playability of these instruments is poor. The last thing a beginner needs is an instrument that is more difficult to play than it should be or that doesn't stay in tune.

The Cost of Routine Maintenance

Keep in mind that routine maintenance will be necessary whether you own your instrument or not. Unless your rental doesn't get played at all, the annual costs of maintaining an instrument that you own, quickly exceed the annual maintenance cost of renting.

Playability and Adjustability

Our instrument family (orchestral strings) requires care. Even with the best care, with regular use and exposure to varying temperatures and humidity it is expected that, over time, you may experience tuning pegs that stick or slip, a warped bridge, open seams, a fallen soundpost, etc. - When you rent with us, you are welcome to stop by anytime so we can make your playing experience easier and more enjoyable. We can help your instrument sound it's best.

What is routine maintenance?

String Replacement and Rehairs

Maintaining an instrument is like maintaining a car- the more you use it, the more often you will need a "tune-up"
In this analogy, the strings and the hair of the bow are like your oil change or checking your brake pads.
In general, bigger strings are replaced less often. Cellos and basses might change strings once every year or two while violinists tend to got through 2-3 sets a year.
The fibers of the bow hair are responsible for creating tone. The hair degrades over time with use and likely needs to be change at least twice in year.

Set-up and Tuning Issues

Stringed instruments have several crucial parts that most be hand-carved to fit each instrument:
- the Pegs
- the Bridge
- the Soundpost
These crucial parts are sensitive to weather changes and can easily shift if an instrument is bumped into. - If you don't see a teacher for private lessons, it can be tricky to tune especially as winter sets in and especially for cellos. You are always free to stop by for help. We sincerely want you to play and enjoy our instruments.

What happens if my instrument is damaged or stolen?

Insurance is not provided through the rental program. Liability is handled at our discretion on a case by case basis. We typically consider your history with us, the severity of the damage, and the extent to which the damage was due to carelessness or abuse.
Our business thrives on long and happy relationships with our customers. You would never be liable for more than the wholesale replacement cost of your instrument and we will give you flexible options to settle the balance.
In cases of theft or fire, you would not be liable for any damages with documentation.

This program is very flexible.

We can help you pick the right size for your instrument. When it's time to change sizes we make the process very easy.
As a player's skills improve we provide options for high quality, handcarved, step-up rentals. This is a great program for students who really enjoy playing and advancing. It keeps maintenance costs low while building equity faster.

How It Works →