Where should I get my kid's violin from?

[Anonymous]

Of course he decides that he wants to learn the violin--I know nothing about strings. On the teacher's list of sources Bethesda Violins and Rockville Music and Arts are closes to us. He needs a 3/4 size. Planning to rent first. Tell me what I don't know.

[Anonymous]

Lashof in Gaithersburg.

[Anonymous]

Go with the teacher's recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go with the teacher's recommendation.

There are 10 places on the list.

[Anonymous]

https://potterviolins.com/ in Takoma Park.

[Anonymous]

Chuck Levin in Silver Spring

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://potterviolins.com/ in Takoma Park.

I love this place and recommend as well. They're great to work with.

Honestly though, if you're just renting, I don't think it really matters. What really matters is when you're looking to buy, but this is just a temporary measure, especially if your kid isn't using a full size yet

[Anonymous]

It's a hike but Gailes's Violins in College Park is a lovely shop and less expensive than Potter's.

[Anonymous]

If your string teacher can help you find one that would be great, but only if your kid’s in full size and decide to continue for couple of years at least until HS graduation. A decent violin would at least cost $5000 and a good bow would be around $2000 according to our string teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://potterviolins.com/ in Takoma Park.

I love this place and recommend as well. They're great to work with.

Honestly though, if you're just renting, I don't think it really matters. What really matters is when you're looking to buy, but this is just a temporary measure, especially if your kid isn't using a full size yet

Actually it can make a difference to rent from the same place you might wind up buying. Potters offers a rental credit program towards a future purchase. (At least they did when we rented my kid's initial cellos, then later purchased a cello through them.) So I would check to see about rental credit towards future purchase because for us it made a nice difference in the purchase price.

[Anonymous]

You end up spending more in rentals than buying. Buy a cheap one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You end up spending more in rentals than buying. Buy a cheap one.

Not good advice. Better to rent a higher quality instrument with insurance. Potential for better sound and better outcome if kid has accident at school with instrument, also, easy to turn in if kid wants to switch

[Anonymous]

Foxes in falls church is a bit farther but their service is amazing and they have a great rent to own program

[Anonymous]

Buy one from Amazon with good reviews. It’s good enough to learn. If kid gets serious you buy a better one - and sell that one for 50% of whatever you paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You end up spending more in rentals than buying. Buy a cheap one.

Not good advice. Better to rent a higher quality instrument with insurance. Potential for better sound and better outcome if kid has accident at school with instrument, also, easy to turn in if kid wants to switch

We've done both. Renting was a waste.