The violin is a beautiful and versatile instrument that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. However, before you can start playing, you need to decide whether to rent or buy a violin. There are pros and cons to both options, so it's important to weigh them carefully before making a decision.
Renting a Violin
There are benefits to renting a violin. First, it's a relatively inexpensive way to get started with playing the violin. The violin rental cost is typically lower than the cost of buying a new or used violin. Second, renting a violin allows you to test the waters and gives you the flexibility to change your mind. If you decide that you don't want to continue playing the violin, you can simply stop renting, and you won't have to worry about selling or returning the instrument.
Renting is logical in a few situations:
- You're a growing child, starting out with 1/2 size or smaller.
- You're just trying out the instrument and not sure if it's the instrument you'll stick with for the long haul.
- The shop applies the rental fees to the overall purchase of the rented instrument - like a layaway plan.
- It's only for a short time period, and the rental cost and time do not exceed the value of the instrument.
Buying a Violin
There are many benefits to buying a violin, which is why most students will go with this option. First, if you buy a violin, you will own it outright. This means that you can keep it for as long as you want, and you won't have to worry about rental fees. Second, if you buy a high-quality violin, it will likely hold its value over time. This means that if you ever decide to sell the violin, you should be able to get a good price for it. Third, buying a violin gives you the opportunity to customize it to your liking. You can choose the type of wood, the strings, and the bow. This can help you create a violin that is truly unique, and that plays exactly the way you want it to.
Which Option Is Right for You?
Ultimately, the decision of whether to rent or buy a violin is a personal one. There is no right or wrong answer. The best way to decide is to weigh the pros and cons of each option and then make a decision that is best for you. No matter what path you would choose, Fiddlershop has a competitive product for you.
If you are looking at purchasing your first instrument, start browsing our collection of Beginner Violins. There you can find decent student violins starting at just over $200. For an absolute beginner, the Tower Strings Entertainer Violin may be a great choice. If you're looking at something of higher quality, the Fiddlerman Concert Violin might be the way to go.
If you, on the other hand, are looking to rent your first violin, Fiddlershop offers no-contract nationwide violin rentals for just over $20/month. Our generous rental credit program allows you to accumulate your rental payments and use them as credit toward purchasing an instrument. Learn more about our String Instrument Rental Program here.
No matter which option you choose, we hope you will enjoy playing the violin, and we hope that you will choose Fiddlershop for all your string instrument needs.
