By Joel Kennedy

For an experienced violinist, the path to finding your "new best friend" may be somewhat simple in its initial approach. Go to a violin store, play several violins that fit into your budget, and buy the violin you like the most. However, figuring out how to buy a violin or other stringed instrument when you're not the most advanced player can be a daunting task.

Choosing a violin for a beginner

If you don't play the violin, viola or guitar, how can you test one? What if you don't have a store in your area that has a large selection of instruments? Perhaps most confusing of all is the fact that most violins look the same, and when you compare one to another, the price ranges are huge and the price differences seem to be nebulous and random.

How can you be sure you're not getting ripped off? How expensive an instrument do you need to purchase for your child, especially considering they may be a beginning student?

Buying a violin online

Fortunately the internet has allowed buying a violin or viola to become much easier. The preferred method of buying a violin is always to play one and then decide which is best for you.

However, since most people do not have playing expertise or they are geographically isolated, purchasing from the internet has solved many of the problems that have historically plagued most violin purchasers. Now anyone is able to search thousands of violins across the country, investigate the companies they are interested in buying from, and educate themselves about every aspect of a stringed instrument.

Knowing where to buy

If you're looking for the best price, it is usually best to go with a company that has a large presence on the web and are used to selling stringed instruments all around the country. If you purchase from a small store that just happens to have a web site, they will probably have a small stock of instruments and purchase their instruments from local distributors and in small quantity. When they purchase in small quantities, it means they have to pay a lot for their violins, and that high cost will be passed on to you. If they sell small quantities of violins every year, then they have to make more per violin to pay the overhead costs associated with running their business. Small companies also lack the power to determine many aspects of the violins construction and overall quality when purchasing them.

Conversely, purchasing from a company that is well versed in the art of providing a high volume of stringed instruments all over the U.S, will be able to negotiate lower prices when purchasing their product from their sources and will have more leverage in controlling the materials, construction and overall quality of the violins. Also, you want to make sure that your violin is sent fast and is packaged very well so it is not damaged. A company that ships thousands of violins every year, will have the expertise to package your violin safely and have the stock of instruments that can ensure that you will be sent your instrument in a quick and efficient manner.

Kennedy Violins has been in the business since 2000 

At Kennedy Violins, we have been offering stringed instruments to the public since 2000. In that time, we have become extremely proficient at setting up stringed instruments very quickly and efficiently. We have a system that ensures the quality control is very high and the end product is very consistent. We are unique, in that we purchase the majority of their instruments directly from the makers themselves.

Not only do we negotiate the best prices from our makers but we can even dictate the materials, design and construction methods of our violins. We have a large stock of instruments, so rarely will an instrument not be in stock.  We are also owned and operated by string players, so we know our product very well, and have created a product line-up that is applicable to beginner students and advanced ones.

If you can't find the information you are looking for on the violin shop web site, you can easily call us Monday through Friday and our friendly and knowledgeable customer service staff will be able to answer any questions that you may have.

Living in the Internet age time has made buying a violin, viola, or guitar easier than ever, so start your search now and have no fear! And at our local shop we also offer cellos and basses. The next time you are in the Vancouver, Washington area come in and take a look! We will be happy to answer your questions.