When you began to play a stringed instrument, you probably purchased an inexpensive start-up instrument or even rented your first one. You (or your parents) may not have been sure whether you’d like it, or whether you were ready to take care of it. If you were very young, you may have chosen a fractional size, and you probably outgrew that instrument in no time at all. The advantage to renting was that you could trade-in the instrument for the next size up—or a better-quality model—and it would be insured in case of accidents.

But now that you’ve been practicing diligently for all those years and have become more responsible, you may be ready to graduate to a bigger and better instrument that will help you develop as a musician. It’s time to acquire your very own violin, viola, cello, or bass—your first “step-up” instrument.

A step-up instrument can be defined simply as a better-quality, better-sounding axe, most likely crafted by a contemporary maker or workshop (and usually with a better resale value).

Here are a few things to consider:

Where to Begin
Ask your teacher for recommendations. He or she probably has helped many students find their first instrument. It may well be that the shop you rent from sells instruments as well. While some shops have a rent-to-own policy, you shouldn’t plan to buy the instrument you’ve been renting unless you absolutely love it and can’t imagine a better one. Yanbing Chen, co-owner of Goronok String Instruments in Cleveland, suggests that the buyer beware: “One thing to watch out for is that some music stores will lock you in to the instrument you are renting. That’s not good.”

These aren’t always the best-quality instruments, he adds, and may not be in pristine condition—a series of renters can be hard on an instrument. On the other hand, many string shops have a policy that lets you apply a percentage of the rental fee toward the purchase of another instrument—after you’ve been renting for a predetermined amount of time.

What to Ask
Susan Horkan, sales manager for Johnson String Instrument in Newton Center, Massachusetts, notes, “Most prospective buyers don’t have a lot of information about purchasing instruments, and there really isn’t much out there,” but she does feel that it’s helpful to know the structural parts of the instrument. Also, find out the condition of the instruments that you are looking at—particularly the antiques. The health of an instrument is crucial. If the instrument is new, research the maker or the company that made it. Horkan considers her role as seller to include educating prospective buyers in what to look for: the types of instruments available in their price range; the pros and cons of contemporary and antique instruments, and the types of sound available.

The British Rough Guide book series (www.roughguides.com/music) is a good place to start—and at a very good price. You’re about to make a significant purchase, so it’s wise to know as much as you can. The company publishes The Rough Guide to Violin & Viola as well as The Rough Guide to Cello, both of which offer plenty of helpful tips.