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Instrument Renting/Buying Tips

It is highly recommended that your instrument comes from a store that offers on-site repairs (i.e. a music store). Renting an instrument is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED! Nearly all rental stores apply the rental fee towards the eventual purchase of the instrument. For stringed instruments, where the size changes as the student grows, many stores have a rental trade up policy where you simply exchange for the new size. Click the button below to see a list of music stores local to Montgomery County, MD.

Quick Tips!

 

Stringed Instruments

  • Look for 3 types of wood on the instrument.

    • The Top (the main part that you look at) needs to be made of carved solid spruce. 

    • The Back and Sides need to be made from solid maple. The "flaming" (striped, rippling effect) is only for looks.

    • The Fittings and Trim (pegs, fingerboard, etc.) should be made from Ebony. Acceptable alternatives are Rosewood or Boxwood. Beware of "ebonized" wood - this is cheap wood painted black. Every year, "ebonized pegs" break and the instrument can't be tuned. Ebony pegs rarely, if ever, break. 

    • Instruments that are bold colors should be avoided. This is used to cover poor quality wood. Pick a finish where you can see the grain of the wood. This ensures a certain level of quality control.

  • The Purfling is important. This needs to be inlaid and acts as a bumper for the instrument. If a crack develops on the edge of an instrument, the purfling stops it from spreading and destroying the instrument.

  • Fine Tuners are essential for adequate tuning. Each instrument should have one for each string.

  • Whenever possible, a fiberglass bow is recommended. Cheap wood bows tend to not hold enough tension to make a good sound.

  • In the description, look to see if the instrument was "set up" in the United States. Instruments are shipped from their overseas factories in less-than-playable condition. If an instrument is shipped to you, the bridge will not be set up.

  • If any of these descriptions are missing from the instrument then the store is either unqualified to be selling it, or they are embarrassed by the poor quality. Read carefully!

 

Woodwind and Brass Instruments

  • These don't have as many "red flags" as the stringed instruments do. Here are the two main things to watch out for:

    • ​Gloves - Don't buy an instrument that advertises gloves being included. Not all poor-quality instruments have gloves, but all instruments that have gloves are of lesser quality. They are trying to throw in "extras" to entice you to buy that instrument at that price-point.

    • Instruments that are not the "typical color" for the instrument. Again, they are trying to entice you with flashiness instead of quality. Believe me, when I find a quality instrument that is a wacky color, I'll be the first to buy it!

      • ​Flutes - Silver

      • Clarinets - Black with silver keys

      • Saxophones - Gold with silver keys

      • Trumpets - Gold or sometimes silver

      • Trombones - Gold

      • Baritones - Gold or sometimes silver

 

 

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