DON'T buy a violin from Amazon! (unless you want to 'build it' yourself!)

Warning: Histrionics Forthcoming!

Quite possibly the greatest threat to the bowed stringed instrument market is — you guessed it — Amazon. Millions of square feet of warehousing scattered throughout the United States, filled with every possible product any of us would ever need, from food to household appliances to medical supplies to...violins??

NOOO!!! NOOO!!! Do NOT buy a violin, viola, or cello from Amazon, and let me count the ways why!

1. Amazon Warehouses Are Not Climate Controlled

Amazon warehouses are often placed in warm or hot climates where land is cheaper and access is easier. They are not temperature or humidity controlled — the assumption is that products will move off the shelves quickly enough that no damage will be done. But string instruments are not bath towels. Wood is living, reactive material. It doesn't take long — days, not months — for improper humidity or temperature to warp a neck, open seams, or crack a top. Not worth the risk, not even close.

2. Your Instrument Arrives With No Professional Setup

Can you imagine? (See image for a sense of what that looks like.) Buying a violin, viola, or cello from Amazon is the equivalent of buying a new car and being handed an instructional video on how to assemble the engine and transmission yourself before you can drive it.

A proper professional string instrument setup involves precise fitting of the bridge feet, soundpost positioning, nut grooves, peg fit, fingerboard plane, and string height — each adjusted specifically for that individual instrument. It takes our luthiers 3–5 hours for a violin or viola, and 5–7 hours for a cello. The industry standard at most shops is 1–1.5 hours. Amazon's standard is zero.

Even I personally would fall short of the setup quality our luthiers produce — and I've been in this business since 1997. It is absolutely essential to the playability and tone of the instrument. An unsetup violin doesn't just sound worse; it's harder to play, which means students give up faster, assuming they're the problem when it's actually the instrument.

3. Factory Made, With No Expert Eyes on It

Amazon instruments are literally straight off the factory line, with no expert inspection before they ship. Not just in terms of setup — but accessories, varnish quality, seam gluing, wood selection, fingerboard quality, the list is endless.

I know this because I personally hand-select every StringWorks instrument from our workshops after they're finished, approving only those that meet our standards and placing my initials on the fingerboard before shipment to our own workshops for setup. Most instruments that come through don't make the cut. The ones that do are the only ones we sell. Amazon has no such process — none.

4. No Relationship, No Expertise, No Support

A violin, viola, or cello is not the purchase equivalent of a bathroom plunger. It's a meaningful piece of your musical journey — and you deserve expertise in selecting it, honest guidance in evaluating it, and knowledgeable support staff to be with you long after the purchase.

Hundreds of our customers made the Amazon mistake first, sinking money into instruments that frustrated them to the point of nearly abandoning their musical goals entirely. Fortunately, most gave it a second chance — this time, the right way. Whether that's StringWorks or your local violin shop, please make sure there's a real person on the other end who knows what they're talking about and genuinely cares about your progress.

What to Look for When Buying a String Instrument Online

Not all online violin shops are created equal. If you're buying remotely, here's what a reputable shop should offer:

• Professional in-house setup — ask specifically who does it, how long it takes, and what brand of bridge blank they use
• In-home trial period — a shop confident in their instruments gives you time to play it in your own environment. StringWorks offers a 14-day in-home trial on every instrument
• Expert consultation — a real person who plays, not just a chat bot or a fulfillment center
• Trade-in program — as you advance, your instrument should grow with you. Our trade-in policy is the best in the industry
• Transparent warranty — StringWorks offers a limited lifetime warranty on every instrument we sell

It's not just a product. It's a piece of you. Buy it accordingly.