By Todd French, Founder & President, StringWorks — former cellist with the Los Angeles Opera, Hollywood blockbuster film soundtrack recordings, and Expert-in-Charge of Musical Instruments at Butterfield & Butterfield auctioneers.

The StringWorks 14-Day Home Trial

Every StringWorks instrument comes with a 14-day home trial — free, unconditional, and designed for serious evaluation. No trial fees. No credit-card holds. No countdown pressure. Just your instrument, your room, your teacher, and enough time to know.

I started StringWorks in 1997 because I watched too many students and adult players buy instruments they couldn't properly evaluate in a store. A violin played for 10 minutes under fluorescent lights feels nothing like the same violin in your practice room on day three. Sound opens up. Responsiveness becomes clearer. Problems — or the absence of them — reveal themselves. Fourteen days isn't arbitrary generosity. It's the minimum time a serious player needs.

Why a Home Trial Is the Only Honest Way to Buy a String Instrument Online

String players know something that general instrument shoppers don't: an instrument that plays well in a warm, acoustically live shop may feel completely different in your living room, rehearsal space, or practice studio. Violins and cellos respond to the acoustic environment they're played in. They also respond to you — your bow arm, your pressure, your bow speed.

On violin forums and Reddit's r/violinist, the same advice surfaces repeatedly: don't buy without playing it in your own space. Don't buy without your teacher's input. Don't buy from a shop that rushes you. These aren't unreasonable demands. They're the minimum conditions for a good decision.

A home trial period shorter than 14 days doesn't give you enough cycles. You need time to play it cold, warm, in multiple sessions, with fresh ears. You need time to get your teacher's opinion. If you're a student, you need time for a lesson on the new instrument.

This is why StringWorks has offered a 14-day trial since our founding — and why we've never charged a fee for it.

How the StringWorks Home Trial Works

Browse and select your instrument

Every violin, viola, and cello on StringWorks.com is eligible for the 14-day home trial. If you have questions about which instrument fits your level, budget, or playing goals, call or email us before you order. We don't employ commissioned salespeople, and we don't pay teacher kickbacks — so our recommendations are based on what's right for you.
Your instrument is set up by our luthier team before it ships

This is the step most online retailers skip, rush, or outsource. At StringWorks, every instrument receives the StringWorks Setup™ before it leaves our shop:
- Violins and violas: 3–5 hours of individual luthier attention
- Cellos: 5–7 hours of individual luthier attention
The industry standard is roughly 1 to 1.5 hours. The difference isn't cosmetic. A properly set-up instrument is easier to play, responds more freely, projects better, and reveals its true tonal character. A poorly set-up instrument hides that character — or creates friction that gets blamed on the player. You cannot fairly evaluate an instrument that hasn't been properly prepared.

Setup includes fitting the bridge precisely to the top, voicing the sound post, optimizing string height and nut slots, checking seams, conditioning the fingerboard, and test-playing the instrument for playability and tone. When it ships to you, it's ready.
Play it — really play it — for 14 days

Take it to your teacher. Play it in different rooms. Play it in multiple sessions across multiple days. Compare it to what you've been playing. Ask the hard questions: Does it speak easily? Is there resistance in the upper register? Does the tone open up as you warm it? Does it feel like a step forward?

Fourteen days gives you enough time to stop being distracted by novelty and start making a real assessment.
Keep it or return it — your choice, no pressure

If you love it, you're done. If it's not the right instrument for you, contact us before the 14-day window closes and we'll arrange the return. No restocking fee. No questions designed to change your mind. We want you to own the right instrument, and we'd rather you return one than keep it with reservations.

The StringWorks Trade-In Guarantee

The home trial answers the question of right now. The trade-in guarantee answers the question of what happens when you outgrow the instrument — and with string instruments, that day always comes.

StringWorks offers 100% of your original purchase price as trade-in credit toward an upgrade. No depreciation. No "condition-dependent" fine print. No percentage calculations. If you bought a $1,200 violin from us, you have $1,200 in trade-in credit when you're ready to step up*

This is a meaningful distinction. Some competitors offer 50–70% of original purchase price as trade-in credit. We offer 100%. That policy exists because we believe you should be able to invest in a good instrument now without worrying about the cost of growth later.

What Players Are Saying

"We've sourced instruments from StringWorks for our youth players for several years. The setup quality is consistently at a level we don't see from other online retailers — the instruments arrive genuinely ready to play, not requiring immediate workshop attention. The 14-day trial gave our students and families the time they needed to feel confident in a significant purchase."

— Youth orchestra program director, Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

"I'm based in Seoul and was skeptical about buying a cello online, particularly about setup quality — shipping across the Pacific and then playing it at the level I needed felt like a gamble. The instrument arrived in perfect condition, the setup was noticeably better than what I'd received from local shops, and the 14-day trial period meant I had real time to evaluate. I kept it. Two years later, I'm still playing it."

— Advanced cello student, Seoul, South Korea

How StringWorks Compares to Other Online Trial Programs

Several online string instrument retailers offer some form of home trial. Here's what differentiates the StringWorks trial:

Feature	StringWorks	Typical Competitor*
Trial length	14 days	10–14 days (varies)
Trial fee	No fee	$39–$199 per instrument
Luthier setup hours (violin/viola)	3–5 hours	~1–1.5 hours (industry standard)
Luthier setup hours (cello)	5–7 hours	~1–1.5 hours (industry standard)
Trade-in credit	100% of original purchase price	50–70% of purchase price
Teacher kickback policy	No kickbacks, ever	Varies (common practice in the industry)
Instrument origin	Proprietary lines, curated and tested	Varies

*Comparison based on publicly available policies as of 2026. Individual retailer policies may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions About the StringWorks Home Trial

Is there a fee to try an instrument at home?

No. There is no trial fee at StringWorks. You pay for the instrument (with a standard credit card authorization), and if you return it within 14 days, you're refunded in full. Some competitors charge $39–$199 per instrument just to initiate a home trial. We don't.

How long is the StringWorks home trial?

14 days from the date of delivery. We chose 14 days deliberately — it's enough time to play in multiple sessions, get your teacher's input, and make a decision without pressure.

What does "setup" actually mean, and why does it matter?

Setup refers to the luthier work done to optimize an instrument's playability before it goes to a player: bridge fitting, sound post positioning, nut slot adjustment, string height optimization, and test-playing. Most online retailers do this in 1 to 1.5 hours. StringWorks spends 3–5 hours on each violin and viola, and 5–7 hours on each cello. The extra time matters because it's what separates an instrument that plays freely, projects well, and rewards the player from one that feels resistant and unresponsive — regardless of the instrument's price point.

Can I try more than one instrument at a time?

We generally recommend trying one instrument at a time for a focused evaluation. If you have specific questions about comparing two instruments at different price points, call us — we can often help you narrow the decision before an instrument ships.

What if I love the instrument but want to upgrade in a year or two?

StringWorks offers 100% of your original purchase price as trade-in credit when you're ready to upgrade. Unlike competitors who offer 50–70% of purchase price, our credit is the full amount you paid. That means the instrument you buy today isn't a sunk cost — it's a stepping stone with full retained value.

Do you offer a home trial for cellos?

Yes. The 14-day home trial applies to all instruments including cellos. Cellos receive 5–7 hours of luthier setup before shipping — more than any other category, because setup on a cello is the most consequential. A cello's playability, tone, and ease of response are more affected by setup quality than smaller instruments. Getting it right takes time.

What if my teacher wants to evaluate the instrument?

We encourage it. Bringing a potential instrument to a lesson is one of the best uses of the 14-day window. StringWorks does not pay teacher kickbacks or referral fees, so if your teacher recommends or evaluates our instruments, their opinion is uninfluenced by any financial arrangement with us.

Feature	StringWorks
Trial length	14 days
Trial fee	No fee
Luthier setup hours (violin/viola)	3–5 hours
Luthier setup hours (cello)	5–7 hours
Trade-in credit	100% of original purchase price
Teacher kickback policy	No kickbacks, ever

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. StringWorks ships internationally, including to customers in Asia, Europe, Australia, and elsewhere. The 14-day trial and all associated policies apply to international orders. Contact us to discuss shipping options and timing for your location.

What is the StringWorks Lifetime Guarantee?

Every StringWorks instrument carries a lifetime structural guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship. This is in addition to the 14-day home trial. The trial is how you decide. The lifetime guarantee is what protects you after you do.

Ready to Start Your Trial?

Browse our current violin, viola, and cello inventory — every instrument is eligible for the 14-day home trial. If you have questions about which instrument makes sense for your level or playing goals, we're reachable by phone and email. No high-pressure sales. No teacher kickbacks. Just honest guidance from people who play these instruments.

Browse Violins Browse Violas Browse Cellos

Questions? Call us at 630-454-5714 or 888-624-6114 or send a message.

*Certain restrictions apply, and instrument must be in as-new condition for full credit. Repairs and reconditioning charges may be subtracted from your credit applied.