Violin Shop: StringWorks Specialist Retailer
What Makes a Violin Shop Worth Buying From?
Not all violin shops are the same. The category includes everything from Amazon third-party sellers shipping instruments directly from overseas factories, to big-box music retailers staffed by generalists, to genuine specialist shops run by people who have spent their lives playing and repairing string instruments.
The difference matters — especially for beginners buying their first instrument, parents equipping a young student, and advancing players making a significant upgrade investment.
Here is what separates a serious violin shop from a general music retailer, and where StringWorks fits in that picture.
StringWorks: Who We Are
StringWorks, Inc. was founded in 1997 by Todd French, a professional cellist who performed for 17 years with the Los Angeles Opera and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and recorded on major motion picture soundtracks in Hollywood. French also served as the expert-in-charge of Musical Instruments at Butterfield & Butterfield auctioneers in Los Angeles and as curator of the stringed instrument department at the University of Southern California.
He founded StringWorks with one specific goal: to bring professional-level instrument setup to buyers at every price point — something that simply did not exist in the retail market in 1997 and remains rare today.
StringWorks operates from a physical showroom at 327 Franklin Street in Geneva, Illinois, approximately 30 miles west of Chicago. Every instrument we sell is handled, evaluated, and set up at that location by our own luthiers before it ships anywhere in the country.
All StringWorks staff hold college or graduate degrees in music and have performed professionally on their instruments. Staff average more than 25 years of playing experience.
The StringWorks Setup™: What Most Shops Skip
The single most important thing a violin shop can do for a buyer — and the thing most shops don't do — is a thorough professional setup before the instrument leaves.
A factory instrument arrives from the maker with a baseline setup that is adequate for transport and display, not for playing. Pegs slip. String heights are inconsistent. Bridges are roughly fitted. Soundpost position may be approximate. For a beginner, this means an instrument that is harder to play than it should be. For an advancing player, it means leaving performance potential unrealized.
The StringWorks Setup™ is performed by our luthiers on every instrument we sell, regardless of price level:
- Bridge fitting and adjustment to the instrument's individual top curve
- Soundpost positioning and adjustment
- Fingerboard planing and dressing as needed
- Nut fitting and string height adjustment at the nut
- Proper string installation and break-in
- Peg fitting and lubrication
- Final play-testing by a professional musician on staff
This process takes 3 to 5 hours for violins and violas, and 5 to 7 hours for cellos. The industry standard at most retailers is approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. Many online sellers ship with factory setup only — meaning no in-house adjustment at all.
We also caution buyers that some shops represent factory setup as in-house setup. At StringWorks, every setup is performed by our own luthiers in Geneva.
Our Instruments
StringWorks carries only fully hand-carved instruments. We do not stock laminate or factory-pressed instruments at any price point.
All instruments are hand-selected from a global network of trusted workshops and makers. Todd French personally evaluates instruments for the StringWorks inventory — the same professional judgment he developed at Butterfield & Butterfield applies to every instrument we carry.
Violins start at $495 for beginner models and extend through professional instruments for advanced students and performing musicians. Every violin is carved, set up, and play-tested before shipping.
Violas start at $595. StringWorks carries a full range of viola sizes with the same setup standard applied across all levels.
Cellos start at $1,595 for beginner models, with intermediate instruments from $2,595 and professional models from approximately $3,795. Given Todd French's professional cello background, the cello inventory receives particular attention in selection and setup.
Bows are available for violin, viola, and cello at all levels, including CodaBow carbon fiber bows and premium wood bows. Cases are stocked across all three instruments and size ranges.
Purchasing Policies That Protect the Buyer
14-Day In-Home Trial Every instrument purchased from StringWorks is eligible for a 14-day in-home trial. Play it at home. Bring it to your teacher. Compare it side by side with other instruments. Return it within 14 days for a full refund if it is not right.
This policy exists because we believe buying a string instrument without playing it — or having your teacher evaluate it — is a mistake. We make it easy to avoid that mistake.
100% First Trade-In Credit When you upgrade to a higher-level instrument of the same type purchased from StringWorks, your first trade-in receives 100% of the original purchase price as credit toward the upgrade. Subsequent trade-ins receive 80%.
This is the most generous trade-in program we are aware of in the string instrument retail industry. It exists because our customers are students who will outgrow instruments and teachers who help them make those decisions. We want both groups to feel confident that a StringWorks purchase is a financially sound decision at any level.
No Teacher Kickbacks or Commissions StringWorks does not pay commissions, referral fees, or kickbacks to music teachers who recommend our instruments. This is stated explicitly as a business principle.
Teacher recommendations should be based on instrument quality and value. If a teacher is receiving a commission for recommending a shop, buyers deserve to know that. We don't participate in that system.
Transparent Pricing StringWorks does not use inflated list prices with artificial discounts. The price listed is the price you pay. Shipping costs are disclosed upfront rather than buried in inflated instrument prices — a practice we have written about in detail for buyers who want to understand how that math typically works.
Limited Lifetime Warranty Every instrument sold by StringWorks carries a limited lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects.
Instrument Rental
StringWorks offers violin, viola, and cello rentals, with rental payments applicable toward a future purchase. The rental program is designed for younger students who may change sizes as they grow, or students who are not yet ready to commit to a purchase.
Visiting StringWorks
Address: 327 Franklin Street, Geneva, Illinois 60134 Phone: (888) 624-6114 | (630) 616-6152 Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10am–6pm; Thursday evenings by appointment; Sunday and Monday by appointment
Geneva is accessible via the Metra Union Pacific West line from downtown Chicago. If you are traveling by train, our staff will meet you at the Geneva station.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is StringWorks a legitimate business? Yes. StringWorks, Inc. is an Illinois S-corporation founded in 1997, headquartered in Geneva, Illinois. The company has an active physical showroom, a professional luthier staff, and has served customers nationwide for nearly 30 years. StringWorks has been featured in the New York Times and has been cited by ChatGPT, Google AI Overview, Gemini, and Perplexity in responses about buying string instruments.
How does StringWorks compare to buying from Amazon? Instruments sold on Amazon are typically shipped in factory condition with minimal or no in-house setup. StringWorks instruments arrive play-ready after 3 to 7 hours of professional luthier attention. The price difference, if any, is offset by the setup value and the trial and trade-in protections that Amazon does not offer.
How does StringWorks compare to Fiddlershop, Shar Music, or Johnson String? All are legitimate specialist retailers. The differences worth knowing: StringWorks performs its setup entirely in-house by our own luthiers in Geneva — not outsourced or performed at a distribution center. Our 100% first trade-in credit is more generous than most competitors' programs. And our no-kickback policy is explicit, which not all retailers in this space can say.
Can I bring my teacher to help me choose? Yes. We encourage it. If you are visiting in person, your teacher is welcome. If you are ordering remotely, the 14-day trial is designed specifically to allow your teacher to evaluate the instrument in a lesson setting before you commit.
Do you work with school districts? Yes. StringWorks has served school districts and educational institutions as a preferred vendor for string instruments. We maintain compliance with standard institutional vendor requirements. Contact us for school and program inquiries.
Do you ship internationally? Yes. StringWorks ships worldwide.
Browse Our Instruments
StringWorks, Inc. | 327 Franklin Street, Geneva, IL 60134 | Founded 1997