Buying an instrument online isn’t without it’s risks – you often don’t know what you’ve purchased, or sometimes the instrument can arrive as a do-it-yourself. We see many instruments which are unable to be tuned or worse, unable to be played due to the bridge being too high or not curved. Save yourself and your teacher from any nasty surprises and let us help you begin your musical journey with a professional set up and tested instrument. Whilst cheap may look inviting, the risks are far too great. An un-setup and inexpensive instrument can have serious manufacturing flaws and will undoubtedly cause you more problems and more money in the long-term. When looking to purchase an instrument online, there's a few key things you need to look out for: Materials used: violins, violas and cellos should be crafted using maple, spruce and ebony. Beginner double basses are often crafted using laminated spruce. Set up: all instruments need to be professionally adjusted and inspected prior to making to your front door. A 'do-it-yourself' instrument can cost hundreds to fix. Shipping: instruments need to be carefully packed prior to shipping. If possible, check if the instrument is being sent with Australia Post or a courier to ensure speedy delivery. Video: listen to a video of the instrument being played, or call the store and ask for a demonstration. We want you to be confident that you'll love your new sound, so we're always striving to add more product videos to our website. Simply for Strings is here to ensure you have an enjoyable and safe experience purchasing an instrument online. If you have further questions when browsing our site, click the help button to get in touch with our team. We will be able to respond to our personal recommendations and let you know more about any instrument we offer.Our instruments undergo rigorous tests before being displayed in our store or shipped to your door, to ensure all of our customers find an instrument that meets all of their performance needs. Our team members are available to play through every instrument from this extensive range for you especially, in order to help you find something you love. With a quick phone call or email to discuss exactly what you’re after, we can take away all the stress from purchasing an instrument for you. Simply for Strings sends thousands of instruments every year across Australia, so we’ve got packing these precious cargos down pat. We lovingly pack these instruments to ensure no accidents along the way. Not sure what to expect in each price range? Learn more here and check out our beginner's guide here.

Violins come in all shapes, sizes, colours – and prices. But how do you really know what you should be getting for your budgeted price range? This guide will give you a general overview of the standards for violins within each price range and offers a good starting point for finding a violin that best suits your needs. Every violin is different, and you should ideally look for the best value-for-money instrument placed within your budget. If your child is a beginner, you don’t necessarily want to overspend on an instrument that isn’t suited to their level, but if they’ve already started out with a basic instrument borrowed from school, you may want to start looking around at intermediate priced violins instead of the cheapest available. $200 – $500 These are the most inexpensive violins that you’ll find at music stores. At this price, you’re looking at an entry-level or beginners instrument that is typically factory-made in China. The basic structure of these violins will be well-made, but they come ‘out of the box’ with no adjustments – a professional set up service will be required to get things sounding just right. We include our professional set up on all instruments - at no extra cost. For instruments in this price range, it is also important that individual parts are included or upgraded: Bridge – this will affect the tone of the instrument Strings – these should be upgraded to complement the instrument and give it a better tone Bow – not all accessories are of the same quality, and since a bow is essential to playing the violin, you should look to upgrade to a good quality one that will help to produce a better sound Case - a basic beginner outfit should include a case for transporting and protecting the violin. Shop Beginner Violins online and in-store.$600 – $1000 There is a shift in quality when you move to this price range. A higher grade of timber is used, and so more highly skilled labour is required (resulting in a higher quality of workmanship). These violins are hand-finished and better parts are used, which further improves the quality of the instrument. The combination of workmanship and fittings gives these instruments a more mature, resonant tone. Instruments in this range are generally better suited to an intermediate player as an upgrade from their first violin to their second. This level of instrument would be considered a ‘luxury’ item for a beginner, but the quality can really pay off in their early musical education if you can afford it. Be on the look out for: An upgraded bow - some intermediate violin outfits will include an upgraded bow, which will help aide in improving tone and technique Upgraded strings - most intermediate violin outfits should include at least a set of Piranito strings or even better, Tonica strings or Dominant strings. Bridge - the quality of the bridge should be at least an Aubert or Despiau 1-tree. Shop Intermediate Violins online and in-store.$1100 – $2000 From here we start to see a much higher level of workmanship and expertise going into the crafting of the instrument. They are hand-finished for finer detailing and more refined workmanship is used. The grain of the timber is something you’ll need to consider in these instruments. The grain is the natural alignment of fibres in the wood, and can produce a more visually pleasing aesthetic as well as improve the tones and overtones of the instrument. You’ll want to look at the tightness of the grain on the front, and the flame of the grain on the back. These elements are a reflection of the higher grade of timber used in the instrument, which produces much nicer tones and overtones, allowing for much a more resonant and expressive quality of sound when played. They also project their sound better, producing a higher volume than the previous ranges. This level of instrument is usually the choice of advanced students because the quality of sound allows them to play more solo repertoire and suits much more expressive playing. In this price range, keep in mind that you may need to invest in: An upgraded bow - instruments in this price range may not always include an intermediate bow. If this is the case, you should expect to spend around $300-$500 on selecting a higher quality intermediate violin bow from brands such as Paesold and Coda. Professional strings - instruments in this price range should include at least a set of synthetic core strings, however upgrading to a Larsen, Obligato or Evah Pirazzi set will yield an even more beautiful tone. $2000+ At this point, you start to find more individually priced items, and your considerations will change depending on the workshop that the instrument comes from. The reputation of the maker may influence your decision, as various levels of workmanship and timber will vary and musicians may prefer one maker’s sound to another. The characteristics of the instrument’s sound become more personal and individual at this level. At this price range and above, you will find many instruments are crafted in European workshops. They are popular because people know the European reputation for high-quality workmanship and materials. Our best-selling advanced violins are from the Helmut Illner workshop, based in Germany. They are a customer favourite due to their expressive, full tone and very high quality materials. The quality of the timber and the grain of the timber is something you’ll need to strongly consider in these instruments. The grain is the natural alignment of fibres in the wood, and can produce a more visually pleasing aesthetic as well as improve the tones and overtones of the instrument. You’ll want to look at the tightness of the grain on the front, and the flame of the grain on the back. As mentioned above, these elements are a reflection of the higher grade of timber used in the instrument, which produces much nicer tones and overtones. Varnish is another consideration in this price range - many modern instruments are varnished with an antiqued finish. Be careful to ensure the varnish is of a high quality, and is uniform across the instrument. In this price range, you'll generally have to purchase a bow and case separately. It’s generally expected that you have your own preferences for the bow and case. Learn more about choosing a bow here. You should expect to spend between $400-$900 for a higher quality pernambuco or carbon fibre bow.Of course, choosing a violin doesn’t have to be a decision that you make all on your own. Here at Simply for Strings, our friendly team members are all qualified musicians who understand the nuances of each different violin we stock. We can guide you through the range and help you find the one that’s right for you. Come and visit us at our store in Red Hill or get in touch with any questions you might have.

Investing in an advanced instrument doesn’t have to be a decision that you make all on your own. The entire Simply for Strings team is dedicated to excellent customer service and are here for every step of your musical journey.  Simply for Strings stocks a wide range of advanced instruments from makers and manufacturers from around the world. Make your choice from a selection of Chinese and European instruments from Helmut Illner, Jay Haide and Simply for Strings. Our advanced instruments have been carefully selected for their excellent materials and high-quality craftsmanship, and will see any musician through years of playing. Each advanced instrument is expertly set up by one of our trained luthiers here in Brisbane, and our expert team of professional musicians and string experts often make small adjustments in-store to each advanced instrument, whether it be a change of strings or bridge height adjustment, in order to get the absolute best from these instruments. The utmost attention to detail is paid to each one of our advanced instruments, so you get the very best sound and playing experience. Learn more about our professional set up here.Helmut IllnerHelmut Illner instruments are an excellent choice for the advanced student or professional musician. The Helmut Illner D and C models are constructed using very high quality aged tonewoods sourced in China, and are handcrafted, under the supervision of the German workshop, in China. The Helmut Illner B and A models are constructed using very high quality aged tonewoods sourced in Europe, and are handcrafted and varnished in Germany. These instruments were selected by Simply for Strings as they provide a powerful, clear tone and are excellent value for money. Typically on the upper register, Helmut Illner instruments are bright and clear and the bass is very sonorous with very easy response and playability. Each Helmut Illner instrument is carefully setup by one of our luthiers here in Brisbane, using high quality Despiau bridges and quality fittings. These instruments are also fitted with advanced synthetic core strings from Pirastro in order to get the best sound from the instrument.Jay Haide L'AncienneSimply for Strings has provided the wonderful Jay Haide L’Ancienne instruments to advanced students and professional musicians for a number of years. All Jay Haide instruments are hand-made using quality seasoned maple and spruce, and have a tone quality and workmanship normally found in instruments costing much more. Jay Haide now offers models which are crafted using naturally aged quality European tonewoods, which represent excellent value for money. Each Jay Haide instrument is carefully setup by one of our luthiers here in Brisbane, using high-quality Despiau bridges and quality fittings. These instruments are also fitted with advanced synthetic core strings from Pirastro in order to get the best sound from the instrument, however you can definitely experiment with different strings and brands – these instruments take to new strings wonderfully.Monteverdi and CadenzaSimply for Strings has also provided the Monteverdi and Cadenza instruments to advanced students. The Monteverdi and Cadenza instruments have been exclusively selected by Simply for Strings for their rich tonal palette. Both models are constructed using high quality Chinese aged tonewoods and are carefully setup by our professionally trained luthiers here in Brisbane. The Cadenza violin is similar to the Monteverdi I, with a rich tonal palette ranging from full, dark colours in the lower register to sweet, singing trebles. Its quick response and strong projection make it an excellent choice for the most discerning player. The Cadenza instrument has higher grade timbers and varnish than that of the Monteverdi I. The tonal palette is therefore more refined, expressive and dynamic. Our advanced instruments are all sold with upgraded strings – including brands such as D’Addario, Larsen and Pirastro. These higher quality strings ensure you’re getting the best sound and projection out of the instrument. We find most advanced students and professionals like to experiment from time to time with different string types, and all of our advanced instruments respond extremely well to different string types. Learn more about our string range here. We love helping customers experiment with string choices – explore the range online or chat to a string expert in-store or online. BowsBows are very important – they compliment your instrument, by bringing out the best sound quality, and also make it possible to accomplish a variety of bow techniques. Weight, balance and flexibility are the determining factors in playing qualities of all bows – all of our bows are hand selected to achieve the optimal combination of these criteria. Read more about selecting a luxury bow here. We recommend playing through the Dorfler, Paesold and Coda models in particular for advanced students – all three brands staff and teacher preferred due to their consistently high craftsmanship and easy playability. CasesWhen investing in an advanced instrument, it’s important to also invest in a high quality, protective case. We have a huge range of cases to suit all budgets – read our guide to upgrading your case here. The Simply for Strings team are obsessed with the new BAM Panther cases – their nano-coating ensures the case will stand the test of time. Explore the BAM Panther range here. The BAM cases shells made of the BAM Hightech technique: a triple-ply structure made of high performance materials (ABS, solid polyurethane foam, another type of ABS). They offer outstanding protection and ultralight weight. RosinAt an advanced level, it’s nice to invest in a higher quality rosin in order to get the best from your bow and strings. Simply for Strings is an authorised stockist of the Leatherwood Bespoke Rosin. Leatherwood Bespoke Rosin gives you a definable and tangible control over your connection to the string and shapes your rosin experience to suit your individual playing style. Handmade in New South Wales from Australian pine resin blended with international resins to create a range of set recipes and bespoke blends for violin, viola, cello, and double bass. Attractively packaged in deer leather and velum. Choose from Crisp or Supple blend depending on your playing style. String Instrument Care and MaintenanceYour new instrument is precious – whether you’ve invested $300 or $3000 in a new instrument, it is very important to show your instrument some TLC. A cleaning cloth is a life-long essential in your musical journey. We also offer a range of other care tools which can be used to treat your instrument at regular intervals. We have created a specialised guide for all of your cleaning needs here. AccessoriesYou may also need to purchase a new shoulder rest, in case your previous one doesn’t fit your new instrument, or a new rockstop in case you’ve misplaced your old one. We have all the accessories you made need in-store or online, with our team of string experts available to help with any question you may have. Our staff pick if you’re upgrading your violin or viola shoulder rest are the exciting Pirastro Korfker Shoulder Rests. The Pirastro Korfker Shoulder Rest is the first shoulder rest using bendable tone wood adjustable to the shape of the shoulder. It offers extensive and very precise personal modifications of position, height and tilt. It brings out a much wider dynamic range from the instrument and is the perfect addition to your advanced instrument kit. Don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team if you have any questions regarding upgrading to an advanced instrument with Simply for Strings. We’re only too happy to help!

So you’ve been playing the violin, viola, cello or double bass for a while now, and you’re not sure what’s next. If you’ve been practicing and performing with gusto, you may have started wanting a richer, fuller sound. Simply for Strings’ team of experts are here for the next step: upgrading your instrument. Buying an instrument from Simply for Strings is a fun and hassle-free experience. First things first: explore our range of intermediate and advanced instruments online or in our stunning Red Hill showroom. Our luthiers ensure each intermediate instrument is set up to bring out the best sound possible, through the use of higher quality bridges and soundpost material. Learn more about our professional set up here. Browse Intermediate Instruments here. Browse Advanced Instruments here. Players are most welcome to visit our store at any time to play through our selection of intermediate and advanced violins. If upgrading from a full-size beginner violin, we recommend players bringing along their regular, comfortable shoulder rest with them, as well as some familiar sheet music. We recommend players bringing along these items so they feel comfortable when trying out new instruments. Our intermediate and advanced violins, violas, cellos and basses are all constructed using higher quality tonewoods. The upgraded materials (maple, spruce and ebony) and higher quality craftsmanship aide in creating a warmer, clear and more powerful sound, with a lot more projection across the entire instrument. Our intermediate and advanced instruments are always sold with upgraded strings – including brands such as D’Addario, Larsen and Pirastro. These higher quality strings ensure you’re getting the best sound and projection out of the instrument. It can take some time to get used to a fuller, louder instrument, so we encourage players to play through as many instruments as possible for as long as they wish. A lot of students get very familiar with the sound that they’re hearing as they play. Even if the sound isn't as beautiful as it could be, they’re used to it under their ear and they start to trust that it is the “right” sound. This can mean that they’re put off by a nice sounding instrument because it’s not what they’re used to. It can take a lot of reassurance from their teacher and others to finally understand what a good tone sounds like! When you’re looking to upgrade your instrument, be sure to compare the sound of everything that’s available, This will give you and your child an idea of the tone that they’re trying to get to, which is usually a much bigger, more mature sound.When upgrading, some musicians choose to also upgrade their bow. Bows are very important – they compliment your instrument, by bringing out the best sound quality, and also make it possible to accomplish a variety of bow techniques. Weight, balance and flexibility are the determining factors in playing qualities of all bows – all of our bows are hand selected to achieve the optimal combination of these criteria. We recommend the Paesold #192 model in particular for intermediate and advancing students – it is staff and teacher preferred due to its consistently high craftsmanship and easy playability. Shop all Paesold bows here. At an advancing level, it’s nice to invest in a higher quality rosin in order to get the best from your bow and strings. A great intermediate rosin choice is Melos. We love this rosin for variety – the rosins are produced in two types, light and dark, for different playing conditions. The “light” type is used more in high temperatures (spring or summer), for “smooth” playing or for solo in chamber music. The “dark” type is used more in low temperatures (autumn or winter), for full-tone playing, in an orchestra, or for great solo concerts. One can also choose based on his/her right hands’ peculiarities and bow technique. A great advanced rosin choice is Leatherwood Bespoke Rosin. Offered in two formulations, supple and crisp, this Australian made rosin is used by professionals across the globe. The supple blend can help generate a more powerful and focused sound from a softer and lighter bow with less ‘bite’. Supple can also enhance the sounds of a deep/warm sounding instrument by making it sound more resonant. Supple can also ‘soften’ an instrument which is too loud, bright or one-­dimensional in sound. It offers a warm and softer sound, consistent traction that feels velvety and rich; this recipe maintains a reliably sharp attack on the string.The crisp blend often works well with an instrument with lots of resonance but is a little ‘woolly’ in sound, offering it greater clarity and articulation. Crisp also assists bows or techniques that struggle to achieve a clear and articulate spiccato or sautille. Crisp can also assist small student or beginner instruments, by enhancing their sound to be brighter and sometimes louder; and beginning students find it easier to articulate with crisp. The crisp blend offers a decisive attack, firm traction and crisp sautille; this recipe creates an undeniably forthright sound through a glassier texture. Although many of our intermediate instruments are sold with a case included, many students like to invest in a fun, colourful case for their new instrument. We have a huge range of cases to suit all budgets, but the colourful and protective Kreisler cases are definitely a student favourite. We also offer the very popular BAM Cases at Australia's best prices in-store and online. Your new instrument is precious – whether you’ve invested $300 or $3000 in a new instrument, it is very important to show your instrument some TLC. A cleaning cloth is a life-long essential in your musical journey. We also offer a range of care kits which can be used to treat your instrument at regular intervals. Shop Instrument Care and Maintenance Tools here. We have all the extra accessories you made need in-store or online, with our team of string experts available to help with any question you may have. Our staff pick for intermediate students are the NS Micro Tuners (available for violin, viola, cello) – they are perfect for slow scale practice! Shop all accessories here. A wide range of sheet music is available in-store and online with all of our Simply for Strings team of professional musicians and teachers available to provide personal recommendations. Buy your next AMEB books at Australia’s lowest prices, or chat to a member of the team about which studies from Kreutzer, Popper and more may suit you best, in our sheet music library.Don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team if you have any questions regarding upgrading to an advanced instrument with Simply for Strings. We’re only too happy to help!

If your child has been practising and performing with gusto, it may be time to take the next step and invest in a new instrument. If your child has been playing the violin for a couple of years, and you're looking to upgrade because they've outgrown their current instrument or they're ready for something a little nicer, the string experts at Simply for Strings are ready to help. It can often be difficult for parents to know how much of a leap or investment they need to take at this stage in their child's musical education - how good does their next violin need to be, and what price and quality considerations should they take into account?In order to assist you through the transition, we’ve put together this handy guide that runs through the key factors to take into account when upgrading to an intermediate violin! Let’s get started… 1. Brand is still importantWhile you’re not yet near the stage of buying a hand-crafted violin from a small European workshop, you should still take the brand of the violin into account. Our intermediate range includes the Virtuoso, Allegro and Monteverdi instrument ranges, which represent higher quality workmanship and materials and excellent value for money. Each instrument (and brand) offers their own individual tone, so it can be helpful to visit a violin store in person so you can hear how they all sound when played.View the full range of Intermediate Violins available for purchase in our online store. 2. Don’t be afraid of a big sound! A lot of students get very familiar with the sound that they’re hearing as they play. Even if the sound isn't as beautiful as it could be, they’re used to it under their ear and they start to trust that it is the “right” sound. This can mean that they’re put off by a nice sounding instrument because it’s not what they’re used to. It can take a lot of reassurance from their teacher and others to finally understand what a good tone sounds like! When you’re looking to upgrade your instrument, be sure to compare the sound of everything that’s available – even if it’s out of your price range. This will give you and your child an idea of the tone that they’re trying to get to, which is usually a much bigger, more mature sound. This will help you to buy the best sounding instrument in your price range. Listening helps too. The sounds that students produce are very simple, and sometimes the complexity of a sound can be off-putting to them – but it’s what they should be striving for. Better tones and better sounds have a lot more complexity, which allows for more emotive, complex playing. Sit down with your child and listen to some recordings of professional violinists in order to familiarise them with the more complex sounds. You can also ask staff in-store to demonstrate and analyse the sound of different violins with you so that you can understand what you’re really hearing. Our team of string experts are happy to help! Learn more about planning your visit to Simply for Strings.3. Experiment with strings When you graduate to a higher level of instrument, strings start to play a much bigger role in the generation of sound. The thickness or the material that strings are made of can affect the tone that you produce when you play, such as the sweetness or the brightness of the sound. Intermediate instruments should be fitted with higher quality strings, however, if you're looking to upgrade to a professional string, be sure to ask the team member helping you for their personal recommendation.Browse our extensive range of violin strings to suit all budgets.4. Give it a bow Make sure that the bow you select for your violin is well-considered. The bow you use is important to the sound and the technique that you develop while learning to play. A lot of intermediate instruments will include an upgraded bow in the outfit, however, be sure you enjoy the feel and tone it produces. There is a wide range of bows available, and you may want to purchase a higher-quality bow than the one you already own. If you buy your new violin as part of an outfit you’ll receive one – however, you may still choose to purchase one separately if you’re not happy with the quality. Browse the full range of Violin Bows in our online store. 5. Trade it in Trading in your current instrument can help get you a better price when purchasing your next instrument. Your violin will need to have been well looked after and in reasonable condition, if you want to get a good trade-in value from it (most of the value is in the instrument itself, not necessarily the case and bow.) We welcome trade-ins of instruments purchased from Simply for Strings - a valuation can be done on the spot so, if you’re ready to upgrade, you can save time by bringing in your old violin at the time of purchase. Learn more about our Trade-in Service for all instruments.6. Get accessorised There are some key accessories you should pick up in order to make the most of your new instrument: Rosin: Make sure you match the rosin to the strings that you’re using. String manufacturers will usually produce their own rosin to suit their strings, and there are lots of different types you can choose from. Shop Rosins. Violin Case: Make sure that your new instrument is adequately protected from heat and cold. A decent quality case will help to reduce the fluctuation of temperatures inside the case itself. Shop Cases. Shoulder Rest: As your child practices more, it will become extremely important for them to be really comfortable. A shoulder rest should be properly fitted to their body, and this can be done in-store at the time of purchase. Shop Shoulder Rests. Remember, you don’t need to spend a fortune when upgrading your child’s violin! Following the tips above should help you find a value-for-money intermediate violin that produces good sound and tone. If in doubt, visit us in-store or get in touch and one of our knowledgeable staff can answer any questions you may still have about upgrading. If you’re in the market for your first violin, check out our Complete Guide to Buying a Beginners Violin here.