Upgrading to Higher End Instruments

Why do you need to upgrade to a better instrument? With string instruments there is a saying, "The better the instrument, the better the player". It's one of the only types of instruments you can pay over 3 million dollars for. But don't worry, you don't need that much money to get a good one.

String instruments are put into three classes of according to quality:

Student Instruments

Step-Up Instruments

Professional Instruments

When a student first want to learn to play a string instrument, it is usually more of a discovery phase. "Am I going to like this and am I going to have talent for it". So unless you are Mozart and are writing symphonies at the age of 8, naturally, beginning students would start with a student instrument. These instruments are usually made to handle a decent tone and came produce a decent sound. The price range is usually $300-$1000 for a violin or viola, which includes the instrument, bow, and case. For a cello around $500-1200 and a bass $800-1500. But it works to give the test, "Am I going to like this and am I going to have talent for it".

After a year or two of playing (if he or she is taking private lessons then they advance sooner than this and could be as soon as one year), the teacher, parents, and student may decide that they are ready for a "Step-Up" instrument. This instrument is made of finer quality wood (perhaps aged better, better cut, from a better tree), the dimensions that are cut are cut better to produce a better tone, and the instrument maker is more skilled in the instrument crafting profession or it is a better model of their work. The price range is usually $1000-$2700 for a violin and viola, just for the instrument itself. For a cello $1200-$3500 and for a bass $1500-$4000 just for the instrument itself (I'm not as familar with the prices of cello and bass upgrade so these are more like educated guesses but are pretty close). For the student, the sound comes from the instrument much easier with out as much work when playing. They can hear the pitches or tones easier that come from the instrument to get them well in tune. It really, in a matter of speaking, it is an upgrade to their playing.

The Professional Instruments are usually for students who are very serious musicians. Though I have had many students in middle school buy professional instruments and the benefits have been clear. These instruments are made of the finest woods and are cut to the best dimensions to optimize their sound. The instrument makers are the best in the world and have been crafting instruments for generations. Many of the finest instruments are made in Italy, Germany, and France. Though many countries have world famous instrument makers. The price range is more of just a starting point and then the sky is the limit. Violins and violas $2700-(I could put number with a lot of zeros here), cellos $3500-(Even more zeros after this number) and basses $4000-(You get the picture) just for the instruments themselves. For the student, the tone is so clear that it takes on different characteristics of unique quality. For example, two different professional models of a violin made by different makers. One might have a rich heavy low tone on the lower two strings and a warm medium tone for the top two strings where as the other violin might carry a medium tone on the lower two strings but a high bright clear tone on the top two strings. This would make the first violin excellent for warm romantic songs with lush melodies and the other violin perhaps better for virtuosic fast and high songs, show pieces and things. These are just made up scenarios to give you an idea.

I hope this helps some for peope trying to understand the reasons for better quality instruments. Choosing bows is a whole other story. Better bows become important in Step-Up and Professional Instrument stages. They can respond for each person differently, just as an instrument can.

McCants Orchestra

Upgrading to Higher End Instruments