Violins for Sale & Rental
Peter Zaret & Sons Violin shop has an extensive inventory of superb Violins, ranging from Old Masters to high-quality new instruments from around the world. Our store selection includes instruments for the most discriminating professional and/or collector, to those important early instruments for students. We number among our clients classical musicians, jazz violinists, bluegrass, folk and country fiddlers -- the entire spectrum.
Over the years, we have successfully helped hundreds of string players find an instrument that is ideal for his or her individual playing style, musical needs and skill levels. We carry 7/8 sizes in several of our violin lines, too!
Below are some samples of instruments we currently have available.
Click on the links to see the instrument.
Our Inventory of Violins
Maintaining a continually rotating quality inventory can be challenging as it is becoming increasingly difficult to find fine older violins, particularly from the most desired countries such as Italy and France. A growing number of gifted students and professionals are competing for a limited supply of these rare and expensive instruments -- those which are both older and still in good playing condition. Fortunately, due to our reputation in the string instrument community, we are continually offered fine instruments to buy or take on consignment. In recent years, our collection has included the works of such makers as Stradivari, Guadagnini, Guarneri, Presssenda, Rocca, Ceruti, Ventapane, Vuillaume, Gand, Bernardel, Scarampella, Guerra, Bisiach, Pollastri, Garimberti, Antoniazzi, Degani (among many others). We usually have some good examples of these works available.
However, it is not sufficient merely to have a large selection of old instruments. The instruments should also be in the best possible condition. An old violin with a multitude of cracks, poor retouching and/or other repairs represents an unsound investment from the standpoints of dollars, tone and reliability. We try only to sell instruments that are in at least good condition. With our 100% trade-in policy we know that a good many of these instruments will return in one way or another.
In addition to our older instruments our inventory includes new instruments that we believe will improve with age. After all, every Stradivarius was once new! Some very fine instruments are being built these days and depending on your budget, an excellent new instrument may offer much more bang for your buck than can an older instrument that is less expensive due to poor condition or other problems.
Our Patented Bass Bar
We also offer another option. We sell quite a few instruments with Peter Zaret's patented bass bar. This bass bar greatly enhances the tone. It makes it more powerful, rich, clear, resonant, and gets rid of the wolf tones almost entirely. We sell these instruments, both old and new at a fraction of the price of the increasingly scarce French and Italian violins. More can be read about this in articles that appeared in the May 2003 issue of Strad Magazine (Banishing the Wolf: Does Peter Zaret's patented redesign of the bass-bar really give a stronger wolf-free sound?), and the March 2004 issue of Strings Magazine (Ace of Bass: Peter Zaret's patented bass bar pleases players and puzzles Luthiers).
If you are seeking a fine violin, viola, cello or bass we invite you to call or visit our store and find out what we have to offer. Of course, our collection is always changing. Our staff will be happy to show you our offerings or if you are not in Ohio and desire not to travel we will be happy to send some instruments to you. Instruments will be shipped within 48 hours unless there is a scarcity.
We work directly with the students, parents, and teachers.
