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Orchestral String Instruments

Choose your next string instrument with confidence! Buying a string instrument can be a big investment, and we want to make sure that you get the best gear possible. That's why we created the Sweetwater 40-point String Inspection. Here’s how it works:

Fit and finish inspection.

Our professional technicians quality check every string instrument from scroll to end pin.

Playability check.

Techs verify action and basic intonation and play test all notes before a final polish.

Complete climate control from start to finish.

Total instrument acclimation in a temperature and humidity controlled environment.

Preparing your new instrument for the journey home.

We carefully repack and ship your instrument, verifying it is in ready-to-play condition.

Instrument Rentals: Inspected. Tested. Ready to play.

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What Is a Sales Engineer?

Skyler Giordano

Sweetwater Sales Engineer

The Sweetwater Difference

Why Choose Sweetwater?

At Sweetwater, we have one single goal in mind — to make you a satisfied customer. That single focus is our shared commitment and promise to you, and it drives everything we do at Sweetwater. We’re here to help you live your music dreams by giving you more than any other retailer.

40-point Inspection

We inspect every part of your brass, woodwind, or string instrument to ensure that it is factory fresh and ready to play!

Personalized Gear Advice

Every customer has a dedicated Sales Engineer — a personal gear expert — to help them choose the perfect gear with confidence.

Live Support from Gear Experts

Our on-site Support team is just a phone call away when customers need help getting up and running.

Free 2-year Warranty

Our Total Confidence Coverage Warranty gives customers extra peace of mind at no extra charge.

Fast, Free Shipping

From guitar picks to complete drum kits, nearly everything ships for free — no minimum purchase required.

Payment Options for Every Budget

With budget-friendly flexible payments and special financing available, we give customers more ways to pay than anyone else.

Sweetwater’s Your Hub for Orchestral String Instruments

Sweetwater carries a wide selection of orchestral string instruments and accessories from respected brands such as Yamaha, Revelle, Knilling, Eastman, Scherl & Roth, NS Design, and more. From student-level violins and cellos to professional violas and double basses, we can help you find the instrument you’ve been searching for.

Orchestral String Instruments List

Sweetwater’s orchestral string lineup includes:

  • Violins
  • Violas
  • Cellos (or celli)
  • Double basses

What Instruments Are in a String Quartet?

For chamber music, a typical string quartet includes two violins, one viola, and one cello. This configuration can cover the lion’s share of chamber music written by Classical-era composers. This blend works well for weddings, garden parties, and cruises. Adding a double bass can create extra low-end depth and a fuller sound, which suits music written with a bass part.

Why Buy Your Next String Instrument from Sweetwater?

All of Sweetwater’s orchestral string instruments come inspected and tested by our knowledgeable team of instrument handlers. We call it our 40-point String Inspection. After allowing instruments to acclimate for 24 hours, our handlers take these steps to help you and your band enjoy a positive playing experience right out of the case.

  • Examine the finish/varnish for cracks, blemishes, or shipping defects
  • Inspect the F-holes, ribs, neck, scroll, fingerboard, nut, and saddle for cosmetic defects
  • Check mechanical parts (tuning pegs, fine tuners, etc.,) for mobility
  • Verify that string height, string spacing, and bridge position fall within acceptable spec
  • Play test all notes in the instrument’s normal range, checking for playability and bridge curvature
  • Stretch the strings and retune the instrument
  • Polish the instrument, repackage it, and store it in a climate-controlled warehouse prior to shipment

Once inspected, your orchestral string instrument ships with a certificate signed by the tech who completed the process.

Don’t Forget the Accessories

Regular care and maintenance can help keep your string instrument in performance condition for your next outing. Orchestral strings, bows and rosin, polish and cloth, and humidifiers cover the basics.

Violin players and violists, don’t underestimate the advantage an upgraded shoulder rest can give you during those after-hours practice sessions.

Looking to ditch the pitch pipe? An electronic cello tuner or violin tuner can help you dial in your intonation to a level of accuracy that’s hard to match by ear. Clip-on tuners typically attach to your instrument’s scroll or bridge and tuck back neatly into a case once you’re tuned.

Need a case for your string instrument? Sweetwater carries gig bags and hard cases for violin, viola, cello, and double bass. We also carry pickups and microphones, stands and hangers, mutes, and practice aids.

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