In-Store Selection
Quality Instruments
Carefully Selected & Expertly Prepared
Choosing the right instrument is an important step for any musician. At Ferguson Violins, we help players find instruments that feel comfortable, sound good, and support their current level of playing.
Because every instrument responds differently, we prefer helping customers in person, where you can compare instruments and find the one that feels right.
We do not sell instruments directly through the website
What Makes Our
Instruments Different
Many instruments online may look similar—but setup and adjustment make a major difference in how an instrument plays.
Bridge and Soundpost
We shape the bridge to the curve of the top and set the soundpost until the instrument speaks evenly across all four strings.
Fingerboard and String Height
The fingerboard is trued and the nut and bridge heights are cut so notes stop cleanly, without the player having to force them.
Strings and Final Adjustment
We fit strings suited to the instrument, set the tailpiece and fine tuners, then play it in and adjust until it responds the way it should.
The result is an instrument that feels easier to play and supports musical progress.
Instrument
Categories
Student Instruments
Reliable beginner instruments for school orchestra students and new players. We choose them for comfortable string height, honest tone, and tuning that holds, because the things that make daily practice frustrating are the things that make a beginner quit. Each one is fitted to the player and fully set up before it leaves the shop.
Workshop Instruments
Intermediate instruments offering improved tone, responsiveness, and craftsmanship for advancing players. This is the step most players take when technique starts to outrun the first instrument, and a fuller sound, quicker response under the bow, and real projection in a section begin to matter. For many students it is the instrument they keep through high school.
Fine Instruments
Instruments for serious players seeking greater depth, projection, and tonal refinement. These are selected individually for character rather than consistency, and they reward a developed technique with colour and carrying power. We expect you to play several before deciding, and we would rather you took the time.
Rentals
Renting an
Instrument
For school orchestra students and families starting out, renting is often the sensible first step. We keep rental violins, violas and cellos, and every rental is set up to the same standard as an instrument we sell.
Call (208) 356-0231 for current rates and availability, or come by the shop and we will fit the player properly before anything goes home.
Trade-In Options
Upgrading
Instruments
As players improve, many families choose to upgrade. Any instrument bought from Ferguson Violins is eligible for trade-in credit equal to its original purchase price, provided it has been looked after, so the money spent on a first instrument is never money spent twice.
That is also why we would rather sell a family the right instrument than the most expensive one. Bring the instrument in and we will assess its condition with you.
Common
Questions
Do you sell instruments online?
No. Every instrument responds differently, and two of the same model can sound and feel quite unlike each other. We would rather you played several in the shop and chose the one that suits you. Call (208) 356-0231 and we will set instruments aside to try.
What size instrument does my child need?
Size is set by the player's arm length and hand, not by age, and an instrument one size too large is harder to play and slower to progress on. Bring your child in and we will measure and fit them properly. It takes a few minutes and it makes a real difference.
What does setup actually mean?
Setup is the hand work done to an instrument after it is built: shaping the bridge, positioning the soundpost, truing the fingerboard, cutting the string heights, and fitting strings and pegs. It is the difference between an instrument that fights the player and one that helps. Every instrument we sell is set up here before it leaves.
Do you rent instruments?
Yes. We keep rental violins, violas and cellos for students and for families starting out, and rentals are prepared to the same standard as the instruments we sell. Call for current rates and availability.
What happens when we want to upgrade?
Any instrument purchased from us can be traded in for credit equal to its original purchase price, as long as its condition has been maintained. That applies whether you are moving up a size or moving up a grade.
What does the lifetime warranty cover?
Every instrument we sell carries a lifetime repair warranty. The full terms are set out on our warranty page, and the short version is that we intend to keep your instrument playing for as long as you own it.
Try Instruments in Person
Contact us to schedule a visit to our shop