How we price

A single number is a lie of omission. Every instrument on this site gets three, because that's how the market actually works.

Three tiers, not one number

Ask what a cello costs and the true answer is three answers. A student cello, an intermediate step-up, and a professional instrument are barely the same product at the price level. So each cost page gives you the range at each tier and, just as important, what you get for it: the tonewood, the fittings, the setup, whether a bow and case are included. The tier you belong in depends on how long you plan to play, not on what a salesperson thinks you can afford.

Every figure is dated

Instrument prices move with materials, currency, and stock. So we check each figure against a manufacturer's own page or a major retailer, and we print the month we looked right on the page. If a price is older than you'd like, you'll know, and you'll know to confirm it at the shop. We re-check the cost pages on a schedule and bump the date when we do.

We'll tell you to spend less

A lot of the value here is a "don't." Don't buy the $40 marketplace "violin" that arrives unplayable. Don't buy new when a used step-up holds its value and plays better. Don't rent for three years when buying pays for itself in one. Where used or rented is the smarter money, the page says so, even though we earn nothing on that advice.

Where the accessory budget hides

The instrument is often not the whole cost. Reeds and strings wear out and get rebought; a drum kit's cymbals and hardware can match the shell price; a bow can cost as much as a beginner violin. We break out the gear you'll actually keep buying so the number you plan around is the real one.

The honest caveat

Prices vary by brand, condition, and region, and a great used find or a holiday sale can beat every range we publish. Treat our figures as the straight middle of the market on the date shown, then confirm the exact price with the retailer before you buy. Find one that's drifted? Email hello@soundpretty.com.