Strings
String instrument prices
Violin, cello, harp, guitar, double bass. Strings hold the widest price spread of any family: a playable student outfit can be under a few hundred dollars while a professional instrument runs into five and six figures. Here is what each one actually costs, tier by tier.
Cello Cost: Student to Professional Prices (2026)
$400–$40,000
What a cello really costs in 2026: a playable student outfit runs $400 to $2,000, intermediate cellos $2,500 to $8,000, and professional instruments $10,000 and up.
Double Bass Cost: Student to Professional Prices (2026)
$1,000–$20,000
What a double bass really costs in 2026: a student upright runs $1,000 to $4,000, intermediate basses $4,500 to $7,000, and professional instruments $8,000 and up.
Guitar Cost: Beginner to Professional Prices (2026)
$100–$3,500
What a guitar really costs in 2026: a playable beginner guitar runs $100 to $350, intermediate models $400 to $1,000, and professional instruments $1,000 and up.
Harp Cost: Lever to Pedal Harp Prices (2026)
$1,000–$80,000
What a harp really costs in 2026: a beginner lever harp runs $1,000 to $5,000, while concert pedal harps start around $15,000 and reach $80,000 and beyond.
Violin Cost: Student to Professional Prices (2026)
$120–$40,000
What a violin really costs in 2026: a quality student outfit runs $120 to $500, intermediate violins $600 to $2,500, and professional instruments $5,000 and up.