Standard Viola Rental

Name: Standard Viola Rental - Antonio Strad Violin
SKU: VIR-01-1
Availability: InStock

From: $33.00 / month

The Standard is a handmade Antonio Strad viola, hand-carved from well-aged spruce and maple. These violas are professionally set up in San Antonio with USA made D’Addario strings and a french Aubert bridge.

What does all of the above mean for the player?
It means the viola sounds great and is fun to play. A good sound will equal more practice and the more you play the better you’ll get.

Free Nationwide Shipping

3 Month Minimum

Size Chart

How to measure for the Viola

Lift the left arm and extend it fully to the side, parallel to the floor with the palm facing upward. Measure from the neck to the middle of the palm.

It’s better to play on an instrument that is a bit smaller than one that is bigger, especially for beginners. See our chart for the approximate sizing.

Also, please feel free to give us a ring. We can help over the phone or even FaceTime, Zoom or Google Hangouts: 800-284-9788

Viola Size	Arm Measurement	Age
12'	20'' - 21.9''	7 - 8 YRS
13'	22'' - 22.9''	9 - 10 YRS
14'	23'' - 23.9''	11 - 12 YRS
15'	24'' - 24.9''	13 - 14 YRS
15.5'	25'' - 25.9''	14+ YRS
16'	26'' - 26.9''	14+ YRS
16.5'	27''+	14+ YRS

Condition	Previously Played $0.00 / month New $7.00 / month
Bow	Fiberglass Bow Included $0.00 / month Carbon Fiber Bow Upgrade $7.00 / month
Protection	Basic Protection $0.00 / month Covers damage to instrument, bow and case Preferred Protection $2.00 / month Same as the Basic plan and replaces broken strings

The Standard is a handmade Antonio Strad viola, hand-carved from well-aged spruce and maple. The standard rental viola is professionally set up in San Antonio with USA made D’Addario strings and a french Aubert bridge.
What does all of the above mean for the violin player? It means the viola sounds great and is fun to play. A good sound will equal more practice and the more you play the better you’ll get.

Free Nationwide Shipping

3 Month Minimum

What’s Included

We are the only rental company that includes a shoulder rest!

Instrument

Case

Bow

Shoulder Rest

Rosin

Why Antonio Strad?

We are the largest stringed instrument rental company for a reason. We produce the finest instruments and have the best rental program in the world.

No Commitment

Get started without the upfront cost of a large investment and cancel any time.

Earn Credit Towards Buying Your Rental

Build credit towards your next instrument; up to 100% in the first year. And up to 80% after the first year towards buying your rental instrument.

Use Credit for Buying an Advanced Instrument

Use 80% of your rental payments towards purchasing a fine instrument. You can cut up to half of the entire cost!

Change Size

Our rental program offers the flexibility to change your instrument size at any time.

Upgrade Anytime

Switch from a student grade rental to an advanced or professional rental instrument at your pleasure.

Nationwide Shipping

We rent and sell Violins, Violas and Cellos nationwide.

Viola Rental FAQ’s

How do I choose the right instrument for me or my child?

It all depends on age and experience. An adult might consider an advanced instrument or even a professional model.

Our Standard models are ideal for students or children that have never before played an instrument. We professionally adjust our beginner models to help achieve a more orchestral sound (meaning fuller and louder). This is done in an effort to help the student develop their ear faster. One of the great benefits of our rental program is the ability to upgrade at any time. If you are unsure about playing long- term, renting is an ideal option.

Like most things in life, the higher the quality of instrument, the easier it is to learn and develop. People often become unhappy with their instrument, primarily because of its sound quality. Regardless of experience, the better the instrument, the better the chances are a student can fully realize their potential.

If you or your child has more than a year experience, definitely consider one of our Advanced models. Our Master models are essential for someone with more than several years of experience, such as a middle-school or high-school student. Ouradvanced models are more responsive and have a bigger sound, warmer tones and high-quality woods. And remember, our rental program allows you to continually upgrade while earning credit and minimize the out-of-pocket expenses when looking to buy an advanced instrument.

Why rent an instrument?

Renting reduces financial risk by investing only a small monthly fee for a top-quality instrument. If the student does not show long-term interest, as not all are cut out for orchestra, renting eliminates the possible burden of paying the complete price for an instrument and trying to sell it when it is not being used anymore. Under our unique rental program, students may upgrade to a larger or higher quality instrument as often as necessary. 100% of rental fees (excluding the Protection Plan and Tax) may be applied to the purchase of a higher quality instrument at any time. Renting from Antonio Strad Violin allows you to leverage your rental payments for a more advanced instrument without a high, out-of- pocket, expense.

Why rent from Antonio Strad Violin?

We professionally shop adjust all our instruments in San Antonio, Texas for fast learning and better development.
We install ebony fingerboards on all our student-level instruments and plane them to exacting specifications, making it easier to play in tune.
We use only name brand strings, like Pro Arte, Helicore, and Dominant for a richer, more responsive experience.
We hand-carve every bridge, so the feet match the face of the instrument and the curve to offset string thickness for ease of finer movement.
We install ebony pegs and tailpieces with fine tuner, so instruments are easily tuned—and stay that way.
Our bows are real horse hair.
Our instrument outfits arrive guaranteed to be in excellent playing condition.
Earn up to 120% credit that can be applied towards your purchase of an instrument.

It's just my kid. Shouldn’t I buy a cheap instrument elsewhere?

You can find cheap string instruments on the internet, at flea markets or even in some music stores. They are cheap because they are made by unskilled workers instead of highly-trained, professional luthiers. Such instruments are often made from unseasoned, poor quality wood or a laminate wood, essentially plywood. As a result, these instruments are hard to tune, hard to play and sound awful. The frustrations of playing an inferior instrument often lead to a lack of interest in playing and, in most cases, the cost of suitable replacement parts may be higher than the cost of the cheap instrument itself.

It takes much less time and effort to make progress on a good instrument. Your child’s success depends on it, along with good teaching, efficient practice and parent encouragement. It requires a serious effort to produce a beautiful sound on a stringed instrument. We want your student to be successful. We select, prepare and adjust each instrument according to professional standards while keeping the cost to our customers low. These quality instruments are much easier to learn to play and we stand behind our instruments with unmatched customer service.

Still not keen on renting? Ask about our sale prices. You will be pleasantly surprised at just how affordable buying a quality instrument can be.

Why are Antonio Strad’s instruments considered the best in the business?

We could talk about this section all day. Spruce wood is used for the top of the instrument, maple for the back, sides and neck, and natural ebony fittings are the most common materials for the Antonio Strad violin family of instruments. Many instruments on the market are NOT made with these special woods and are nothing more than violin imitations. Even with the right kinds of wood, a real violin can be only be made by a highly-trained maker, a luthier, who possesses special knowledge and skills. The surface of the fingerboard, the height of both bridge/nut and the arch of the bridge are all crucial in the construction of a quality instrument. And again, a fine quality instrument can improve your playing significantly.

Higher quality instruments are being made in-house today by skilled artisans, exhibiting unique craftsmanship in the art of making quality string instruments. These superb artists and craftsmen pay careful attention to every detail, requiring hundreds of hours to create a single instrument. They put their names on the labels inside violins. Instruments like these can be quite expensive.

Here at Antonio Strad Violin, you will find both new and used, quality instruments from the best workshops in Europe and China. Internationally Gold-medal winning Chinese makers are producing string instruments exclusively for us. We also carry contemporary and older fine instruments from around the world, which are standard for competitions, scholarship auditions and professional performances.

Should I continue to rent through the summer?

Yes, for two very important reasons.

First, private lessons in the summer can provide both the novice and experienced musicians with opportunities for personal advancement. When school is out, students usually have more time and energy to devote to practice. In addition, many universities, some school districts, and the San Antonio Youth Orchestras offer orchestra summer camps which combine recreation with an intense orchestra agenda, including chamber music and private tutoring from campus faculty members. The more you practice, the better you play and the more you enjoy the music. The summer break is too long to go without playing, especially if you want to be a skilled player and be competitive in the school’s orchestra. Those that ractice in the summer can gain that First Chair easily once school commences.

Second, as you continue to practice through the summer on your rental instrument, you continue to accumulate rental credit towards the purchase of a larger or better- quality instrument. If you stop renting in the summer, the rental credit already earned is lost and in the fall you have to start over again.

What happens if my rental instrument is accidentally damaged?

Under our worry-free protection plan (usually already included in your monthly payment), accidental damage, loss in fire, and forced theft is covered with no deductible.

If you suspect or know your instrument rental is damaged, bring it in for repair. Our system will automatically assign a 4-5-day lead time for all repairs, however, for a nominal fee, we offer same and next day rush services as well.

Knowing your instrument is covered gives you the peace-of-mind to nurture and encourage practicing and playing often.

Let us help you find the
right instrument.

Antonio Strad has been trusted by musicians for more than 24 years. With our guidance, you can find the size, style and level to fit your musical ability. Before you hit your first note, you’ll be well on your way to reaching your potential as a musician.

Visit a Store

Contact

Schedule a Video Call

Video Chat

Browse

Want to chat?

Social

Standard Viola Rental