Orchestral Strings Melbourne - Violins, Violas, Cellos & Accessories
Orchestral Strings Melbourne - Violins, Violas, Cellos & Accessories
Angkor Music Melbourne has served the orchestral string community since 1976, providing exceptional violins, violas, cellos, and comprehensive accessories supporting students, amateurs, and professional players across all skill levels. Located at 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona, our showroom stocks complete ranges from leading European makers including Gliga, Sandner, and Raggetti, alongside carefully restored antique instruments up to 300 years old and specialized baroque cellos and violas da gamba. What distinguishes Angkor Music is our comprehensive professional setup on every instrument sold - we install genuine French Aubert bridges, fit quality strings, ensure properly adjusted pegs, and optimize bridge height and soundpost position for peak tonal performance. Our workshop provides expert lutherie services including instrument restoration, bow rehairing, bridge fitting, soundpost adjustment, and comprehensive maintenance supporting your instruments throughout their lifespans. Whether you're seeking a reliable student violin for a beginning player, an advancing intermediate cello supporting skill development, a professional-grade Gliga Maestro, or a characterful antique violin with centuries of history, every instrument receives meticulous setup attention ensuring optimal playability and tone from day one. Call us on (03) 8360 7799 to discuss your orchestral string needs, or visit our Altona location where we maintain Melbourne's most comprehensive professionally-setup string instrument inventory.
Violins - Student Through Professional and Antique Instruments
Our violin department represents the heart of our orchestral string business, offering comprehensive selections spanning reliable student models through professional instruments and carefully restored antique violins with remarkable histories. Every violin receives our signature professional setup including French Aubert bridges, quality strings, properly fitted pegs, and optimized adjustments ensuring each instrument performs at its absolute best regardless of price point or age.
Gliga violins represent our strongest-selling violin brand, delivering exceptional Romanian craftsmanship across student through professional levels. The Gliga 3 student violin provides reliable performance for beginning players, featuring solid carved construction, hand-applied varnish, and genuine acoustic tone supporting technique development. Available in sizes from 1/16 through full 4/4, these instruments accommodate young beginners through adult students. Our professional setup including French Aubert bridges elevates Gliga 3 performance significantly beyond typical student instruments, transforming good violins into excellent tools for musical development.
The Gliga 2 advancing violin targets players progressing beyond beginner levels, featuring enhanced wood selection, refined construction, and improved tonal characteristics compared to student models. These violins suit developing players preparing for examinations, ensemble participation, or advancing through challenging repertoire requiring increased dynamic range and expressive capability. The Gliga 2 represents excellent value for serious students, delivering performance supporting years of musical growth without requiring immediate upgrades.
Gliga 1 advanced violins provide professional-grade performance suitable for advanced students, amateur orchestral players, and professionals requiring reliable instruments for teaching, doubling, or backup purposes. These instruments feature premium tonewood pairings, hand-graduated construction optimizing resonance, and spirit varnish creating beautiful aesthetics while allowing acoustic properties to develop. Combined with our Aubert bridge installation and comprehensive setup, Gliga 1 violins compete with instruments costing substantially more.
Premium Gliga Maestro and Superior violins showcase Romanian lutherie at its finest, featuring master-level craftsmanship, exceptional tonewood selections, and construction approaching historical quality. These instruments suit professional soloists, orchestral principals, and serious collectors seeking exceptional value in premium violins. Our setup ensures these instruments perform at their absolute peak from the moment they leave our workshop.
Sandner violins bring German craftsmanship to our inventory, offering alternative tonal characteristics and construction approaches compared to Romanian instruments. Sandner produces reliable student instruments through advanced models, with each violin receiving our professional setup ensuring optimal performance. The German voicing often appeals to players seeking slightly different tonal characteristics compared to Gliga, providing options matching individual preferences.
Raggetti violins complete our new instrument selection, offering additional choices for players seeking specific tonal characteristics or aesthetic preferences. Like all instruments we sell, Raggetti violins receive comprehensive professional setup including French Aubert bridges and meticulous adjustment ensuring they perform optimally.
Our restored antique violin collection represents unique offerings for players seeking instruments with character, history, and tonal maturity impossible in new construction. We carefully restore violins up to 300 years old, addressing structural issues, fitting new components as needed, and performing comprehensive setup work bringing these historical instruments back to playing condition. Antique violins offer complex harmonic content and tonal depth that develops over centuries of aging and playing, creating sounds unavailable from even the finest new instruments. Each antique violin receives detailed documentation including provenance research when available, structural assessment, and restoration work performed. These instruments suit advanced players, collectors, and musicians seeking unique tonal characteristics and connections to musical history.
Cellos - Complete Range Across All Levels
Our cello department provides comprehensive selections from reliable student instruments through professional-grade cellos and specialized baroque instruments. Every cello receives our professional setup including French Aubert bridges, quality strings, proper bridge height adjustment, and soundpost optimization ensuring optimal tone production and comfortable playability.
Gliga cellos dominate our cello inventory, offering exceptional value across student through professional levels. The Gliga 3 student cello provides solid carved construction delivering genuine acoustic resonance supporting early technique development. Available in fractional sizes from 1/8 through full 4/4, these cellos accommodate young students through adults beginning cello studies. Our comprehensive setup transforms student cellos into properly adjusted instruments allowing rather than preventing musical progress.
The Gliga 2 advancing cello delivers enhanced tonal characteristics and improved projection compared to student models, featuring refined wood selection and construction quality supporting developing players through intermediate levels. These cellos suit students preparing for examinations, ensemble participation, or advancing through repertoire requiring increased dynamic range and expressive capability.
Gliga 1 advanced cellos target serious players requiring professional-grade instruments for performance, recording, or advanced study. These cellos feature premium tonewood pairings, hand-graduated construction, and spirit varnish creating instruments with complex harmonic content and powerful projection. Combined with our professional setup, Gliga 1 cellos deliver performance rivaling instruments costing substantially more.
Premium Gliga Maestro and Superior cellos provide professional options for advanced players and serious musicians requiring exceptional instruments supporting sophisticated musical expression. These cellos feature master-level craftsmanship with exceptional tonewood selections and construction approaching historical instruments.
Sandner cellos offer German alternatives with distinct tonal characteristics, while Raggetti cellos provide additional choices for players seeking specific voicing preferences. All cellos receive identical setup attention regardless of brand or price point, ensuring optimal performance from every instrument.
We stock specialized baroque cellos for historically-informed performance practice, featuring gut strings, baroque bridges, and period-appropriate setup supporting authentic interpretation of baroque and classical repertoire. These instruments suit period ensemble players, early music specialists, and cellists exploring historical performance practice. Our staff understand baroque setup requirements including different bridge styles, gut string characteristics, and playing technique considerations.
Violas - Complete Size Range for All Players
Our viola selection encompasses student through professional instruments across the complete size range from 12 inches through 16.5 inches, ensuring appropriate fitting for all players regardless of physical proportions or playing level. Every viola receives comprehensive professional setup including French Aubert bridges cut to proper height and positioned optimally for the viola's deeper voice.
Gliga violas provide our primary viola offerings, delivering reliable performance across all levels. The Gliga 3 student viola features solid carved construction and appropriate setup supporting beginning violists, available in sizes accommodating students from elementary ages through adults. Our professional setup including French Aubert bridges ensures even student violas deliver clear tone and comfortable playability.
The Gliga 2 advancing viola suits developing players requiring enhanced tonal characteristics and improved projection, while the Gliga 1 advanced viola delivers professional-grade performance suitable for serious study and performance applications. Premium Maestro and Superior violas provide exceptional instruments for professional violists and advanced players.
Sandner and Raggetti violas complete our viola inventory, offering alternative voicing and construction approaches. Viola sizing requires particular attention, with selection based primarily on arm length and hand size rather than age or playing level. Our staff help violists select appropriate sizes balancing comfort with tonal goals, preventing physical strain from instruments that are too large while ensuring adequate size for proper sound production.
Baroque and Historical Instruments
Beyond modern orchestral instruments, we stock specialized baroque and historical instruments supporting period performance practice and early music exploration. These instruments feature construction and setup appropriate for historically-informed performance, using gut strings, baroque bridges, and period fittings creating authentic sounds for baroque, classical, and earlier repertoire.
Baroque cellos feature gut strings, flatter baroque bridges, and setup optimized for period playing technique. The gut strings deliver warmer, less focused tone compared to modern steel strings, while the flatter bridges facilitate baroque bowing techniques and multiple-stop playing common in baroque repertoire. These instruments suit period ensemble players, early music specialists, and cellists exploring historically-informed performance practice.
Violas da gamba represent the viol family of fretted bowed instruments popular during Renaissance and Baroque periods. These instruments feature six or seven gut strings, frets allowing precise intonation, and different bowing techniques compared to modern cello. We stock bass viols suitable for baroque consort playing and solo repertoire including the extensive solo literature by composers like Marin Marais, Sainte-Colombe, and Abel. Our staff can provide guidance on viol technique, repertoire, and setup requirements for players transitioning from modern instruments or beginning viol studies.
Period instrument players appreciate our understanding of baroque setup requirements, gut string characteristics, and historical performance practice considerations. We can source appropriate gut strings, baroque bridges, and period fittings supporting authentic performance while providing maintenance and setup services ensuring these specialized instruments perform optimally.
String Instrument Accessories - Bows, Cases, Strings, and More
Our comprehensive string instrument accessories department provides everything needed to support optimal instrument performance and protect valuable investments. We stock quality components from reputable manufacturers, ensuring accessories match instrument quality rather than undermining performance through inadequate choices.
Bows significantly impact playability and tone production, with quality bows delivering superior response, smoother playing, and enhanced control compared to budget alternatives. We stock student through professional bows for violin, viola, and cello across Brazilwood, carbon fiber, and pernambuco materials. Student bows provide reliable performance at affordable prices, featuring durable construction withstanding the abuse typical of learning players. Intermediate bows deliver enhanced response and feel supporting developing technique, while professional pernambuco bows offer the finest playing characteristics, balance, and tonal control for serious players. Our bow rehairing service maintains bows in optimal condition, replacing worn horsehair with quality materials ensuring proper grip and control.
Strings dramatically affect instrument tone and playing characteristics, with different brands and materials creating distinct sounds and feels. We stock comprehensive string selections from leading manufacturers including Thomastik-Infeld, Pirastro, D'Addario, and others. Popular choices include Thomastik Dominant providing reliable synthetic core performance, Pirastro Evah Pirazzi delivering complex tone with powerful projection, and various specialized strings optimizing instruments for specific repertoire or playing styles. Our staff can recommend appropriate strings based on instrument characteristics and player preferences.
Cases protect valuable instruments from damage, weather, and theft while providing convenient transportation. We stock cases ranging from basic foam-lined fabric cases through professional-grade carbon fiber and wood shells offering maximum protection. Quality cases feature proper cushioning, secure closures, accessory storage, and weather resistance ensuring instruments remain safe during transport and storage. Lightweight carbon fiber cases provide excellent protection at reduced weight, benefiting students carrying instruments to lessons and professionals traveling frequently.
French Aubert bridges represent the gold standard in violin bridge manufacturing, produced from premium aged maple with optimal grain orientation and precise thickness graduation. We install Aubert bridges on every instrument we sell and stock replacements for players upgrading existing instruments. Proper bridge fitting requires specialized skills and tools, with our luthiers carefully shaping bridges to match individual instrument top curvatures and cutting heights optimizing string clearance and tone production.
Rosin provides bow grip essential for sound production, with different formulations suiting various climates, playing styles, and personal preferences. We stock popular brands including Pirastro, Hill, and others across various formulations from light rosins producing smooth tone to grippier alternatives supporting aggressive playing. Shoulder rests improve comfort and playing position, particularly important for students developing proper technique. Chin rests in various shapes and heights accommodate different facial structures and playing preferences. Additional accessories including fine tuners, mutes, cello endpin holders, and maintenance supplies ensure players have everything needed for optimal performance and instrument care.
Professional Lutherie Services and Instrument Maintenance
Our Altona workshop at 4-6 Drake Boulevard provides comprehensive lutherie services supporting string instruments throughout their lifespans. Beyond our signature setup on new instrument sales, we offer ongoing maintenance, repairs, restoration, and upgrades ensuring instruments perform optimally and remain in excellent playing condition.
Comprehensive instrument setup includes bridge fitting and height adjustment, soundpost positioning and adjustment, peg fitting and compound application, fingerboard planing when needed, nut adjustment optimizing string height and spacing, and string installation with proper stretching and settling. These services transform poorly-adjusted instruments into comfortable, responsive tools supporting musical development and performance. Many players purchase instruments elsewhere only to discover inadequate setup preventing optimal playability, requiring professional attention before achieving satisfactory results.
Instrument restoration addresses structural damage, wear, and aging affecting playability and value. We repair cracks, reglue open seams, replace damaged components, refinish worn varnish areas, and perform comprehensive restoration bringing instruments back to playing condition. Our antique violin restoration work combines traditional techniques with modern understanding, preserving historical integrity while ensuring structural soundness and optimal setup for contemporary playing.
Bow rehairing maintains bows in optimal condition, replacing worn horsehair with quality materials ensuring proper grip and control. We stock unbleached and bleached horsehair suiting different player preferences and provide quick turnaround on rehairs allowing minimal disruption to practice and performance schedules. Regular rehairing prevents damage to bow heads and frogs that can result from continuing to use worn hair lacking proper grip.
Seasonal adjustments address humidity-related changes affecting instrument setup. Melbourne's variable climate causes wood to swell and shrink with humidity fluctuations, potentially requiring soundpost adjustments, bridge modifications, or peg refitting. We provide these services ensuring instruments perform consistently year-round despite environmental variations. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss instrument maintenance needs or schedule appointments for setup work, repairs, or restoration services.
Orchestral String Instrument Price Guide Melbourne
Student Instruments - $899-$1,499
Including Gliga 3, entry-level Sandner, and Raggetti student models across violin, viola, and cello. These instruments feature solid carved construction with professional setup including French Aubert bridges, quality strings, and proper adjustment. Perfect for beginning students requiring reliable instruments supporting technique development through early intermediate levels. All sizes in stock from smallest fractional through full size.
Advancing Instruments - $1,599-$2,499
Features Gliga 2 and mid-range Sandner models with enhanced wood selection and refined construction. These instruments suit developing players preparing for examinations and ensemble participation. Includes complete professional setup with Aubert bridges and premium strings. Excellent value for intermediate students requiring enhanced tonal characteristics supporting continued skill development through advanced levels.
Advanced Instruments - $2,699-$4,999
Professional-grade Gliga 1, premium Sandner, and Raggetti instruments featuring premium tonewoods and master craftsmanship. Suitable for serious students, amateur orchestral players, and professionals. Our professional setup including French Aubert bridges ensures these instruments compete with alternatives costing substantially more. Exceptional value for players requiring professional performance.
Premium & Antique - $4,999+
Including Gliga Maestro and Superior instruments plus our collection of restored antique violins up to 300 years old. Premium instruments feature master-level craftsmanship while antiques offer unique character and historical significance. Prices for antique instruments vary based on age, maker, condition, and historical importance. Professional setup and comprehensive documentation included.
Why Buy Orchestral Strings from Angkor Music Melbourne
Professional Setup on Every Instrument
Every violin, viola, and cello sold receives comprehensive professional setup including genuine French Aubert bridges, quality strings, properly fitted pegs, and optimized bridge height and soundpost position. This meticulous setup transforms good instruments into excellent ones, ensuring optimal tone and playability from day one. Our luthiers invest hours in each instrument, providing setup quality rarely seen at our price points. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss our setup process and how it distinguishes us from other retailers.
Comprehensive Inventory and Expertise
Visit our Altona showroom at 4-6 Drake Boulevard where we stock complete ranges across violins, violas, and cellos in all sizes from smallest fractional through full size. Our staff provide expert guidance on instrument selection, size fitting, and accessory choices. We understand string instrument construction, setup requirements, and player needs across student through professional levels, ensuring you select appropriate instruments matching your requirements and budget.
Unique Antique and Historical Instruments
Our collection of carefully restored antique violins up to 300 years old provides unique options for players seeking character, history, and tonal maturity impossible in new construction. We also stock specialized baroque cellos and violas da gamba supporting period performance practice. This specialized inventory distinguishes us from typical string shops focusing only on modern instruments.
Complete Lutherie Services
Beyond sales, we provide ongoing lutherie services including setup adjustments, bridge fitting, soundpost work, bow rehairing, repairs, and restoration. Our workshop supports your instruments throughout their lifespans, ensuring optimal performance and protecting valuable investments. We handle everything from minor seasonal adjustments through comprehensive restoration of antique instruments. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss lutherie service needs or schedule appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions - Orchestral Strings Melbourne
What's included in your professional setup on string instruments?
Our comprehensive professional setup on every violin, viola, and cello includes genuine French Aubert bridge installation with precise fitting to the instrument's top curvature, bridge height cutting optimizing string clearance and tone production, bridge curve shaping supporting proper string spacing, soundpost positioning and adjustment optimizing tone transmission and structural support, peg fitting ensuring smooth operation without slipping or sticking, quality string installation with proper stretching and settling, nut adjustment verifying appropriate string height and spacing, and complete instrument inspection ensuring structural soundness. This setup requires hours of skilled labor per instrument, transforming factory-fresh instruments into properly adjusted tools performing at their absolute best. The French Aubert bridges alone represent significant investment, costing substantially more than generic alternatives but delivering superior tone transmission and reliable performance. Many retailers sell instruments with minimal setup requiring immediate professional work before achieving optimal playability. Our instruments arrive ready to perform from day one. Visit our Altona showroom at 4-6 Drake Boulevard to see our setup quality firsthand or call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss how this comprehensive approach distinguishes us from other retailers.
Should I buy a violin, viola, or cello for my child?
Instrument choice depends on several factors including child's physical size and strength, musical preferences and interests, school program requirements and availability, teacher recommendations, and family musical background. Violins suit most beginning students due to lighter weight, smaller size, and extensive teaching materials available for young players. The violin's treble range and melody-carrying role appeal to many children while the complete size range from 1/16 through full 4/4 accommodates students from very young ages through adults. Violas offer warmer, darker sound appealing to some students, though the larger size and heavier weight may challenge smaller children. Viola parts in orchestras and ensembles often provide essential inner voices, suiting students who enjoy supporting roles rather than melody-carrying positions. Cellos deliver rich, singing tone across wide range but require greater physical strength and coordination. Young cellists need adequate size and strength to manage the instrument's weight and reach positions comfortably. However, cello's bass register and prominent solo repertoire attract many students preferring lower voices. School orchestra needs often influence choice, with violins typically most numerous while violas and cellos may offer easier ensemble placement due to fewer competitors. Teacher recommendations prove valuable as instructors familiar with individual students can assess physical readiness, musical aptitude, and personality fit for different instruments. Visit our showroom where students can try instruments and staff can assess physical fit and comfort. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss individual situations and receive personalized guidance.
What are the benefits of buying restored antique violins?
Restored antique violins offer unique advantages including complex harmonic content and tonal maturity developed through centuries of aging and playing, impossible to replicate in new construction regardless of quality. The wood continues aging and vibrating over decades and centuries, developing acoustic properties contributing to rich, complex sound with depth and character unavailable from new instruments. Antique violins carry historical significance and provenance connecting players to musical heritage and traditions spanning centuries. Each instrument has unique story reflecting its maker, period, geographic origin, and previous owners, adding cultural and historical value beyond purely musical considerations. Well-chosen antique violins often appreciate in value over time, representing investments as well as musical tools. Quality restored antiques from recognized makers or periods can increase in value as they continue aging and as supply of historical instruments diminishes. The individual character and voice of antique instruments appeals to players seeking unique sounds rather than standardized modern production. No two antique violins sound identical, allowing musicians to find instruments matching their specific tonal preferences and playing styles. However, antique violins require careful evaluation, proper restoration, and ongoing maintenance ensuring structural soundness and optimal setup. Our restoration work addresses structural issues while preserving historical integrity, providing instruments ready for contemporary playing while maintaining authenticity and value. We provide detailed documentation including provenance research, structural assessment, and restoration work performed. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss our current antique violin inventory and schedule appointments to try these unique instruments.
How do I choose between Gliga, Sandner, and Raggetti instruments?
Gliga instruments from Romania represent our strongest-selling brand, offering exceptional value across student through professional levels with consistent quality, warm tonal characteristics, and reliable construction. Gliga's extensive range ensures appropriate models exist for every skill level and budget, while their Romanian manufacturing creates professional-grade instruments at prices well below Western European alternatives. Sandner instruments from Germany provide alternative voicing with slightly different tonal characteristics reflecting German lutherie traditions. Some players prefer Sandner's particular sound and feel, making them excellent choices for musicians seeking specific tonal qualities or those who respond better to German voicing compared to Romanian alternatives. Raggetti instruments offer additional options with their own distinctive characteristics and construction approaches. All three brands deliver quality appropriate for their price points, with choice depending primarily on individual tonal preferences rather than objective quality differences. Every instrument receives our identical professional setup including French Aubert bridges regardless of brand, ensuring all instruments perform optimally. The best approach involves trying instruments from different makers and selecting based on personal preference, comfort, and tonal response. Visit our Altona showroom where you can compare instruments side-by-side and our staff can help identify which brand's characteristics suit your playing style and musical requirements. Call (03) 8360 7799 to schedule dedicated trial appointments.
What accessories do I need when buying a string instrument?
Essential accessories for new string instrument players include quality bow matched to instrument size and player level, protective case providing safe transportation and storage, rosin creating bow grip necessary for sound production, shoulder rest for violin and viola improving comfort and playing position, and tuner helping beginning students develop accurate pitch recognition. Most instruments we sell include basic outfits with case and bow, though upgrading to better quality bows significantly improves playability and response. Additional recommended accessories include spare strings for emergency replacements when strings break, music stand supporting proper posture during practice, metronome developing consistent rhythm and tempo, cleaning cloth for removing rosin dust after playing, and method books or lesson materials supporting structured learning. Cellists additionally need endpin holder or rock stop preventing endpin slipping on smooth floors. More advanced players may want chin rest and shoulder rest options matching individual physical proportions, fine tuners easing tuning for players not yet proficient with pegs, quality rosin matched to climate and playing style, and premium strings optimizing instrument tone beyond stock strings. Our staff can recommend appropriate accessories based on instrument type, player level, and individual requirements, preventing unnecessary purchases while ensuring you have everything needed for successful playing. We stock comprehensive accessory selections from reputable manufacturers, ensuring quality matching instrument investments rather than undermining performance through inadequate choices. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss accessory needs or visit our showroom to see complete accessory range.
Do you offer rentals or rent-to-own programs?
Currently we focus on instrument sales rather than rental programs, believing outright purchase provides better long-term value for serious students. Rental programs suit families uncertain about commitment levels or those needing very short-term access, though cumulative rental costs often exceed quality instrument purchase prices within 1-2 years. For families concerned about sizing changes as children grow, we offer trade-in programs on instruments purchased from Angkor Music, providing credit toward larger sizes as students outgrow fractional instruments. This approach allows families to invest in quality instruments receiving our professional setup while managing upgrade costs through trade-in values. The trade-in approach typically costs less overall compared to extended rental periods while ensuring students always play properly setup quality instruments rather than rental stock that may receive minimal maintenance. However, we understand rental programs suit some families' circumstances and can recommend quality rental programs from other Melbourne providers when appropriate. Our focus remains providing exceptional instruments with professional setup at competitive prices, supporting long-term ownership rather than short-term rentals. For students demonstrating serious commitment and families able to invest in instrument ownership, purchasing quality instruments with our comprehensive setup provides best value and optimal playing experience supporting musical development. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss trade-in programs and explore options matching your specific situation and budget.
What makes baroque instruments different from modern orchestral instruments?
Baroque instruments feature construction and setup appropriate for historically-informed performance practice, using gut strings rather than modern steel or synthetic cores, creating warmer, less focused tone with quicker decay and different harmonic content. Gut strings respond differently to bowing requiring adjusted technique while delivering authentic baroque sound impossible from modern strings. Baroque bridges sit lower and flatter compared to modern highly-arched bridges, facilitating multiple-stop playing common in baroque repertoire while affecting tone transmission and response. The setup geometry including fingerboard angle, string height, and neck angle differs from modern standards, creating playing feel and response characteristics appropriate for baroque technique and repertoire. Baroque cellos often lack endpins with players supporting instruments between knees as period practice required, affecting playing position and technique. Violas da gamba represent entirely different instrument family featuring frets allowing precise intonation, six or seven gut strings tuned differently from modern cello, and different bowing technique using underhand bow grip. These instruments suit period ensemble playing and extensive solo repertoire from Renaissance and Baroque eras. Period instruments appeal to early music specialists, players exploring historically-informed performance practice, and musicians seeking authentic sounds for baroque and classical repertoire. Our staff understand baroque setup requirements and can provide guidance on instrument selection, gut string characteristics, and playing technique considerations. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss baroque instrument options and requirements.
How often do string instruments need professional maintenance?
String instruments require regular basic maintenance including rosin removal after playing and periodic string changes, plus professional attention addressing setup drift, seasonal adjustments, and component wear. Daily care involves wiping rosin dust from instrument tops and strings using soft dry cloths, preventing buildup damaging varnish and affecting tone. String changes depend on playing frequency, with active students requiring new strings every 3-6 months while occasional players may extend this to 6-12 months. Old strings lose brightness, develop false tones, and eventually break unexpectedly. Professional setup checks should occur annually or when playability changes noticeably, addressing soundpost position shifts, bridge warping or movement, peg fitting deterioration, and fingerboard wear. Melbourne's variable humidity causes seasonal wood movement potentially requiring soundpost adjustments, bridge modifications, or peg refitting ensuring optimal performance year-round. Signs requiring professional attention include buzzing indicating loose components or setup issues, difficulty tuning suggesting peg problems or string wear, thin or harsh tone indicating soundpost or bridge problems, and visible cracks, open seams, or varnish damage requiring immediate repair preventing further deterioration. Bows need rehairing every 6-12 months depending on playing frequency, with worn hair lacking proper grip and potentially damaging bow components if continued use stretches hair beyond appropriate tension. Proactive maintenance prevents minor issues from developing into expensive repairs while ensuring instruments perform optimally supporting musical development and enjoyment. We provide complete lutherie services including setup adjustments, seasonal maintenance, repairs, and restoration. Call (03) 8360 7799 to schedule maintenance appointments or discuss specific instrument concerns.
What's the price range for orchestral string instruments?
String instrument pricing varies significantly based on construction quality, maker, and materials. Student instruments including Gliga 3 and entry-level Sandner models range $899-$1,499 depending on size and type, providing reliable solid carved construction with our professional setup. Advancing instruments including Gliga 2 and mid-range options cost $1,599-$2,499 offering enhanced characteristics for developing players. Advanced instruments including Gliga 1 and premium models range $2,699-$4,999 delivering professional-grade performance. Premium instruments including Maestro and Superior series start at $4,999 featuring master craftsmanship. Restored antique violins vary widely based on age, maker, condition, and historical significance, with prices starting around $5,000 and extending upward for significant instruments. All prices include our comprehensive professional setup with French Aubert bridges, quality strings, and meticulous adjustment - value additions costing hundreds when obtained separately. This inclusive approach means instruments arrive ready to perform optimally without requiring immediate additional setup investment. We maintain competitive pricing while providing setup quality rarely seen at these price points. Call (03) 8360 7799 for current pricing on specific models and any promotional offers available.
Where can I try orchestral string instruments in Melbourne?
Visit Angkor Music Melbourne at 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona to experience our comprehensive orchestral string inventory spanning violins, violas, and cellos across all sizes and levels. We encourage hands-on testing allowing students and parents to experience how instruments feel, sound, and respond before purchasing. Our relaxed showroom environment supports extended evaluation without sales pressure, ensuring families select appropriate instruments matching individual needs. We provide guidance on proper size selection, demonstrate setup quality differences, and explain model level distinctions helping families make informed decisions. Teachers are welcome to accompany students for consultations, with their professional input valued in instrument selection processes. We also maintain antique violin inventory and baroque instruments available for trial by serious players. Regional customers unable to visit Altona can call (03) 8360 7799 for phone consultations discussing specific requirements, though we strongly recommend in-person visits when possible given how significantly individual instrument feel and student physical proportions affect appropriate selection. We ship instruments Australia-wide with insurance coverage and our comprehensive professional setup, ensuring even distant customers receive properly adjusted instruments ready for immediate playing.
Find Your Perfect Orchestral String Instrument at Angkor Music Melbourne
Ready to Experience Professional Setup Quality?
Visit our Altona showroom for complete violin, viola, and cello range with French Aubert bridges on every instrument. Student through professional levels, all sizes in stock.
Angkor Music Melbourne | 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona VIC 3018 | Professional String Instrument Setup Since 1976
Orchestral Strings Melbourne - Violins, Violas, Cellos & Accessories
Angkor Music Melbourne has served the orchestral string community since 1976, providing exceptional violins, violas, cellos, and comprehensive accessories supporting students, amateurs, and professional players across all skill levels. Located at 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona, our showroom stocks complete ranges from leading European makers including Gliga, Sandner, and Raggetti, alongside carefully restored antique instruments up to 300 years old and specialized baroque cellos and violas da gamba. What distinguishes Angkor Music is our comprehensive professional setup on every instrument sold - we install genuine French Aubert bridges, fit quality strings, ensure properly adjusted pegs, and optimize bridge height and soundpost position for peak tonal performance. Our workshop provides expert lutherie services including instrument restoration, bow rehairing, bridge fitting, soundpost adjustment, and comprehensive maintenance supporting your instruments throughout their lifespans. Whether you're seeking a reliable student violin for a beginning player, an advancing intermediate cello supporting skill development, a professional-grade Gliga Maestro, or a characterful antique violin with centuries of history, every instrument receives meticulous setup attention ensuring optimal playability and tone from day one. Call us on (03) 8360 7799 to discuss your orchestral string needs, or visit our Altona location where we maintain Melbourne's most comprehensive professionally-setup string instrument inventory.
Violins - Student Through Professional and Antique Instruments
Our violin department represents the heart of our orchestral string business, offering comprehensive selections spanning reliable student models through professional instruments and carefully restored antique violins with remarkable histories. Every violin receives our signature professional setup including French Aubert bridges, quality strings, properly fitted pegs, and optimized adjustments ensuring each instrument performs at its absolute best regardless of price point or age.
Gliga violins represent our strongest-selling violin brand, delivering exceptional Romanian craftsmanship across student through professional levels. The Gliga 3 student violin provides reliable performance for beginning players, featuring solid carved construction, hand-applied varnish, and genuine acoustic tone supporting technique development. Available in sizes from 1/16 through full 4/4, these instruments accommodate young beginners through adult students. Our professional setup including French Aubert bridges elevates Gliga 3 performance significantly beyond typical student instruments, transforming good violins into excellent tools for musical development.
The Gliga 2 advancing violin targets players progressing beyond beginner levels, featuring enhanced wood selection, refined construction, and improved tonal characteristics compared to student models. These violins suit developing players preparing for examinations, ensemble participation, or advancing through challenging repertoire requiring increased dynamic range and expressive capability. The Gliga 2 represents excellent value for serious students, delivering performance supporting years of musical growth without requiring immediate upgrades.
Gliga 1 advanced violins provide professional-grade performance suitable for advanced students, amateur orchestral players, and professionals requiring reliable instruments for teaching, doubling, or backup purposes. These instruments feature premium tonewood pairings, hand-graduated construction optimizing resonance, and spirit varnish creating beautiful aesthetics while allowing acoustic properties to develop. Combined with our Aubert bridge installation and comprehensive setup, Gliga 1 violins compete with instruments costing substantially more.
Premium Gliga Maestro and Superior violins showcase Romanian lutherie at its finest, featuring master-level craftsmanship, exceptional tonewood selections, and construction approaching historical quality. These instruments suit professional soloists, orchestral principals, and serious collectors seeking exceptional value in premium violins. Our setup ensures these instruments perform at their absolute peak from the moment they leave our workshop.
Sandner violins bring German craftsmanship to our inventory, offering alternative tonal characteristics and construction approaches compared to Romanian instruments. Sandner produces reliable student instruments through advanced models, with each violin receiving our professional setup ensuring optimal performance. The German voicing often appeals to players seeking slightly different tonal characteristics compared to Gliga, providing options matching individual preferences.
Raggetti violins complete our new instrument selection, offering additional choices for players seeking specific tonal characteristics or aesthetic preferences. Like all instruments we sell, Raggetti violins receive comprehensive professional setup including French Aubert bridges and meticulous adjustment ensuring they perform optimally.
Our restored antique violin collection represents unique offerings for players seeking instruments with character, history, and tonal maturity impossible in new construction. We carefully restore violins up to 300 years old, addressing structural issues, fitting new components as needed, and performing comprehensive setup work bringing these historical instruments back to playing condition. Antique violins offer complex harmonic content and tonal depth that develops over centuries of aging and playing, creating sounds unavailable from even the finest new instruments. Each antique violin receives detailed documentation including provenance research when available, structural assessment, and restoration work performed. These instruments suit advanced players, collectors, and musicians seeking unique tonal characteristics and connections to musical history.
Cellos - Complete Range Across All Levels
Our cello department provides comprehensive selections from reliable student instruments through professional-grade cellos and specialized baroque instruments. Every cello receives our professional setup including French Aubert bridges, quality strings, proper bridge height adjustment, and soundpost optimization ensuring optimal tone production and comfortable playability.
Gliga cellos dominate our cello inventory, offering exceptional value across student through professional levels. The Gliga 3 student cello provides solid carved construction delivering genuine acoustic resonance supporting early technique development. Available in fractional sizes from 1/8 through full 4/4, these cellos accommodate young students through adults beginning cello studies. Our comprehensive setup transforms student cellos into properly adjusted instruments allowing rather than preventing musical progress.
The Gliga 2 advancing cello delivers enhanced tonal characteristics and improved projection compared to student models, featuring refined wood selection and construction quality supporting developing players through intermediate levels. These cellos suit students preparing for examinations, ensemble participation, or advancing through repertoire requiring increased dynamic range and expressive capability.
Gliga 1 advanced cellos target serious players requiring professional-grade instruments for performance, recording, or advanced study. These cellos feature premium tonewood pairings, hand-graduated construction, and spirit varnish creating instruments with complex harmonic content and powerful projection. Combined with our professional setup, Gliga 1 cellos deliver performance rivaling instruments costing substantially more.
Premium Gliga Maestro and Superior cellos provide professional options for advanced players and serious musicians requiring exceptional instruments supporting sophisticated musical expression. These cellos feature master-level craftsmanship with exceptional tonewood selections and construction approaching historical instruments.
Sandner cellos offer German alternatives with distinct tonal characteristics, while Raggetti cellos provide additional choices for players seeking specific voicing preferences. All cellos receive identical setup attention regardless of brand or price point, ensuring optimal performance from every instrument.
We stock specialized baroque cellos for historically-informed performance practice, featuring gut strings, baroque bridges, and period-appropriate setup supporting authentic interpretation of baroque and classical repertoire. These instruments suit period ensemble players, early music specialists, and cellists exploring historical performance practice. Our staff understand baroque setup requirements including different bridge styles, gut string characteristics, and playing technique considerations.
Violas - Complete Size Range for All Players
Our viola selection encompasses student through professional instruments across the complete size range from 12 inches through 16.5 inches, ensuring appropriate fitting for all players regardless of physical proportions or playing level. Every viola receives comprehensive professional setup including French Aubert bridges cut to proper height and positioned optimally for the viola's deeper voice.
Gliga violas provide our primary viola offerings, delivering reliable performance across all levels. The Gliga 3 student viola features solid carved construction and appropriate setup supporting beginning violists, available in sizes accommodating students from elementary ages through adults. Our professional setup including French Aubert bridges ensures even student violas deliver clear tone and comfortable playability.
The Gliga 2 advancing viola suits developing players requiring enhanced tonal characteristics and improved projection, while the Gliga 1 advanced viola delivers professional-grade performance suitable for serious study and performance applications. Premium Maestro and Superior violas provide exceptional instruments for professional violists and advanced players.
Sandner and Raggetti violas complete our viola inventory, offering alternative voicing and construction approaches. Viola sizing requires particular attention, with selection based primarily on arm length and hand size rather than age or playing level. Our staff help violists select appropriate sizes balancing comfort with tonal goals, preventing physical strain from instruments that are too large while ensuring adequate size for proper sound production.
Baroque and Historical Instruments
Beyond modern orchestral instruments, we stock specialized baroque and historical instruments supporting period performance practice and early music exploration. These instruments feature construction and setup appropriate for historically-informed performance, using gut strings, baroque bridges, and period fittings creating authentic sounds for baroque, classical, and earlier repertoire.
Baroque cellos feature gut strings, flatter baroque bridges, and setup optimized for period playing technique. The gut strings deliver warmer, less focused tone compared to modern steel strings, while the flatter bridges facilitate baroque bowing techniques and multiple-stop playing common in baroque repertoire. These instruments suit period ensemble players, early music specialists, and cellists exploring historically-informed performance practice.
Violas da gamba represent the viol family of fretted bowed instruments popular during Renaissance and Baroque periods. These instruments feature six or seven gut strings, frets allowing precise intonation, and different bowing techniques compared to modern cello. We stock bass viols suitable for baroque consort playing and solo repertoire including the extensive solo literature by composers like Marin Marais, Sainte-Colombe, and Abel. Our staff can provide guidance on viol technique, repertoire, and setup requirements for players transitioning from modern instruments or beginning viol studies.
Period instrument players appreciate our understanding of baroque setup requirements, gut string characteristics, and historical performance practice considerations. We can source appropriate gut strings, baroque bridges, and period fittings supporting authentic performance while providing maintenance and setup services ensuring these specialized instruments perform optimally.
String Instrument Accessories - Bows, Cases, Strings, and More
Our comprehensive string instrument accessories department provides everything needed to support optimal instrument performance and protect valuable investments. We stock quality components from reputable manufacturers, ensuring accessories match instrument quality rather than undermining performance through inadequate choices.
Bows significantly impact playability and tone production, with quality bows delivering superior response, smoother playing, and enhanced control compared to budget alternatives. We stock student through professional bows for violin, viola, and cello across Brazilwood, carbon fiber, and pernambuco materials. Student bows provide reliable performance at affordable prices, featuring durable construction withstanding the abuse typical of learning players. Intermediate bows deliver enhanced response and feel supporting developing technique, while professional pernambuco bows offer the finest playing characteristics, balance, and tonal control for serious players. Our bow rehairing service maintains bows in optimal condition, replacing worn horsehair with quality materials ensuring proper grip and control.
Strings dramatically affect instrument tone and playing characteristics, with different brands and materials creating distinct sounds and feels. We stock comprehensive string selections from leading manufacturers including Thomastik-Infeld, Pirastro, D'Addario, and others. Popular choices include Thomastik Dominant providing reliable synthetic core performance, Pirastro Evah Pirazzi delivering complex tone with powerful projection, and various specialized strings optimizing instruments for specific repertoire or playing styles. Our staff can recommend appropriate strings based on instrument characteristics and player preferences.
Cases protect valuable instruments from damage, weather, and theft while providing convenient transportation. We stock cases ranging from basic foam-lined fabric cases through professional-grade carbon fiber and wood shells offering maximum protection. Quality cases feature proper cushioning, secure closures, accessory storage, and weather resistance ensuring instruments remain safe during transport and storage. Lightweight carbon fiber cases provide excellent protection at reduced weight, benefiting students carrying instruments to lessons and professionals traveling frequently.
French Aubert bridges represent the gold standard in violin bridge manufacturing, produced from premium aged maple with optimal grain orientation and precise thickness graduation. We install Aubert bridges on every instrument we sell and stock replacements for players upgrading existing instruments. Proper bridge fitting requires specialized skills and tools, with our luthiers carefully shaping bridges to match individual instrument top curvatures and cutting heights optimizing string clearance and tone production.
Rosin provides bow grip essential for sound production, with different formulations suiting various climates, playing styles, and personal preferences. We stock popular brands including Pirastro, Hill, and others across various formulations from light rosins producing smooth tone to grippier alternatives supporting aggressive playing. Shoulder rests improve comfort and playing position, particularly important for students developing proper technique. Chin rests in various shapes and heights accommodate different facial structures and playing preferences. Additional accessories including fine tuners, mutes, cello endpin holders, and maintenance supplies ensure players have everything needed for optimal performance and instrument care.
Professional Lutherie Services and Instrument Maintenance
Our Altona workshop at 4-6 Drake Boulevard provides comprehensive lutherie services supporting string instruments throughout their lifespans. Beyond our signature setup on new instrument sales, we offer ongoing maintenance, repairs, restoration, and upgrades ensuring instruments perform optimally and remain in excellent playing condition.
Comprehensive instrument setup includes bridge fitting and height adjustment, soundpost positioning and adjustment, peg fitting and compound application, fingerboard planing when needed, nut adjustment optimizing string height and spacing, and string installation with proper stretching and settling. These services transform poorly-adjusted instruments into comfortable, responsive tools supporting musical development and performance. Many players purchase instruments elsewhere only to discover inadequate setup preventing optimal playability, requiring professional attention before achieving satisfactory results.
Instrument restoration addresses structural damage, wear, and aging affecting playability and value. We repair cracks, reglue open seams, replace damaged components, refinish worn varnish areas, and perform comprehensive restoration bringing instruments back to playing condition. Our antique violin restoration work combines traditional techniques with modern understanding, preserving historical integrity while ensuring structural soundness and optimal setup for contemporary playing.
Bow rehairing maintains bows in optimal condition, replacing worn horsehair with quality materials ensuring proper grip and control. We stock unbleached and bleached horsehair suiting different player preferences and provide quick turnaround on rehairs allowing minimal disruption to practice and performance schedules. Regular rehairing prevents damage to bow heads and frogs that can result from continuing to use worn hair lacking proper grip.
Seasonal adjustments address humidity-related changes affecting instrument setup. Melbourne's variable climate causes wood to swell and shrink with humidity fluctuations, potentially requiring soundpost adjustments, bridge modifications, or peg refitting. We provide these services ensuring instruments perform consistently year-round despite environmental variations. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss instrument maintenance needs or schedule appointments for setup work, repairs, or restoration services.
Orchestral String Instrument Price Guide Melbourne
Student Instruments - $899-$1,499
Including Gliga 3, entry-level Sandner, and Raggetti student models across violin, viola, and cello. These instruments feature solid carved construction with professional setup including French Aubert bridges, quality strings, and proper adjustment. Perfect for beginning students requiring reliable instruments supporting technique development through early intermediate levels. All sizes in stock from smallest fractional through full size.
Advancing Instruments - $1,599-$2,499
Features Gliga 2 and mid-range Sandner models with enhanced wood selection and refined construction. These instruments suit developing players preparing for examinations and ensemble participation. Includes complete professional setup with Aubert bridges and premium strings. Excellent value for intermediate students requiring enhanced tonal characteristics supporting continued skill development through advanced levels.
Advanced Instruments - $2,699-$4,999
Professional-grade Gliga 1, premium Sandner, and Raggetti instruments featuring premium tonewoods and master craftsmanship. Suitable for serious students, amateur orchestral players, and professionals. Our professional setup including French Aubert bridges ensures these instruments compete with alternatives costing substantially more. Exceptional value for players requiring professional performance.
Premium & Antique - $4,999+
Including Gliga Maestro and Superior instruments plus our collection of restored antique violins up to 300 years old. Premium instruments feature master-level craftsmanship while antiques offer unique character and historical significance. Prices for antique instruments vary based on age, maker, condition, and historical importance. Professional setup and comprehensive documentation included.
Why Buy Orchestral Strings from Angkor Music Melbourne
Professional Setup on Every Instrument
Every violin, viola, and cello sold receives comprehensive professional setup including genuine French Aubert bridges, quality strings, properly fitted pegs, and optimized bridge height and soundpost position. This meticulous setup transforms good instruments into excellent ones, ensuring optimal tone and playability from day one. Our luthiers invest hours in each instrument, providing setup quality rarely seen at our price points. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss our setup process and how it distinguishes us from other retailers.
Comprehensive Inventory and Expertise
Visit our Altona showroom at 4-6 Drake Boulevard where we stock complete ranges across violins, violas, and cellos in all sizes from smallest fractional through full size. Our staff provide expert guidance on instrument selection, size fitting, and accessory choices. We understand string instrument construction, setup requirements, and player needs across student through professional levels, ensuring you select appropriate instruments matching your requirements and budget.
Unique Antique and Historical Instruments
Our collection of carefully restored antique violins up to 300 years old provides unique options for players seeking character, history, and tonal maturity impossible in new construction. We also stock specialized baroque cellos and violas da gamba supporting period performance practice. This specialized inventory distinguishes us from typical string shops focusing only on modern instruments.
Complete Lutherie Services
Beyond sales, we provide ongoing lutherie services including setup adjustments, bridge fitting, soundpost work, bow rehairing, repairs, and restoration. Our workshop supports your instruments throughout their lifespans, ensuring optimal performance and protecting valuable investments. We handle everything from minor seasonal adjustments through comprehensive restoration of antique instruments. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss lutherie service needs or schedule appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions - Orchestral Strings Melbourne
What's included in your professional setup on string instruments?
Our comprehensive professional setup on every violin, viola, and cello includes genuine French Aubert bridge installation with precise fitting to the instrument's top curvature, bridge height cutting optimizing string clearance and tone production, bridge curve shaping supporting proper string spacing, soundpost positioning and adjustment optimizing tone transmission and structural support, peg fitting ensuring smooth operation without slipping or sticking, quality string installation with proper stretching and settling, nut adjustment verifying appropriate string height and spacing, and complete instrument inspection ensuring structural soundness. This setup requires hours of skilled labor per instrument, transforming factory-fresh instruments into properly adjusted tools performing at their absolute best. The French Aubert bridges alone represent significant investment, costing substantially more than generic alternatives but delivering superior tone transmission and reliable performance. Many retailers sell instruments with minimal setup requiring immediate professional work before achieving optimal playability. Our instruments arrive ready to perform from day one. Visit our Altona showroom at 4-6 Drake Boulevard to see our setup quality firsthand or call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss how this comprehensive approach distinguishes us from other retailers.
Should I buy a violin, viola, or cello for my child?
Instrument choice depends on several factors including child's physical size and strength, musical preferences and interests, school program requirements and availability, teacher recommendations, and family musical background. Violins suit most beginning students due to lighter weight, smaller size, and extensive teaching materials available for young players. The violin's treble range and melody-carrying role appeal to many children while the complete size range from 1/16 through full 4/4 accommodates students from very young ages through adults. Violas offer warmer, darker sound appealing to some students, though the larger size and heavier weight may challenge smaller children. Viola parts in orchestras and ensembles often provide essential inner voices, suiting students who enjoy supporting roles rather than melody-carrying positions. Cellos deliver rich, singing tone across wide range but require greater physical strength and coordination. Young cellists need adequate size and strength to manage the instrument's weight and reach positions comfortably. However, cello's bass register and prominent solo repertoire attract many students preferring lower voices. School orchestra needs often influence choice, with violins typically most numerous while violas and cellos may offer easier ensemble placement due to fewer competitors. Teacher recommendations prove valuable as instructors familiar with individual students can assess physical readiness, musical aptitude, and personality fit for different instruments. Visit our showroom where students can try instruments and staff can assess physical fit and comfort. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss individual situations and receive personalized guidance.
What are the benefits of buying restored antique violins?
Restored antique violins offer unique advantages including complex harmonic content and tonal maturity developed through centuries of aging and playing, impossible to replicate in new construction regardless of quality. The wood continues aging and vibrating over decades and centuries, developing acoustic properties contributing to rich, complex sound with depth and character unavailable from new instruments. Antique violins carry historical significance and provenance connecting players to musical heritage and traditions spanning centuries. Each instrument has unique story reflecting its maker, period, geographic origin, and previous owners, adding cultural and historical value beyond purely musical considerations. Well-chosen antique violins often appreciate in value over time, representing investments as well as musical tools. Quality restored antiques from recognized makers or periods can increase in value as they continue aging and as supply of historical instruments diminishes. The individual character and voice of antique instruments appeals to players seeking unique sounds rather than standardized modern production. No two antique violins sound identical, allowing musicians to find instruments matching their specific tonal preferences and playing styles. However, antique violins require careful evaluation, proper restoration, and ongoing maintenance ensuring structural soundness and optimal setup. Our restoration work addresses structural issues while preserving historical integrity, providing instruments ready for contemporary playing while maintaining authenticity and value. We provide detailed documentation including provenance research, structural assessment, and restoration work performed. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss our current antique violin inventory and schedule appointments to try these unique instruments.
How do I choose between Gliga, Sandner, and Raggetti instruments?
Gliga instruments from Romania represent our strongest-selling brand, offering exceptional value across student through professional levels with consistent quality, warm tonal characteristics, and reliable construction. Gliga's extensive range ensures appropriate models exist for every skill level and budget, while their Romanian manufacturing creates professional-grade instruments at prices well below Western European alternatives. Sandner instruments from Germany provide alternative voicing with slightly different tonal characteristics reflecting German lutherie traditions. Some players prefer Sandner's particular sound and feel, making them excellent choices for musicians seeking specific tonal qualities or those who respond better to German voicing compared to Romanian alternatives. Raggetti instruments offer additional options with their own distinctive characteristics and construction approaches. All three brands deliver quality appropriate for their price points, with choice depending primarily on individual tonal preferences rather than objective quality differences. Every instrument receives our identical professional setup including French Aubert bridges regardless of brand, ensuring all instruments perform optimally. The best approach involves trying instruments from different makers and selecting based on personal preference, comfort, and tonal response. Visit our Altona showroom where you can compare instruments side-by-side and our staff can help identify which brand's characteristics suit your playing style and musical requirements. Call (03) 8360 7799 to schedule dedicated trial appointments.
What accessories do I need when buying a string instrument?
Essential accessories for new string instrument players include quality bow matched to instrument size and player level, protective case providing safe transportation and storage, rosin creating bow grip necessary for sound production, shoulder rest for violin and viola improving comfort and playing position, and tuner helping beginning students develop accurate pitch recognition. Most instruments we sell include basic outfits with case and bow, though upgrading to better quality bows significantly improves playability and response. Additional recommended accessories include spare strings for emergency replacements when strings break, music stand supporting proper posture during practice, metronome developing consistent rhythm and tempo, cleaning cloth for removing rosin dust after playing, and method books or lesson materials supporting structured learning. Cellists additionally need endpin holder or rock stop preventing endpin slipping on smooth floors. More advanced players may want chin rest and shoulder rest options matching individual physical proportions, fine tuners easing tuning for players not yet proficient with pegs, quality rosin matched to climate and playing style, and premium strings optimizing instrument tone beyond stock strings. Our staff can recommend appropriate accessories based on instrument type, player level, and individual requirements, preventing unnecessary purchases while ensuring you have everything needed for successful playing. We stock comprehensive accessory selections from reputable manufacturers, ensuring quality matching instrument investments rather than undermining performance through inadequate choices. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss accessory needs or visit our showroom to see complete accessory range.
Do you offer rentals or rent-to-own programs?
Currently we focus on instrument sales rather than rental programs, believing outright purchase provides better long-term value for serious students. Rental programs suit families uncertain about commitment levels or those needing very short-term access, though cumulative rental costs often exceed quality instrument purchase prices within 1-2 years. For families concerned about sizing changes as children grow, we offer trade-in programs on instruments purchased from Angkor Music, providing credit toward larger sizes as students outgrow fractional instruments. This approach allows families to invest in quality instruments receiving our professional setup while managing upgrade costs through trade-in values. The trade-in approach typically costs less overall compared to extended rental periods while ensuring students always play properly setup quality instruments rather than rental stock that may receive minimal maintenance. However, we understand rental programs suit some families' circumstances and can recommend quality rental programs from other Melbourne providers when appropriate. Our focus remains providing exceptional instruments with professional setup at competitive prices, supporting long-term ownership rather than short-term rentals. For students demonstrating serious commitment and families able to invest in instrument ownership, purchasing quality instruments with our comprehensive setup provides best value and optimal playing experience supporting musical development. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss trade-in programs and explore options matching your specific situation and budget.
What makes baroque instruments different from modern orchestral instruments?
Baroque instruments feature construction and setup appropriate for historically-informed performance practice, using gut strings rather than modern steel or synthetic cores, creating warmer, less focused tone with quicker decay and different harmonic content. Gut strings respond differently to bowing requiring adjusted technique while delivering authentic baroque sound impossible from modern strings. Baroque bridges sit lower and flatter compared to modern highly-arched bridges, facilitating multiple-stop playing common in baroque repertoire while affecting tone transmission and response. The setup geometry including fingerboard angle, string height, and neck angle differs from modern standards, creating playing feel and response characteristics appropriate for baroque technique and repertoire. Baroque cellos often lack endpins with players supporting instruments between knees as period practice required, affecting playing position and technique. Violas da gamba represent entirely different instrument family featuring frets allowing precise intonation, six or seven gut strings tuned differently from modern cello, and different bowing technique using underhand bow grip. These instruments suit period ensemble playing and extensive solo repertoire from Renaissance and Baroque eras. Period instruments appeal to early music specialists, players exploring historically-informed performance practice, and musicians seeking authentic sounds for baroque and classical repertoire. Our staff understand baroque setup requirements and can provide guidance on instrument selection, gut string characteristics, and playing technique considerations. Call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss baroque instrument options and requirements.
How often do string instruments need professional maintenance?
String instruments require regular basic maintenance including rosin removal after playing and periodic string changes, plus professional attention addressing setup drift, seasonal adjustments, and component wear. Daily care involves wiping rosin dust from instrument tops and strings using soft dry cloths, preventing buildup damaging varnish and affecting tone. String changes depend on playing frequency, with active students requiring new strings every 3-6 months while occasional players may extend this to 6-12 months. Old strings lose brightness, develop false tones, and eventually break unexpectedly. Professional setup checks should occur annually or when playability changes noticeably, addressing soundpost position shifts, bridge warping or movement, peg fitting deterioration, and fingerboard wear. Melbourne's variable humidity causes seasonal wood movement potentially requiring soundpost adjustments, bridge modifications, or peg refitting ensuring optimal performance year-round. Signs requiring professional attention include buzzing indicating loose components or setup issues, difficulty tuning suggesting peg problems or string wear, thin or harsh tone indicating soundpost or bridge problems, and visible cracks, open seams, or varnish damage requiring immediate repair preventing further deterioration. Bows need rehairing every 6-12 months depending on playing frequency, with worn hair lacking proper grip and potentially damaging bow components if continued use stretches hair beyond appropriate tension. Proactive maintenance prevents minor issues from developing into expensive repairs while ensuring instruments perform optimally supporting musical development and enjoyment. We provide complete lutherie services including setup adjustments, seasonal maintenance, repairs, and restoration. Call (03) 8360 7799 to schedule maintenance appointments or discuss specific instrument concerns.
What's the price range for orchestral string instruments?
String instrument pricing varies significantly based on construction quality, maker, and materials. Student instruments including Gliga 3 and entry-level Sandner models range $899-$1,499 depending on size and type, providing reliable solid carved construction with our professional setup. Advancing instruments including Gliga 2 and mid-range options cost $1,599-$2,499 offering enhanced characteristics for developing players. Advanced instruments including Gliga 1 and premium models range $2,699-$4,999 delivering professional-grade performance. Premium instruments including Maestro and Superior series start at $4,999 featuring master craftsmanship. Restored antique violins vary widely based on age, maker, condition, and historical significance, with prices starting around $5,000 and extending upward for significant instruments. All prices include our comprehensive professional setup with French Aubert bridges, quality strings, and meticulous adjustment - value additions costing hundreds when obtained separately. This inclusive approach means instruments arrive ready to perform optimally without requiring immediate additional setup investment. We maintain competitive pricing while providing setup quality rarely seen at these price points. Call (03) 8360 7799 for current pricing on specific models and any promotional offers available.
Where can I try orchestral string instruments in Melbourne?
Visit Angkor Music Melbourne at 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona to experience our comprehensive orchestral string inventory spanning violins, violas, and cellos across all sizes and levels. We encourage hands-on testing allowing students and parents to experience how instruments feel, sound, and respond before purchasing. Our relaxed showroom environment supports extended evaluation without sales pressure, ensuring families select appropriate instruments matching individual needs. We provide guidance on proper size selection, demonstrate setup quality differences, and explain model level distinctions helping families make informed decisions. Teachers are welcome to accompany students for consultations, with their professional input valued in instrument selection processes. We also maintain antique violin inventory and baroque instruments available for trial by serious players. Regional customers unable to visit Altona can call (03) 8360 7799 for phone consultations discussing specific requirements, though we strongly recommend in-person visits when possible given how significantly individual instrument feel and student physical proportions affect appropriate selection. We ship instruments Australia-wide with insurance coverage and our comprehensive professional setup, ensuring even distant customers receive properly adjusted instruments ready for immediate playing.
Find Your Perfect Orchestral String Instrument at Angkor Music Melbourne
Ready to Experience Professional Setup Quality?
Visit our Altona showroom for complete violin, viola, and cello range with French Aubert bridges on every instrument. Student through professional levels, all sizes in stock.
Angkor Music Melbourne | 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona VIC 3018 | Professional String Instrument Setup Since 1976
