FRequently asked questions

What are your hours?

We work by appointment and typically have availability some part of 5 days a week. Text or call (608) 345-8623 or email at nat@taftviolin.com to schedule a time. We rarely work on Sunday.

Why don’t you have set hours?

Taft Violins is a family owned business primarily run by husband and wife team Nat and Elise Taft. With three children, the demanding schedule and unexpected interruptions that are invariably a part of family life mean it is not possible to maintain regular, posted hours at this time. On a positive note, flexible scheduling means we can often make ourselves available at times outside of “standard business hours” to help you navigate your tricky schedule, too.

Do you buy used instruments or bows?

Sometimes. We appreciate seeing instruments and bows folks are interested in selling. Please note, proof of ownership is necessary for anything we buy. This is for the protection of all of our customers.

Do you Sell used instruments or bows?

We find that people mean one of two things when they say “used”. Some mean played-in instruments that have a mature sound, while others mean “scratch and dent” instruments that are serviceable but not in perfect condition. We often sell the former and occasionally sell the latter.

What size instruments do you have?

For violins we carry *(1/32, 1/16, 1/10) 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 7/8 and 4/4. *If you’re looking for violin under 1/8 size we commonly size those in millimeters rather than the raw fractional sizes because we find the tiny fractional violins under 1/8 to be unstandardized in size. You child might actually play on a “1/10” instrument that is smaller than there next “1/16” instrument depending on make, model, manufacture and year it was made.

We carry a wide variety of violas including 10”, 11”, 12” 13” 14”, 15”, 15.5”, 16”, and 16.5”. We have limited availably of 14.5” violas and 17” violas.

Our cello sizes include 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 7/8 and 4/4.

We have basses in 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4.

Can I Buy my Rental instrument?

Yes, our rental agreement includes a purchase discount that allows you, once, upon returning your rental package, to purchase an instrument package.

The discount is based on the amount of rent paid, up to 12 months of rent or 1/3 of the current purchase price of the instrument package, whichever is greater. You may apply this discount toward the purchase of the instrument package you rented or any instrument package owned by Taft Violins, LLC.

The renter purchase discount is not transferable, and does not apply to instruments consigned at Taft Violins, LLC. The discount may only apply toward a package including instrument with case and bow, and may not be combined with other discounts, rebates or special offers.

Can I do rent-to-Own?

We do not offer a “rent-to-own” program at Taft Violins, because many people prefer not to permanently own their instrument. Instead we provide a purchase discount, the details of which are explained above. If you’re interested in owning your instrument, let us know and we can provide an estimate for your rental buyout inclusive of your rental discount over email. In many cases folks can purchase their instrument without having to stop back in the shop.

How do I know what size instrument I need?

You’ll find lots of different formulas for knowing what size instrument your child needs online, and while they can be good guidelines, we haven’t found one that’s perfect. Everyone has different proportions and grows at different rates. The best way to know for sure what size instrument you need is to be sized. Often times your teacher will size you, but we size a lot of folks too.

Like many things we do we have a philosophy about sizing: if a child who is new to learning the instrument is in between sizes, we fit them to the smaller instrument. Many teachers prefer students to learn new skills on a slightly undersized instrument rather than a slightly oversized one. However, we also work with teachers whose preference is to have a student on one instrument as long as possible so they can really grown to understand their specific instrument. Regardless of how we size a student, the teacher is always right. If the size we’ve fit your student to is not appropriate according to your teacher, we will swap it out to the preferred size.

What is your rental maintenance and repair policy?

Repairs and basic maintenance are both included with rentals of violins, violas and cellos with the following exceptions: replacement strings (renter agrees to pay the cost of replacement strings), total loss (renter agrees to pay the replacement cost of the instrument, case, and bow), or intentional damage (renter agrees to pay the cost of repairing intentional damage, not to exceed the replacement cost of the instrument). Home repairs or unauthorized third party repairs are not allowed and may be considered intentional damage.

Unfortunately we are not able to offer the same maintenance policy on our bass rentals. Those renting basses are responsible for necessary repairs to those instruments.

How short can my rental term be?

All of our rental agreements are month-to-month, so our shortest rental term is one month. If you have questions or special circumstances it’s worth giving us a call.

If i buy an instrument from you, what do I do when I outgrow it or need to upgrade?

If you purchase an instrument from us, we will take it in trade for the next size or upgrade purchase. Each trade-in will be charged a reshelving fee determined by how much work it will take to get your trade-in floor ready again. This is typically the cost of new strings and the labor of physically cleaning the instrument. At the time of trade-in the instrument will be evaluated for any repairs needed beyond clean-up. Those repairs would be your responsibility. Most trade-ins do not require extensive repairs.

Keep in mind trade-ins are one-for-one; you may trade in one purchased bow for one upgraded bow. You may trade a 1/4 cello and its bow in for a 1/2 cello and its bow. You may not trade in a violin and a bow for an upgraded bow.

Can I change my rental instrument?

Yes. Whether you want to switch type of instrument e.g. viola to cello, size of instrument e.g. 1/10 to 1/8, rental level e.g. standard rental for step-up rental, or even for “I don’t like this one can I try a different one.” If the change of instrument impacts your monthly payments we will discuss that at the time of exchange.

Do I need an Appointment?

The benefit of having an appointment is that you’re sure to find us at the shop and that we’ll be prepared to help you. Especially for instrument trials and rental sizings, having an appointment is likely to save you a second trip. We can often accommodate same-day appointments.

That being said, if you’re in the neighborhood you are welcome to check if we’re available. We like to see you.

Do you deliver instruments?

We can’t offer free delivery, but we do deliver instruments for a fee. The details of are easiest worked out in a conversation. Please reach out if you’re interested in instrument delivery.

What forms of payment do you except?

We can take credit or debit cards, cash, and checks. Apple pay and other device payment systems work too.

For rental payments we keep a card on file, but you’re welcome to set up ACH if you’d prefer payments come directly from a bank account rather than a card. Regardless we need a card on file.