Out of the 6 different music stores recommended by my daughter's teacher, their rental pricing is mid-range and comparable to others. I remember String House decades ago when I used to play so I knew they were reputable. They also carried the book and CD that we needed to purchase. Look for the white house with the bright red door on Monroe Ave. Parking is in the back. It was a short wait while they finished with other customers. The rental process was easy and quick. My daughter was already measured, but the associate did a quick double check and tuned the violin. It came with the basics - violin, bow, case, rosin, and a nametag. The price includes insurance and repairs during the rental period, which is a school year or 12 months. We didn't have to buy a shoulder rest because sponges usually work fine for the little ones, but it fit her well so we bought one, in her favorite color pink. Seamless rental process and so beautiful to see the instruments displayed all along the ceiling. It was nostalgic! read more

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The String House has provided me with exceptional sales and service since I purchased my first violin there 19 years ago. Steve and Shelley, in particular, have been outstanding. Stores like this are truly rare. Over the years, I've purchased several violins, a viola, and rented cellos from The String House--all of high quality. Their bows are equally impressive, in both variety and craftsmanship. Great cases too! Steve and Shelley bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and have guided me to some truly outstanding instruments. They are my go-to for shopping, maintenance, and repairs--whether it's sheet music, new strings, bow rehairing, or other luthier services. I have also taken advantage of their trade-in program, which by itself makes The String House the place to shop. In all areas, they always provide complete transparency about costs/pricing and quality. Steve and Shelley feel like family. The String House is a gem. Will be a customer for life. read more

We rented an "advanced" cello and two violins from them in 2019/2020. I found the quality of their rental instruments is not much better but the sales prices are higher than those you buy elsewhere. The prices could be three times as high. In 2020 and 2023, when I took our instrument in for service, one receptionist and the owner stated that it was not playable. (I was pretty sure it was better than the rental I got from them). Then, they told us they had many instruments for us to select from. The owner/luthier, Steve, even offered to thin the cello bridge for $80 to make the cello sound better. He ended up shaving the bridge too much, increasing the distance between the A and the D strings. Ugh.... In 2024, they tried to sell us a $26k French cello. This cello has a hole on the neck and multiple cracks on the side and the top (repaired though). Steve was quite evasive when I spotted a long crack on the side. Not very honest to deal with. Very manipulative. I do not review businesses, but the String House is not where you should go get your instruments. read more

I have been coming to string house for almost 40 years, first for myself and now with my kids. The place is every bit as warm and inviting now as it was in the 1980. This is the place to go for your violin/viola/cello needs in the rochester, ny area. Thank you!! read more

Really lovely and helpful service here. Patient and knowledgeable staff. The atmosphere is cozy and creative. I am renting my cello here and as a beginner student it's always great to have a go-to neighborhood music shop around the corner. read more

We first came to know the String House through their pop-up shop at the summer music institute at Ithaca. Over the years we bought bows and various accessories, and have also used them for insurance appraisal services. We definitely recommend them for friendly, thoughtful, responsive service and great options at a lot of different price points (student up to pro). We especially appreciated the quick response to our request for an update to an appraisal after more than 10 years on file! Great customer service. read more

After many years away from playing violin, I picked it up again, then decided to upgrade my instrument. Since I live near Rochester, I went directly to The String House. They have a wonderful selection of instruments in all price ranges. I told them what I was looking for and they brought six different instruments in my price range for me to try. I spent 2 1/2 hours in their upstairs room narrowing it down to two, which they let me take home on trial for a week. I came back the next week and did it all over again, with six more instruments - narrowed it down and did another week's trial with two of those. On my third trip back I brought my old instrument with me. Steve evaluated it and the trade price he gave me was in line with what I expected. I purchased the "new" instrument along with a new bow I liked (they let me try a bunch of those out, too) as well as a beautiful new case. The String House offers everything you need in whatever price range you are prepared to pay. They also have a good library of student books and music from the standard repertoire. I didn't like the chinrest on the instrument, and while I was waiting for them to change it, I selected a couple pieces of music, which they gave me for free. I had done some research on the luthier that made my instrument. The price I paid was in line with other instruments by that maker. String House's price on strings is a little high, so I purchase those from Amazon. I take my bows there for rehairing and they do a fine job. All in all, I am happy with their prices and services. They have been extremely accommodating. read more

I've been coming here on and off for about ten years for servicing needs and accessories relating to my violin. I'm not a professional musician associated with either Eastman or RPO, but I can speak to this shop's service and pricing from the standpoint of a musician who plays and performs regularly. The customer service here is excellent. At the front desk and in the shop itself, you really get a sense that they are trying to figure out how to help you make the most of your instrument, regardless of its value. Strings and bow rehairings are competitively priced and the work is always completed quickly. Most recently, I took my violin in for a much-needed, long overdue repair. Due to my own stupidity four years prior, the instrument was damaged and I had been using a much cheaper substitute in the interim. The repair was costly as expected, but the result is thrilling. The String House gave me back one of my most precious possessions, and a week earlier than initially promised! I'm very happy with the way the violin sounds, the new bridge, the shaping of the fingerboard and the strings. When I initially damaged my instrument a few years ago, I got several price quotes on the repair from a few shops in town. They were all very similar, but I chose String House because of its intimate mom-and-pop feel as well as my satisfaction with other services and products there. My violin was crafted by a maker in the DC area and, prior to String House, I was only familiar with the high-end pricing and service provided by his particular shop to musicians in the greater Washington area. I can vouch that String House hasn't made me regret not taking my instrument back there for repair. read more

This review is only from my experience. I had bought both my current viola and bow when I upgraded and was getting ready for college. It was such an easy process. Just call for what you need and price range and voila, you're done. Another great thing about the String House is, if you have maintained good care of what you buy from them, then you get back what you paid 100% for the next upgrade: bow for bow and instrument for instrument. Pretty awesome, I thought. Hoping for the same great experience this time, I was quite surprised when it wasn't as easy this time around. It started out okay. Called in for what I was looking for, gave price range, and they sent 3 violas, all the way to the Pacific Northwest no less. We tried them out and had narrowed it down to the one we wanted and paid for it. We decided to have our local luthier just take a gander at it along with our second choice. We also knew he knew his stuff, having been arwarded national praise for his work. Sadly, it was found that there were some major defects not just with our paid for choice but also our second choice. When we bought that to the attention of the String House, their response was not of caring concern, but of heightened defensivness. They did offer to send others out , granted at this point, due to the defects, we thought it was the universe letting us know that perhaps it wasn't right time to buy. We did promptly return violas that were sent and we were refunded the full amount paid and still there were so many opportunities for the String House to show some type of concern with us and even the email with the receipt for refund wasn't as pleasant as the thread of emails before. No "Thank you, All the best." Just "Here's the receipt for you refund." Quite surprised and saddened for such a once loved company. read more

I've bought three cellos at the string house, and I've had nothing but positive experiences. The process of trying out instruments is very low stress, and they never pressure you into buying something more expensive than you need. I've had my current cello for 12 years and it has served me very well. The staff is always very kind and helpful when I call with questions. read more

Ordered a violin over the phone as a rental . I know nothing about violins and they were so helpful and patient. Pricing was competitive and overnight shipping was very reasonable. Violin Arrived the next morning very well packaged and protected! Very happy with them ! read more

in rochester, the string house is where you go for all your stringed instrument woes (buying new strings, rehairing bows, repairing cracked violins, etc). they also sell lots of accessories (cases, music stands, tuners), and sell instruments too (but i've never bought a violin through them). read more