Hosmer Violins: Home

Hosmer Violins is proud to serve the musical community of Central New York and beyond. Since 1970 we have been the place to go for the student, amateur, and professional string musician.

Our specialty is the sale of violins, violas, cellos, and their related bows, as well as strings, cases, and accessories. We are in constant contact with the finest workshops throughout the world to bring you the best value in instruments and bows.

All of the instruments we sell, no matter how inexpensive, are set up and adjusted in this shop to be at peak tonal, cosmetic, and physical functionality. Matching the right instrument to the player, and instructing that player in its care and maintenance, is of utmost importance. As long as you own your instrument we will be available for any care or adjustment concerns.

Professional repair and restoration go hand in hand with the sale of fine instruments, because you can’t have one without the other. With our many years of experience, you may be assured that your cherished instrument or bow will be in good hands. And, of course, the new and vintage instruments and bows we offer for sale benefit as well.

We hope you will visit us soon.

Please visit the INSTRUMENTS link for any special offers. The Vintage Instruments area now contains an up to date listing of our better instruments.

Check out the new photo story on soundpost patches. Follow this link.

DECEMBER 2009.

Well, Black Friday has passed, along with the Friday after it. Our parking lot is staked out for the snow plow, but no snow has come. It's "that time of the year," but it sure doesn't look it. Nevertheless, it's time to talk of gift giving. Hanukkah and Christmas. A musical gift for the musician in your life will be appreciated long after the needles have fallen off the tree or the menorah candles have burned away.

With this in mind, here are a few ideas for you:

While not usually given as surprise gifts, instruments are very appropriate for the holiday season. With the present economic climate, we have found many moderately-priced instruments that are truly bargains. First and foremost among them are the violins from Deng Yan Shan that we purchased last summer. My supplier bought too many, so they had what amounted to a fire sale. The result is that we have violins for $550.00 that could easily bring $800.00. There are seven of these wonderful instruments left, and the next time we get them they will cost much more. The comparable cello is $1500.00, and it gives its $2500.00 brother a run for its money. The violas are $900.

We have a new entry-level violin from Xue Chang Sun that will likely replace our Chan Lee full size instrument. The wood and workmanship is flawless, and they sound great. The price is $450.00. Our 1/2 and 3/4 Chan Lee violins sell for $325.00. Add a Bobelock case ($75) and a Glasser bow (Fiberglass $35; Carbon Fiber $75) and you have an unbeatable combination. Also, don't forget our smaller outfits. 1/4 size and below sell for $299 including the case and the bow.

In ther higher price ranges there are many violins and violas with terrific sound for $1000 to $2000, and among these are vintage instruments as well.Our Brazilian bow suppliers have all visited, and we can show you high quality Pernambuco bows starting at $275. Carbon fiber bows begin at $85, and they are a far better value than a cheap Brazilwood bow.

A Bobelock case is a gift that will last for years, and we have them in violin-shaped, half moon, and rectangular styles. For stocking stuffers don't forget rosin, metro-tuners, mutes, shoulder rests, humidifiers, and anything else that's small and inexpensive.

Please have a happy and healthy Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year.

Tom Hosmer

Michael Hattala

HOURS: TUESDAY TO FRIDAY 11-5 SATURDAY 11-4 (SATURDAYS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY FROM JUNE 27 TO SEPTEMBER 5)

OLDER NEWS

We have decided to upgrade our "Chan Lee" entry-level violin and viola to a higher level. That means better appearance and a more consistant neck size. The prices were going up anyway, so this is a good time to make the change. There is a much improved violin from the shop of Tian Li, a maker who has been well represented in this shop for the last 8 years. The "Paolo Lorenzo" instruments from the shop of Deng Yan Shan have reached a level of consistant workmanship that is unrivaled for instruments in the $1000 range, and the same shop produces a violin with slightly plainer wood that we can sell for $650. We have some excellent violins from Xueping Hu (Snow) in the $1750 range, and similar violas are available as well.

If you have been renting, perhaps this is the time to buy your first instrument. Before you take advantage of any incentives from your rental company, be sure to explore the large selection of instruments at Hosmer Violins. Our entry level instruments are the best available, and we keep the prices on our more advanced instruments very reasonable. Of course, our price includes our own meticulous setup and adjustment. With our variable climate, even the best setup needs tweaking (seam openings, neck angle changes, sound post adjustment, etc.), and we cover these adjustments free of charge for the first three years of ownership, after which time most new instruments have become more stable. With this in mind, a free tubular humidifier is included with all instruments.

The bows from Brazil are still my favorites. The shops of Horst John, Marco Raposo and Arcos Brasil are well represented with violin, viola, and cello bows priced from $275. Pernambuco (the wood of choice for fine bows) has climbed up a couple of rungs on the endangered species list, and the only way it leaves Brazil is in finished products. There is a replanting program, but that won’t reach fruition for at least thirty years. Horst John has started to produce bows from Massaranduba, one of the woods commonly known as "Brazilwood." We'll see how that goes. To replace Pernambuco in student bows, carbon fiber has become the material of choice, and the most reliable products are from Glasser, where the prices begin at $85 for their X-Series bows, and $275 for the Braided Carbon Fiber line.

We are dedicated to providing you with quality. Whether it's instruments, bows, cases, accessories, or repairs, we offer you the best in professional service. Last November we began our 39th year in business, with many more to come.

This website is under construction, so please bear with us. It is our goal to keep the website lean enough to load quickly with dial-up access, so there won't be any animated dancing violins. Any text in blue is a link to a photo, but any text associated with it will load first.