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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.Well, spring is here, but what has it sprung from? I paid up front for snow plowing--I think he came about 6 or 8 times. He lost his shirt last year, so I guess we're even. The greatest aspect of the non winter we just had was the lack (almost) of typical winter repairs like seam openings, cracks, and shrunken bow hair.
A few new offerings have appeared in the show room. Cellos were getting thin on the ground, but the workshop reps kept showing up in their trucks, so now there is a good selection up tp $4000.00. There are also some new larger violas (16" and above) in the $2000 range that sound great. The $800 to $1200 price range in violins is well represented with some new instruments from Deng Yan Shan and Ivan Dunov.
The Arcos Brasil rep just left me with about a dozen marvelous Pernambuco violin and cello bows priced at $475 and $600. I believe these bows are the best value today, far out-classing the German product. Carbon fiber bows have virtually replaced wood in the under $200 price range, and we have a good supply.
Over the winter I was able to restore a number of vintage instruments that are now available in the $3500 to $8000 price range, and they will apprear on the website as soon as I can remember how to edit the photos and upload them.
If you are interested in reading the web entries from last year, just look below the list of instruments.
HOURS: TUESDAY TO FRIDAY 11-5 SATURDAY 11-4 (SATURDAYS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY FROM JUNE 25 TO AFTER LABOR DAY)
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, which is especially important with less expensive instruments because they are never set up properly at the factory or at the distributor. 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.
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.
It's spring, and the snow has just gone--it reminds me of the '50's. I'm thankful it's not the '50's when it comes to the quality of student violins, violas, and cellos. In those days the term "lead sled" not only referred to the cars of the era, but also to the violins. Entry level instruments were overbuilt for durability, and sound was the loser. It's different today. The better Chinese workshops have rewritten the rules for the construction of student instruments, and the Europeans have grudgingly emerged from their 50 year stupor and followed suit.
Now the beginner can enjoy great sound even in a 1/4 sized violin. The makers are taking the quality of small instruments far more seriously than before. Today's instruments are lighter in weight, and more care is exercised in the angle and size of the neck, the placement of the "f" holes, and the overall dimensions of the instruments. Durable finishes have been developed that don't scratch easily but still enhance the sound. It's interesting to note that you can buy a very high quality entry level violin outfit today for less than $600. In the '50's far inferior instruments cost $300, which, adjusted for inflation, would today be over $1500.
At Hosmer Violins we are committed to providing you with the finest instruments available. All instruments sold by us are set up and adjusted in our shop for optimum playability. Please visit and read the section on "Setup" and you will have an idea what goes into that process. Our entry level instruments are from the shops of Eastman Strings, Deng Yan Shan, and Xuechang Sun.
We are particularly picky about the quality of not only our instruments, but also about the bows and cases that accompany them. Our fiberglass and carbon fiber bows come from Glasser, and we feature cases from Bobelock and Concord. The new "Cocoon" cases have taken the technology from the luggage industry and applied it to a durable yet very affordable lightweight cello case that sells for a mere $225.
More advanced new instruments come from many shops in China, Romania, and Germany. New Pernambuco bows come almost exclusively from a small number of shops in Brazil. In all cases we are able to choose from the best the world has to offer. Strings and accessories are a very important part of any violin shop, and we have a large selection. A collection of over 150 vintage instruments keeps us busy, and as we restore, set up, and offer them for sale their photos and descriptions will appear on the website.
We are constantly honing our repair and restoration skills. Constant contact with our colleagues around the world keeps us up to date on new techniques and materials, providing the string playing community with services usually found only in large violin shops in major cities.
Stated above are the reasons why it makes little sense to purchase instruments and bows from the internet or from shops hundreds of miles away. We stand behind what we sell and what we do, backed up by expertise based on a lifetime of work and study.
Last November we began our 40th year serving the musical community of Central New York and beyond. It’s a pleasure to meet the children and, in a few cases, the grandchildren of our first customers of so long ago.
