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 our comittment.  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.

Well folks, the northern hemisphere has passed the vernal equinox--or, in other words, SPRING is here!  It's hard to believe that we have been our new location for a year.  It's time to think about spring concerts, the end of the school year, and possibly the time to think about a new instrument, a new bow; or maybe it's time to fix up your current equipment.

The world has gone through a great economic upheaval.  Its effect has been felt everywhere, including where we live.  Last summer we were able to capitalize on too much supply and not enough demand for new string instruments. One of our suppliers made us an offer we couldn't refuse, and the string players of central New York were the winners.  Many of our most popular instruments were sold at 10 to 20 % below their usual prices.

This year is somewhat different. Rather than sell their usual products at a loss, the suppliers of student instruments have gone to their factories and had them come up with quality violins, violas, and cellos at unheard-of low prices.  We have received some samples of these instruments, and they are impressive.  We will still be able to sell quality 1/16 to 1/4 outfits at $299.--and with our set-up and adjustment.  We have yet to see the larger violins, violas, and cellos, but things are looking up for musicians who need to find a quality instrument at a bargain price.  Visit the website often for the latest news and prices.

We have just laid in a large supply of our favorite better quality violin--the "Paolo Lorenzo."  It's similar, and often sounds just as good, as it's more expensive cousins ("Peter Kaufman" and "Sandro Luciano"), and each one was personally hand picked for neck size, appearance, and sound.  All of these instruments are made in the workshop of Deng Yan Shan in Mudan Jiang, China--probably the world's largest and best supplier of student to advanced string instruments.  After being meticulously set up (here), they are priced at $1000 ($1200 for violas).  And don't forget, there are beautiful instruments just below this level from the same workshop for a mere $650 ($850 for violas).

Kicking it up a notch, the representative from Arcos Brasil not only provided us with many fine bows (priced from $300 to $600), but also produced about thirty Callegari violins and violas for our perusal.  Eight of these fine instruments now grace the show room (priced from $1800 to $2500).  The looks and the quality of sound from these instruments is quite unbelievable, and they often out perform far more expensive vintage instruments.  At $3000 we have a beautiful Romanian violin that is graduated and varnished in the US.

Let's not forget cellos.  We just obtained three cellos that were "misplaced" a few years ago by one of our suppliers.  They have some unusual looking wood, so he didn't offer them for sale at the time, and then they were buried in a store room.  The maple is highly figured and the workmanship is first class.  We have priced them very competitively at $2000.  Deng Yan Shan cellos begin at $1800, and  our Chan Lee fully carved cellos begin at a low $1100.

The bows from Brazil are in good supply.  The best bows are made from Pernambuco, and Brazil is where the stuff grows.  When the bows are made in Brazil we can be sure that the wood was seasoned properly and obtained legally.  Arcos Brasil and Horst John are the principal suppliers, and they are well represented here.  In addition to Pernambuco bows, we have a nice selection of carbon fiber bows from Glasser and from Jon Paul Strings.

A few vintage instruments have been added to the collection.  On consignment we have a violin from Tetsuo Matsuda, one of today's finest makers.  This one was made when he worked in the shop of William Harris Lee in 1983, and it has not been played since 1986.  It's a great sounding violin in near mint condition, priced at $10,000.  We have just obtained a violin made in Schonbach circa 1937--a beautiful instrument with powerful sound priced at $6000.  A space has finally been cleared upstairs for lights and a backdrop, so photos of these instruments and others should soon be forthcoming.

We have more instruments and bows than ever before.  If you haven't see our new shop yet, now's the time.  

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

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. This November we begin our 40th year in business, with many more to come.