There are pros and cons to both renting and owning your instrument as a new player. I usually recommend that beginners start with a rental instrument. This allows them to get started with a reasonably dependable instrument, guaranteed free repair, and a smaller financial commitment up-front. However, there are good reasons to go either way.
| Pros | Cons | |
| Rental (from most string=specialist companies | Free maintenance AND strings! (for beginners, this is definitely a plus). | You don’t get to pick your instrument, though most rentals from a reputable shop are of reasonable quality. |
| You can change sizes for free whenever necessary. | The price of a rental can add up significantly over the long run (though this can often be applied to a future purchase!). | |
| You won’t have to commit to an instrument until the student is mature enough (hopefully) to pick out a good one. | ||
| Purchase | You can pick your own instrument. | Families can be tempted to get what’s cheapest, which may not be what’s quality. |
| After it’s paid for, you can stop paying for it. | Maintenance and strings are no longer free. | |
| Sense of ownership. | If the child is still growing, a new instrument has to be purchased each time they size up. |
For more information on finding a good rental or purchase instrument, check out the page on Finding Your Perfect Instrument.
Layug String Studio 