Editor's note: This post was originally published on April 4, 2017. Some details, including the hologram program described below, reflect that time. Shar Music continues to source our strings directly from manufacturers.
There have been rumors about counterfeit strings for violin, viola, cello, and bass infiltrating the market for years. When we first heard about "counterfeit strings," we pictured packaging that looked like it came out of an inkjet printer and obviously cheap strings with noticeably altered thread colors. But as popular string brands kept appearing online at wildly low prices, it was time to do some serious investigating. What Shar Music found was very troubling: clearly inferior strings of unknown composition and origin, with nearly perfect packaging and presentation. We began buying these strings, dissecting them, showing them to manufacturers, and searching for their source. That search led us across three continents and deep into the shadowy world of counterfeit products and online marketplaces.
The number of counterfeit strings being produced and circulated overseas is truly staggering. It might seem odd at first that anyone would see a reward in selling phony strings. But when you consider the well-known market for counterfeit products like electronics and DVDs, and keep in mind that most premium violin strings are worth far more than their weight in iPhones, it becomes clear that strings are uniquely susceptible to counterfeiting.
Easy to imitate. Easy to smuggle. Easy to hide the tracks.
With today's globally connected markets, it's easy to see how counterfeit strings can quietly make their way into the US, just like many other counterfeit goods. A related problem is "grey market" strings, which were intended to be sold outside the US but somehow end up here. We traced one shipment from the manufacturer to Eastern Europe, then to Mexico, and finally to the US. The strings changed hands at every step, so there is no way to know how long they took to arrive or what happened to them along the way.
Most fake strings reveal their true identity once they are installed, through poor tone, falseness, a short lifespan, or even high tension that can be dangerous to your instrument.
We can't speak for others' experiences, but what we have seen makes us concerned about what players may end up with. We can, and do, guarantee that every string sold by Shar Music is authentic. Shar Music is working to raise awareness of counterfeit and grey-market strings and to put these concerns to rest with a new method of string tracking. Shop authentic strings from Shar Music.
The Shar Music hologram is placed on all strings sold on sharmusic.com, through our phone center and Ann Arbor showroom, and on orders placed through Amazon and eBay that ship directly from Shar Music. Each hologram carries a unique serial number and our trademarked logo, guaranteeing that strings purchased from Shar Music are authentic.
String companies have traditions, histories, and manufacturing processes that in some cases go back centuries. They work to exacting tolerances, use pure and ethically sourced materials, follow rigorous quality assurance, and offer excellent customer service. We stand with them and the products they make, just as we stand by our loyal customers. As Shar Music CEO Charles Avsharian puts it:
"For over 60 years, our family has stood behind what we sell. Your satisfaction is our goal, and the Shar Music hologram is one more step we have taken to protect you and the string community."
