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Franz Hoffmann
This is a complete, ready-to-play violin package designed specifically with everything a beginning violinist needs to start their musical journey: featuring a hand-carved solid wood violin with professional setup and all essential accessories.
Franz Hoffmann
There are plenty of beginner violas for sale online, but if you want an instrument that will make a student love to play the viola, the Franz Hoffmann™ Amadeus viola is a great place to start.
Our Back to School Sale runs every summer through the start of the school year, and it's the largest sale we hold annually. Discounts are applied automatically on the sale page — no code needed — and the event runs while supplies last. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when next year's sale opens.
The sale spans nearly every category we carry: violins, violas, cellos and double basses; violin, viola, cello and bass string sets; bows; cases and bags; rosin; shoulder rests and accessories; and sheet music. Discounts range from 10% on complete instrument outfits to 30% on many Thomastik-Infeld string sets and up to 40% on select bows. Only select products are included — the sale page shows everything that qualifies.
Savings by category during this year's event:
Discounts apply to retail pricing only and can't be combined with instrument trade-in credit or rental equity.
Beyond the instrument itself, most orchestra teachers expect students to arrive with:
Our Deluxe Outfits bundle most of these together — see the next question.
A standard Franz Hoffmann® Amadeus outfit ships ready to play: the instrument (professionally set up by our luthiers), a brazilwood bow with natural horsehair, a lightweight foam shell case, light rosin, a shoulder rest or size-appropriate shoulder cushion, and cleaning cloths.
The Deluxe Outfit adds an extra set of Overture Premium strings, a tuner-metronome, a folding music stand with carrying bag, a wooden pencil and a five-color highlighter. Contents vary by model — check each product page for the exact list.
Violins are sized by the player's arm length. Have them stand with the left arm extended to the side and forward at about 45°, palm up, then measure from the base of the neck to the center of the palm:
Violas are measured in inches (11"–16.5") rather than fractions, and cello and bass sizing follows its own scale — our complete string instrument sizing guide covers all four instruments. If your child is between sizes, size down, and have their teacher confirm the fit at the first lesson. Expect to re-size every 12–18 months during growth spurts.
Yes, we ship all over the world. Shipping costs will apply, and will be added at checkout. We run discounts and promotions all year, so stay tuned for exclusive deals.
It depends on where you are. Orders processed here will take 5-7 business days to arrive. Overseas deliveries can take anywhere from 7-16 days. Delivery details will be provided in your confirmation email.
Renting is a good fit if a player is just starting out or will outgrow a fractional size within a year. Shar offers two programs: Sharway, a nationwide rent-to-own program, and Michigan Rentals for residents of our home state.
Buying usually makes more sense once a player is committed or has reached full size — a complete outfit starts at $359.10 during this sale. Note that sale discounts can't be combined with rental equity.
Every order is covered by Shar's 30-day guarantee. Items returned in like-new condition with the original packaging within 30 days of delivery receive a full refund or credit; items showing use or wear are subject to a restocking fee, and return shipping is the customer's responsibility. Full details are on our Returns & Exchanges page.
You can contact us through our contact page! We will be happy to assist you.
What our customers are saying
The Back to School Sale is Shar Music's annual summer event, timed to the start of the school orchestra season. For more than 60 years, families, students and teachers have used this window to get set up for the year ahead — and it remains the largest sale we run.
What's on sale. Complete instrument outfits across violin, viola, cello and double bass are 10% off, including our Franz Hoffmann® and Carlo Lamberti® lines. String sets are discounted 10–30%, with the deepest savings on Thomastik-Infeld Dominant Pro, Peter Infeld and Vision sets. Select bows are up to 40% off, cases 10–20% off, and rosin, shoulder rests, mutes, tuners, stands and sheet music are also included. Only select products qualify, and quantities on some items are limited.
Why buy from Shar. Every instrument we ship is inspected and set up by the luthiers in our Ann Arbor workshop before it leaves the building — bridge fitted, pegs and soundpost adjusted, strings seated. A properly set-up instrument is far easier to play and stay in tune than an unadjusted one, which is the single biggest difference between a Shar outfit and a generic online instrument at a similar price. Orders over $49 ship free within the US, and every purchase is backed by our 30-day guarantee.
Terms & Conditions: This offer is not valid on prior purchases. Discount applies to retail pricing only and may not be combined with instrument trade-in credit or rental equity. Only select products are included in this sale. Due to supply chain challenges and manufacturer restrictions, some items may be excluded. Shar Music® reserves the right to limit quantities of any item, for any reason, without notice and while supplies last.
Shar is my go-to store for my orchestra needs! I've been a fan of theirs for over 30 years. They've always had professional input when I've needed it. They stand behind their products and they carry good quality items at a reasonable price.
- Sheri N.