For a high-quality violin, the best places to buy are —either locally or through reputable online retailers like Fiddlershop , Shar Music , and Kennedy Violins . Unlike general music stores or big-box retailers like Amazon, these specialists employ professional luthiers to perform essential in-house setups, ensuring the instrument is ready to play and acoustically optimized. Recommended Places to Buy Top 5 violin brands for beginners (+ brands to AVOID)