• Understand the Types of Stringed Instruments

• Select the Right Stringed Instrument

• Get Essential Stringed Instrument Accessories

• Find Stringed Instruments on eBay

• Buy Stringed Instruments With Confidence

Understand the Types of Stringed Instruments

Understand the Types of Stringed Instruments

Even budget stringed instruments can offer an excellent tone. You just need to know which stringed instrument you want to play to start shopping.

• Violin: Violins, the smallest stringed instruments, can reach the highest notes. To play the violin, tuck it under your chin and move a horsehair bow across the violin's four strings (made of wire or nylon). Bows typically have a wooden grip and when you move it across the strings, the violin produces a warm, deep, smooth, or brilliant sound.

• Viola: The viola can be played with a bow or plucked or strummed by hand. It is bigger than the violin and produces a warmer, lower tone.

• Cello: Cellos are considerably larger than both the violin and viola and produce a deeper sound. Hold the large instrument between your legs, and rest the bottom of it on the floor. A spike attached to your cello will keep it from rubbing against the ground. Play your cello with a bow.

• Double bass: The double bass, also known as the upright bass, is the biggest instrument in the string family. It has the lowest-sounding tone and is primarily used in jazz music. The double bass measures in at 6 feet in length. Rest it on the ground and either stand, or sit on a high stool as you play.

• Harp: The harp has a distinctive triangle shape. It is played by plucking the 45 strings stretched across its wooden frame.

• Banjo: The circular soundboxes on banjos were once covered by stretched skin, but most are now covered in plastic. The five strings on the long, fretted neck are played with a plectrum.

• Mandolin: Mandolins have almond-shaped bodies with four to six pairs of strings and a fretted fingerboard. The instrument was most popular from 1600 to 1800 and is tuned like a violin. The Neapolitan mandolin, an instrument that appeared about 1750, is played with a plectrum, rather than strummed, and its strings are made of metal.

Guitars are also classified as stringed instruments and have their own section on eBay. Visit eBay's Guitars Buying Guide for specific advice on choosing an acoustic guitar, electric guitar, or bass guitar.

Select the Right Stringed Instrument

Select the Right Stringed Instrument

Make sure you choose a high-quality stringed instrument that you can play over a lifetime and consider an investment. Always ask sellers the age of the stringed instrument and if part, or all, of the instrument has been restored.

Age your stringed instrument

As wood hardens over time, it becomes more resonant, allowing stringed instruments to develop a deeper, richer tone as they age. Older stringed instruments in good condition will often sound better than similar new instruments. However, a new instrument can sound better than an older stringed instrument that has undergone many repairs.

Look for visible and repaired cracks in the stringed instrument listing photos. An older stringed instrument in need of restoration, or one which has been poorly restored, may not produce the right tone.

Evaluate stringed instrument condition

You'll want to buy a stringed instrument in good condition, regardless of age. The projection of the neck should be 20 mm to 21 mm for violins, 24 mm to 26 mm for violas, and 62 mm to 68 mm for cellos. Make sure the alignment of the neck is centred perfectly between the “F” holes.

Spot signs of restoration on your stringed instruments

Applying new varnish and restoring violins, violas, cellos, and basses with new parts may alter musical tone. Pay especially close attention to composite stringed instruments made of diverse parts from different makers.

Stringed instruments 50 years old and older have likely had a full varnish restoration to preserve the instrument. Assess the varnish on younger stringed instruments before you buy. Some owners preserve their stringed instrument with regular polishing while others completely re-varnish when an instrument starts to show wear. Older stringed instruments may also have a very thin, clear varnish to preserve what original varnish remains.

If you want to buy a stringed instrument and restore it, figure restoration costs into your total budget. Replacement tailpieces, pegs, fingerboards, and endpins are often available in a variety of woods, including ebony, rosewood, and boxwood, on eBay.

Get Essential Stringed Instrument Accessories

Get Essential Stringed Instrument Accessories

Produce a great sound and play your stringed instrument in comfort with bows, strings, pads, and more.

Choose a high-quality bow

The right bow, whether for your violin, viola, or cello, will vibrate along with the strings, producing a rich, lively sound. Many stringed instruments designed for beginners come with a bow. Although bows improve with age, they can wear out. Do not buy a bow with cracks. Wood bows tend to produce the best sound, though synthetic materials are also available.

Select bow strings

Strings are available in different gauges. Opt for medium-gauge strings if you want an even, warm sound. Choose from gut core, synthetic core, or steel core strings.

• Gut core strings: Gut core strings have a warm and complex sound.

• Synthetic core strings: Synthetic core strings, typically made of nylon, tend to have more power than gut core strings and need to be tuned less often.

• Steel core strings: Steel core strings have simple, clear, and direct sound. Non-classical players, especially country and folk fiddlers and jazz musicians, prefer the sound of steel core strings.

Play your stringed instrument in comfort

Shoulder rests and chin rests take stress off your body, allowing you to play your stringed instrument in greater comfort. They’re usually simple to attach to the instrument with a rubber band.

Pack up your stringed instrument

Stringed instrument cases, often made of leather, are as important an investment as your instrument. With great choices available from Fender, Pro Tec, and SKB, cases will protect your stringed instrument from damage for years to come.

Find Stringed Instruments on eBay

Find Stringed Instruments on eBay

Once you know what type of stringed instrument you want, go to the Musical Instruments portal, click String, and start searching for item listings on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for violins, harps, banjos, and more. As you dig deeper into the site you'll be able to narrow down your choice even further.

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a viola, type “viola” (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Stringed Instruments With Confidence

Buy Stringed Instruments With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to C$1,250.

• eBay Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.