I am a beginner violinist and went to SW on a recommendation. Rafael was so kind and helpful. He set me up with a proper chin and shoulder rest. I plan on going back for any of my future violin needs and hopefully I'll be get better and be able to purchase a nice violin from them. I tried one and it was beautiful! read more

One of the few shops I could find in the USA that stock hard-to-find strings... I ordered a Pirastro Chorda (unwound gut string for viola, but I am using for a hurdy-gurdy)... it was competitively priced relative to other online shops (mostly European ones), and arrived quickly and in good shape. read more

Vast selection of violin products and sheet music. I've bought rosins, sheet music, bridge, strings, and I even upgraded to a new bow here. One time my old bow just "broke", I took it here and they fixed it no charge (was something very simple). Great to have a shop like this in Tucson for my violin needs and to continue practicing my 40 hours a day. read more

We are renting a viola from here and the employee was attentive in measuring my child and making sure we have the right sized viola. I have also purchased sheet music here for piano and viola, very nice store. read more

Ordered some sheet music from them. Best price, lightening fast shipping. Looking forward to future purchases.

Southwest Strings is a local music retailer with an online national presence. If you are a string player of any genre, you would be wise to come here for your needs, whether you play in an orchestra, in a blue grass band, at school, or at gigs. They will expertly take care of you whether you are a professional, amateur, or student. Their inventory cannot be matched. They have everything in just about every brand and permutation: instruments, cases, strings, accessories, music and method books, teaching aids, etc. Their service is excellent and strings are their expertise. There is no high pressure selling here, just plain, good 'ol helpful service. Pricing to buy and to rent are highly competitive. You can go online and browse their inventory and their prices and even place an order. Or you can come to their store and see things for yourself. 5* = A top favorite. Mind-blowing good. I will definitely return and I will go out of my way to go here. Worth every dime of my money. 4* = Outstanding. Tucson-top-tier. Some elements not quite as good as it gets, but it still is worthy of my regular business. 3* = Good experience. I might do repeat business if it is convenient, the only option, the only one in its category, or on a whim, but would not be among the first thing to come to mind. Would definitely recommend you trying it to get your own take on it. 2* = Not so good. Would not recommend at all. Waste of money. 1* = How are they still in business? Stay away at all costs! read more

I was super impressed by the customer service and would recommend this store to all my friends. My daughter must get a copy of the Polish Caprice score this week for a competition. It's critical that she gets it on or before Friday. However I couldn't find it anywhere on the web that can ship to us quickly enough. I called SW strings on Tuesday and the representative walked me through the whole process. He even went to the storage himself to find the score to make sure it's really available. He gave me a discount for 2nd day air shipping, given that the score is very light-weight. This was totally unexpected. Then he made sure the score was shipped on the same day and would arrive on Thursday. I was grateful for the kindness and care the representative had shown toward me. Thank you!! read more

Ordered sheet music - besides a good price, it arrived quickly and was exceptionally well-packed (3 layers of protection plus a cardboard stiffener). read more

Ordered a music stand light. The price couldn't be beat and it arrived promptly in a well packed box. Thank you.

I want to love this online retail store, I really do. But they have left me upset too many times. It's not to say I won't shop with Southwest strings again, if they let me. But I am going to consider other places first. This is my experience after 2 purchases. PRO: I think they have great prices. That was the lure that caught me in the first place. I think (unconfirmed) that they have a large inventory to pick from. I really appreciate that, and I KNOW how hard it is to build an inventory. CON: Their shipping cost. They advertise Free but I will never see free. Instead I must suffer with $50 FedEx service. Great as FedEx is I don't want to pay that kind of a premium. How about USPS Priority? Make it affordable for me. I ordered my husband his birthday present, a W.E. Dorfler bow. It arrived tarnished, dusty (his comments here). But to me I saw it was rosined and the hair is dry, stiff, no stretch. I.E. Old. No plastic bag. No Dorfler box either. This bow had to be a display model. No where was I informed that I would be shipped their showroom model. Why not let me know and ask if I want it? Thats the honest approach. Luckily I do re-hairs and can fix it. But I should not need to! Makes me what to send them my bill for a re-hair. Lastly, don't gripe at them. They will respond every so politely, but firmly that they do not care. So online at least, customer service is waning. I won't complain to them about the bow I received, I will say it here instead. read more

This company went above and beyond my expectations with their customer service department. I will be a returning customer. Invoice 1416380.

I would like to give them 5 stars ,but will get to that in time. Most important, The sales staff is personable, but need to be better versed on their products. The product I purchased was outstanding and a great value. I couldn't beat the deal anywhere in the country and I shopped for a bass for a month. Shipping was a bit of a mess thus the 1 star ding. Poor communication regarding shipping on SWS end . Make sure they get you a tracking # and the contact info of the trucking co. (oversize item). read more

I'm not from the area, but I love visiting violin shops whenever I travel. I am a professional musician, with extensive experience in the music retail business, so this review comes from a the perspective of someone who has been on both sides of the counter. First of all, the customer experience was wonderful. I was helped by one gentleman with extensive musical knowledge and professional experience. He went above and beyond to give me information that was genuinely useful and appreciated. They also kindly did the necessary work on a family members violin while I waited for a very reasonable price ( It's best not to name specific amounts because things like that change). I'll just say from experience that they charged the correct amount, and I was very satisfied with the work that was done. Southwest Strings does not pretend to be something it isn't. They specialize in online retail, and it's a service to Tucson that they maintain a brick and mortar location for business. They have a great selection of student instruments, and fantastic prices on their rentals. That said, they don't really have much in the way of professional level instruments. That's fine, I just think it's unfortunate. It's an obvious destination for beginners and anyone who wants the best possible price on music and accessories. I enjoyed my experience, and would comfortably recommend them to anyone. The one star off is because they don't do special orders, which I think is a must for any music store (but I understand in their case considering their size), and because their prices are too low. I know that sounds like a win-win, but it's legitimately unfair to other business if they're offering prices on things that give them an unfair advantage on the market. read more

Do NOT buy from here. I returned a defective violin ( Two luthiers inspected the violin and noted multiple of the same defects ) and SW strings refused a full return and told me the violin has no defects therefore I do not qualify for a full refund, only partial. They never even reimbursed the cost of sending the violin back ( I had to pay for the 20 dollar box ). Additionally, the qr code they sent me for FedEx did not work and they said it was not their problem but FedEx's. Anyway, as expected of a online only shop, it is very risky to buy from here, best go to a local store with actual professionals. read more

Totally underwhelming customer service. Screwed up their orders and my bank account. They made no contact, just a surprise withdrawal 3 weeks later! Right before Christmas! We orchestral musicians are not a wealthy bunch- we can't afford this kind of nonsense! I will never do business with SWS again. Now I have to borrow $$ for a Christmas turkey. Disappointing. read more

The company inadvertently sent our student stringed instrument kit (instrument, case, accessories) correct EXCEPT the instrument itself was the wrong size, which we didn't discover for a couple of months, when our instructor told us once classes began. Southwest Strings could not have been more professional or easy to deal with on the swap. They sent a brand new kit and return shipping labels (2 options) almost immediately, without requesting photos or any other information to verify the mistake. One hundred percent recommend them for their commendable customer service. Instrument is beautiful and nice value, as well. read more

Southwest Strings My sweetheart and I want to say thank you for your awesome customer service this past Friday. We had an appointment to check out some of your cellos. We were greeted by Jorge who really went out of his way to take care of us. He had a Yamaha Silent Cello ready for us to play as soon as we arrived. My love then asked to see an acoustic cello which Jorge provided very quickly. We were also interested in trying out a carbon fiber bow which he retrieved right away. Then my sweetheart saw a certain cello that she was very intrigued by. Jorge made arrangements for us to play it and that was the one she fell in love with. This was a Glasser Composite Cello. Her face lit up completely with the sound as well as the feel. We told Jorge this is the one we wanted. He got us started on the paperwork and also returned with an even bigger surprise. He told us his manager gave us an adjustment in price which was such a blessing. We were both very thankful and humbled to receive such kindness. As we were finishing up the paperwork, Jorge provided us a soft cello case since we did not purchase an outfit to carry out our newest addition in. We truly appreciate your kindness and exceptional customer service in such a time where we haven't experienced it much lately. read more

Southwest Strings - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Most unethical experience ever! We have tried several times to get a very specific violin case for my daughter's birthday. After contacting them they assured us the case is in stock. We were very excited and placed the order only to be told the next day "Sorry, unfortunately this item is out of stock". They will say and do anything to get a sale! read more

We've rented many an instrument from here over the years, and I've always found it to be a positive experience. This is a full-service shop that rents, sells, and repairs a variety of stringed instruments and accoutrements, including bows, shoulder rests, tuners, sheet music, spare parts - you name it, they probably carry it. My daughter plays both violin and viola, and as she's grown and improved skill-wise, she's returned several to trade in and upgrade her instruments. The staff is ver accommodating when it comes to trying out their instruments, even allowing you to try out products that you admittedly cannot purchase (some high-end merchandise resides here). They do have a program which allows you to put the rental fees towards an eventual purchase - which for is, after years of renting, added up to quite a bit. Coming here has always been a no-pressure experience - the staff are quick to assist, but there is no hard sell. Hours are sort of limited, so be sure to check if they are open before paying them a visit (it's located around the corner from the Cherrybell Post Office). However, if you're in the market for a stringed instrument, it is definitely worth carving out some time in your schedule to check them out. read more

Came here to purchase my first viola (I'm a professional musician but NOT a string player) and found exactly what I needed. The service was highly knowledgable and professional! Hard to come across this sort of broad selection back east! read more

Visited Southwest Strings on the recommendation of a co-worker, she said they were good. What an understatement ! These people are incredible. My son received a violin as a gift and we needed to replace the rosin. Also, while there I had some questions about the item that was not purchased from them. They took it in the back and actually performed some slight modifications on the violin, including replacing the strings. I only spent $2 on some new rosin but the guy went over the entire instrument for us. I can not recommend this place enough. Open 6 days a week they have a great selection of sheet music and instruments. Something for every budget. read more

Southwest Strings- superior service, great selection of products and sheet music. Well known for their contributions to Arizona organizations that support string music education including Arizona Viola Society, Virtuoso Violas, Chamber Music Camp with Quartet Sabaku, and Chaparral MusicFest String Academy. read more

This is a good place to go if you're looking for a student violin or if you're a school program looking for many violins. They do not have a lot of accessories. They have a ton of music and teaching books! I picked up some polish which was their own packaged polish. It worked well. It is nice to see the lutherie onsite. read more

Was super impressed and left happy! I went in looking for someone who could help me pick out new violin strings, and received a veritable ton of information to help me decide. Adan was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating, and spent a long time with me going over options and recommendations for both sound quality and budget. We even got out my violin which I'd brought with me to check the sound and help pinpoint the differences in tone I was looking for. Now that I've got the new strings on, I'm really happy with the warmer tone it's producing. Many thanks! read more

Good store - I usually order from the Shar Products Company in Michigan (regular customer there for 20+ years) but SW's selection and pricing are pretty comparable. I won a gift card for $100 to Southwest Strings though, and I decided to put it towards a backup bow. The one I bought was stamped 'M. Voirin' - no relation to 'the' Voirin of many decades gone by, as this was a cheap factory-made bow. It was worth about $75 and they charged $300 for it. Luckily, they agreed to take it back, although I had to pay shipping. Customer service is good. They were very slow to process the refund though. The customer service reps can't do it; the accounting folks have to do it. On a more positive note, this company is a loyal supporter of summer string programs and they happily donate about $500 worth of goods to the one I attend on the east coast every summer which are auctioned off or given away as prizes. I know they've been around for a very long time and haven't succumbed to competition, which means they're doing things the right way. But - they shouldn't be selling junk bows for 300 bucks a pop. read more

I ordered an instrument online and was disappointed to receive an instrument with a defect (looks like a deep 2-3 inch long gash on the top), especially when the seller was to have individually inspected the instrument prior to delivering it. I am at a loss as to why they wouldn't have informed me of the defect (which, after some back-and-forth emails, they explained was a naturally occurring phenomenon in wood products that would not qualify me for a free exchange; I would be required to pay for shipping for both instruments ), prior to shipping it, at least to put me on note that I was not receiving what I thought I would be receiving based on the pictures and description? That type of courtesy would have at least provided me with the opportunity to decide not to move forward or choose another instrument. My advice to online instrument shoppers, which I know is not the ideal means of buying an instrument (because, for example, the likelihood of receiving B stock is high [lesson learned]), is to truly understand what you are buying at the front-end. If the seller is willing, have them send you a picture and/or a video clip of the actual instrument you are purchasing, so you have a better idea of what you will be receiving. Assuming that the seller is reliable and forthright, I believe it will save time and money and minimize/eliminate frustration for both sides. read more

I am a music teacher, but teach wind instruments so I know very little about stringed instruments. When my son started cello, I knew we wanted to purchase a cello as opposed to renting so he could make it his own. I combed the internet for a QUALITY, reasonably priced student instrument. We spent about $600 for his 1/8 size cello, which is less than what I would have paid to rent it in my home location for one year. It came set up, packed perfectly, with 4 fine tuners, a horsehair bow, and zero flaws. His instrument is actually of superior quality than the rentals in his class as the pegs do not slip and it sounds better than the other kids (when the instructor plays it, not so much my child yet). We plan on having him play this instrument until he grows out of it and then will be purchasing the next size from SW again. read more

While I'm sure they're online service is fine, their face-to-face is extremely lacking. Aside from the sterile atmosphere you hit when you first walk in, you have to wait for someone to walk away from the phone to greet you. Then it's a hassle and almost like they do not want you to come to the store at all. Today's goal's was to get a new bridge fitted on my son's violin at the request of his teacher who asked me to bring it to SW Strings specifically. The "sales person" told me that he could not help me! When just 2 months prior to this visit I came in to have a warped bridge replaced on my own violin with no problem, and even opted to have old mechanical pegs replaced while I was at it. While I have had positive dealings in the past (because where else are you going to go in Tucson) today's experience was the worst yet. So bad, that I asked to speak with a manager, who never came out to speak with me but simply "allowed them" to "go ahead" and fit a bridge on my son's violin. The sales man was quick to say that I "shouldn't expect this service in the future". Well don't worry buddy! I won't make the mistake of giving Southwest Strings my money again!! In an age when there are many many options, online and otherwise you really shouldn't be such jerks to people who were previously loyal!! read more