Violins, cellos, accordions, harmonicas, ukuleles, banjos, and world instruments — timeless instruments that connect us to centuries of musical heritage. Covering 1,800+ products.
Traditional instruments carry centuries of musical heritage. The violin, perfected by Italian luthiers like Stradivari in the 17th century, remains the backbone of orchestral music. The harmonica shaped the sound of American blues. The accordion defines folk music from Paris to Buenos Aires.
These instruments demand careful selection — craftsmanship, materials, and setup quality directly affect tone and playability. This guide covers the major traditional instrument families and what to look for at every skill level.
Bowed string instruments forming the soprano and alto voices of the string family. Central to orchestral, chamber, folk, and fiddle music traditions worldwide.
The tenor and bass voices of the bowed string family. The cello is prized for its warm, vocal quality. The double bass provides foundation in orchestras and jazz ensembles.
Free-reed instruments producing sound by air flowing over metal reeds activated by bellows. Essential in folk, tango, zydeco, polka, and French musette traditions.
Compact free-reed instruments played by blowing and drawing air. The diatonic harmonica is synonymous with blues music, while chromatic models serve jazz and classical.
Plucked string instruments with distinct characters. The ukulele offers Hawaiian warmth and accessibility. The banjo provides the driving rhythm of bluegrass and folk music.
Instruments from diverse musical traditions: mandolins from Italy, sitars from India, ouds from the Middle East, didgeridoos from Australia, and kalimbas from Africa.
Violins, violas, and cellos come in fractional sizes designed for younger or smaller players. A full-size (4/4) violin is appropriate for most adults. Children typically start on 1/4 or 1/2 size and progress through 3/4 to full size. Playing an incorrectly sized instrument leads to bad technique and physical strain. A qualified teacher or luthier can help determine the correct size based on arm length and hand span.
For string instruments, the top (soundboard) material is critical. Solid spruce or cedar tops vibrate freely and produce richer, more complex tone that improves with age. Laminated (plywood) tops are more durable and resistant to humidity changes but produce thinner tone. For violins under $300, laminate is common. Above $500, expect a solid spruce top. For ukuleles, solid mahogany or koa tops deliver noticeably warmer sound than laminates.
Traditional instruments are highly sensitive to setup. For violins and cellos: bridge height and curvature, sound post position, string choice, and peg fitting all dramatically affect playability and tone. A $300 violin with professional setup can outperform a $600 violin straight from the box. Buy from shops that include setup in the price, or budget $50–$100 for a luthier to optimize a new instrument.
The bow is as important as the instrument itself for bowed strings. Student bows use fiberglass or brazilwood. Intermediate bows use quality brazilwood or carbon fiber. Professional bows use pernambuco wood. Carbon fiber bows offer excellent consistency and durability at every price point. A good bow improves tone production, control, and playing comfort more than most players realize.
Wooden instruments are affected by humidity and temperature changes. Solid wood instruments can crack in very dry conditions (below 40% relative humidity). Use a humidifier in the case during winter months. Harmonicas need regular cleaning. Accordions require periodic reed tuning and bellows inspection. Factor ongoing maintenance costs into your purchasing decision — annual servicing for string instruments costs $50–$150.
Student violins, violas, cellos
V-Series violins, Silent Series
Marine Band, Special 20 harmonicas
Ukuleles across all sizes and budgets
Goodtime, Sierra, Eagle banjos
Evah Pirazzi, Obligato strings
Handcrafted violins, mandolins
German-made accordions