About Benning Violins

Benning Violins - formerly known as Studio City Music - is a Los Angeles-area mainstay violin shop offering an extensive catalog of fine violins, violas, cellos and bows for sale crafted by old and modern masters.

We are a family-owned and operated store since 1953 and have a long tradition of expert service and meeting the needs of musicians, from the beginner to the professional.

We perform restorations and repairs on fine instruments and bows. We offer expert appraisals of instruments as well as consignment sales.

For three generations, the Benning family name has been synonymous with the making of fine, master-crafted violins, violas and cellos. Instruments crafted by Eric Benning are owned and played by a number of premier players, concert performers and recording artists.

Since the launch of our web site, we have grown into an International enterprise, shipping fine instruments and bows, accessories, as well as lesser-cost student outfits set up in our workshop, all over the world.

(818) 762-1374
Los Angeles, California, USA
  • The Highest Quality Instruments at the Lowest Price

    Every instrument is set up by expert luthiers in Benning's storied workshop to their exacting specifications before being shipped.
  • The Right Bow Brings Out the Best in Your Instrument

    Whether you are a beginner or a professional, choosing a bow is as important of a decision as choosing an instrument.
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    ALL ORDERS | 1-818-762-1374

    Get the Most for Your Money! Our FREE Shipping Policy Means MORE Value for You.

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What We Provide

Benning Violins online store offers a wide range of instruments from a number of different countries - from lesser-cost student outfits to those for intermediate and advanced players. All violins, violas and cellos are hand-crafted by reputable and esteemed makers and are set up in our own storied workshop to our exacting specifications for optimal playability and tone. Can't find what you're looking for? Need expert advice? Please contact us.

100% Satisfaction

We accept returns for up to 30 days from purchase date if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase.

Free Shipping

We ensure that your order is expertly packed and quickly and safely delivered to you - Free of charge.

Expert Instrument Setup

All new instruments are set up in our workshop to our exacting specifications for optimal playability and tone.

Low Prices

We always strive to provide top quality instruments and accessories at the lowest and most affordable prices.

Stellar Customer Service

Over 65 years as a family-owned business, we have mastered the art of friendly and personal customer service.

Hand Crafted Instruments

All violins, violas and cellos are hand-crafted by reputable and esteemed stringed instrument makers.

Resources for Players

Before renting a stringed instrument for your beginning player, know what you're getting ... and getting into.

Depending on your beginning violin student’s personality, level of commitment, maturity and other factors, you may decide that you would like to rent your child an instrument rather than purchasing a new one. There are pluses and minuses to both scenarios. If you do decide to go the rental route, there are very important things to know and understand before actually renting the instrument for your child.

Renting a violin for your child can be advantageous if you are unsure of your child’s commitment to learning the violin. Renting a student violin allows the child to become acquainted with the violin before investing in a higher-quality student violin. Many children become frustrated or uninterested in music and quit lessons (if the parent allows it) and in many cases, a student who starts off on violin decides he or she would rather learn cello or piano. In these cases, it’s a good idea to begin by renting, even though higher quality student violins, violas and cellos hold their value for resale.

If your child is beginning lessons at an early age, between 5 and 12 years old, then renting an instrument may make sense due to the fact that smaller children need smaller instruments. Larger instruments are needed as the child grows. For some parents, it is easier to rent and allow for appropriate size exchanges before settling on purchasing a full size instrument when the student is ready for one.

May shops will apply the first three months of rental costs towards the purchase of a new instrument. You may purchase the instrument and continue to trade in the instruments as your child grows from size to size. Some shops will offer customers 75% of the value back towards the purchase of the next size up violin. In that sense, it really does make more financial sense to buy and trade up.

It is never advisable to rent instruments online. It is always advisable to visit your local violin shop that provides low-cost violin rental programs for students and children. A violin shop with experienced makers is a better choice than a large music chain or band store. A violin shop with experienced luthiers will know how to properly set up student violins for maximum ease of playability. Installing the correct stings, adjusting the bridge and sound post makes all the difference in the world to how a violin sounds. You’ll want your child to possess an instrument that sounds good and is easy to play. Student violins usually will come with a bow, a case and the minimal accessories needed, such as violin rosin.

Some violin shops offer comprehensive insurance plans for their rental instruments to cover repairs in the event that your child damages his instrument. Always purchase the insurance when available. It’s worth it if only to provide you, as the parent, the peace of mind knowing that you will not be financially responsible if something happens to one of these delicate instruments.

As stated before, many violin shops that rent will allow at least a portion (usually the first three months) of your rental payments to be applied to the price of a new student instrument. This is a great benefit for students who “stick with it” until they need or “deserve” their own full-sized instrument. Most shops constantly replenish their stable of rentals with new violins each year.

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What Our Customers Say

  • Benning Violins provided a level of patient support you wouldn’t expect to find at an online violin shop.
    They walked me through the process of choosing a student instrument and the correct accessories.
    Their great caring was evident.
  • We purchased a Jay Haide violin for our son from Benning Violins online store. My son’s teacher was
    amazed at the sound and playability of the violin. He told us, ‘Whoever set up this violin knew
    how to make it sing.’ For the price, their service made it a steal.
  • We bought a Snow viola. Benning Violins rushed it in time for Christmas. When it arrived, it sounded
    better than we expected, polished to a perfect shine. It’s really good to know that a company will
    deliver what it promises. We felt well taken care of.

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