Instrument rental info

Our rental program is pretty straightforward.

Our rental fleet currently consists of used instruments from industry-standard brands. We don’t have new instruments at this time.

Here are the basics:

• Fill out our secure rental form. We’ll get your instrument ready for you to pick up (at TC Violin Co on Garfield, just south of Airport Rd) or for delivery to your child’s school, and send you a payment link to initiate your rental.

• After that, your rental payments will be automatically charged to a credit or debit card on the 1st of the month. Once your payments reach the total of the instrument (within 30 months), it’s paid off, and you own it - simple!

• If your instrument needs maintenance (they all need maintenance, every year or so is a good starting point) or repair, just let us know and we’ll coordinate with you to get it taken care of. Again, you can drop it off at TC Violin Co, or we can pick it up from the school. Loaners are usually available. Maintenance and repair is included at no charge while renting (other than malicious damage).
  

Monthly rental payment rates:

Flute, Plastic Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone: $32 ($33.92 with tax) (typically paying toward $850 over 27 payments)

Wood Clarinet: $40 ($42.40 with tax) (typically paying toward $1,150 over 29 payments)

Alto Saxophone: $45 ($47.70 with tax) (typically paying toward $1,300 over 29 payments)

Payments

All payments are processed securely online through QuickBooks.

First month’s rental payment is processed at the initiation of the rental.

Subsequent payments will be automatically processed on the 1st of each month. 

Your second rental payment (first scheduled automatic recurring payment) will be processed on the next 1st of the month at least 21 days after the first payment. For example:

If your first payment is processed on the 18th of September, your second payment will not be processed until the 1st of November (skipping October 1)

If your first payment is processed on the 4th of September, your second payment will be processed on the 1st of October

Once the total amount paid by your monthly rental payments reaches the total amount of your instrument, you own the instrument!

Early payoff discount

The biggest benefit of renting an instrument for your child vs. buying one right off the bat is being able to have a low initial investment in a quality instrument while they figure out if they’re going to continue playing that instrument.

If your child is going to continue playing the instrument you’re renting, we offer a 20% early pay discount off the balance of your instrument at any time. If your kiddo takes to their clarinet and you decide you want to pay it off when your balance is $700, just let us know, and you’ll get a $140 discount to pay off your balance! $300 balance remaining? $60 discount and you’re paid off!

Exchange

If your student switches instruments, the rent paid toward their initial instrument will be applied as a rental credit toward the instrument they switch to. Rental credit only applies to instrument exchanges for the same student - they are not inherited through the family forever.

Featured brands include:

Jupiter, Vito/Leblanc, Selmer/Bach USA, Yamaha, Eastman, Accent, Armstrong, Artley, Emerson, Gemeinhardt, Pearl, Buffet, Holton, Getzen, Conn, King

As a repair technician of over 20 years, I won’t rent you anything that I don’t think can be repaired effectively, that I don’t think will last for the long term, or that I don’t feel good about recommending. That wouldn’t be in my best interest, your financial best interest, the best interest of your child’s experience working hard to learn a musical instrument, or the best interest of your child’s school band program as a whole.

Rental instrument frequently asked questions:

Are they new?

• No, we currently only offer used instruments.

Do they look new?

• Some do look very close to new. I get them in the best cosmetic condition practical.

They’re used - are they ugly?

• No. Our rental instruments are all in good cosmetic condition.

• I do have some more “cosmetically challenged” instruments that I use either as repair loaners, or that are available for sale at a price that takes their cosmetic condition into consideration. If you’d like to rent, but all I have available at the time is these instruments with more cosmetic flaws, I’m happy to initiate the rental and get an instrument in your hands, then let you know ASAP when I’ve got an instrument in better cosmetic condition.

• If you’re looking to buy an affordable and quality instrument, I’ve got instruments in great playing condition that show cosmetic wear and tear but are performance ready!

They’re used - do they need work?

• Nope! I’m a repair technician of over 20 years, and I’ve performed any work necessary to make our rental or sale instruments play the way they should. With brass instruments, that means cleaning, new felts and corks, and any needed dent work, straightening, resoldering loose parts, etc. With woodwinds, it would be cleaning, pads and corks (many are totally repadded), and as much cosmetic restoration as practical. Mouthpieces, if not new, are cleaned, sanitized, and sealed in new packaging.

What’s included?

All rentals include everything you need - no need to purchase additional cleaning/care supplies: 

• Book

• music stand

• microfiber polishing cloth to wipe down exterior of instrument

Flute

• cleaning rod

• cotton cleaning swab in pouch clipped to case

Clarinet

• Mouthpiece w/ clear tooth patch

• Ligature & cap

• 2 reeds (this will get you started - you’ll need more… you’ll always need more reeds)

• Reedguard (holds 2 reeds)

• Swab

• Cork grease

• Thumb rest pad

Saxophone

• Mouthpiece w/ clear tooth patch

• Ligature & cap

• 2 reeds (this will get you started - you’ll need more… you’ll always need more reeds)

• Reedguard (holds 2 reeds)

• Swab

• Cork grease

• Neckstrap w/neoprene pad

Trumpet

• Mouthpiece (5C by default, per most of the band directors in our area)

• Valve oil

• Slide grease

• Mouthpiece brush

• Bore cleaning snake brush (vinyl-coated metal coils)

Trombone

• Mouthpiece (6.5AL by default, per most of the band directors in our area)

• Slide lubricant & water mist bottle (for long hand slide)

• Slide grease (for small tuning slide on bell)

• Mouthpiece brush

• Bore cleaning snake brush (vinyl-coated metal coils)