Strings
String instrument prices
Violin, cello, harp, guitar, double bass. Strings hold the widest price spread of any family: a playable student outfit can be under a few hundred dollars while a professional instrument runs into five and six figures. Here is what each one actually costs, tier by tier.
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Banjo Cost: Beginner to Professional Prices (2026)
$300–$4,000
What a banjo really costs in 2026: a beginner banjo runs $300 to $700, intermediate models $700 to $1,500, and professional banjos $1,500 and up.
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Bass Guitar Cost: Beginner to Professional Prices (2026)
$150–$5,000
What a bass guitar really costs in 2026: a beginner bass runs $150 to $400, intermediate models $500 to $1,500, and professional basses $1,500 and up.
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Cello Cost: Student to Professional Prices (2026)
$400–$40,000
What a cello really costs in 2026: a playable student outfit runs $400 to $2,000, intermediate cellos $2,500 to $8,000, and professional instruments $10,000 and up.
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Classical Guitar Cost: Beginner to Professional Prices (2026)
$140–$8,000
What a classical guitar really costs in 2026: a beginner nylon-string runs $140 to $350, intermediate models $400 to $1,000, and professional or luthier-made guitars $1,500 and up.
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Double Bass Cost: Student to Professional Prices (2026)
$1,000–$20,000
What a double bass really costs in 2026: a student upright runs $1,000 to $4,000, intermediate basses $4,500 to $7,000, and professional instruments $8,000 and up.
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Guitar Cost: Beginner to Professional Prices (2026)
$100–$3,500
What a guitar really costs in 2026: a playable beginner guitar runs $100 to $350, intermediate models $400 to $1,000, and professional instruments $1,000 and up.
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Harp Cost: Lever to Pedal Harp Prices (2026)
$1,000–$80,000
What a harp really costs in 2026: a beginner lever harp runs $1,000 to $5,000, while concert pedal harps start around $15,000 and reach $80,000 and beyond.
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Mandolin Cost: Beginner to Professional Prices (2026)
$80–$6,000
What a mandolin really costs in 2026: a beginner A-style mandolin runs $80 to $250, intermediate models $250 to $700, and professional F-style mandolins $900 and up.
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Ukulele Cost: Beginner to Premium Prices (2026)
$50–$2,000
What a ukulele really costs in 2026: a genuinely playable beginner uke runs $50 to $150, mid-range models $150 to $500, and premium and koa instruments $500 and up.
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Viola Cost: Student to Professional Prices (2026)
$600–$15,000
What a viola really costs in 2026: a student viola runs $600 to $1,500, an intermediate step-up $1,500 to $3,500, and a professional viola $3,500 to $15,000 and up.
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Violin Cost: Student to Professional Prices (2026)
$120–$40,000
What a violin really costs in 2026: a quality student outfit runs $120 to $500, intermediate violins $600 to $2,500, and professional instruments $5,000 and up.
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Best Beginner Cello: What to Buy at Every Budget (2026)
$400–$5,000
The beginner cellos worth owning in 2026, by budget. Why the honest floor sits near $400, what the $800 to $2,000 band buys, and the costs that come after the outfit.
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Best Beginner Violin: What to Buy at Every Budget (2026)
$120–$1,500
The beginner violins worth owning in 2026, by budget. Where the honest floor sits at $120, why $250 to $600 is the band most students should buy in, and what to skip.