SHAR Retail Showroom

We highly recommend the children’s rental program. We are in our second year of renting a violin for our elementary aged child. Currently on our third instrument but have been in multiple other times to replace strings and even switch out a case. Shar has stood by their policies, providing repair or replacement at no cost as per the rental agreement and also done so cheerfully and efficiently. (On average I spend only 5 – 10 min in the showroom each time I go in for replacement/​repair.) So far, their rental program has been a great value and also a stress reducer, eliminating worries about breaking a costly instrument and saving time on repairs. They only non-​covered cost has been a shoulder rest and rosin, which we knew in advance wouldn’t be covered. (Full disclaimer: I do not play an instrument myself so have no basis of comparison. However, my husband played through college and my mother-​in-​law is a professional musician and based on my current experience with Shar, they are both impressed with Shar’s rental program.)

I am renting a cello from Shar for my wife. We received the cello and the bridge is not set up properly. I called and asked for a replacement and they sent a bridge blank and did not offer to cover the cost of a luthier setting the cello up all over again. Even though we had just received the cello.

I recent stepped into Shar Music’s showroom during a visit to Michigan. I’ve been mail ordering from them since I was 10 years old. I can still remember when I was at Interlochen and they would take my phone orders, mail me the products, and THEN bill my parents’ residence. No e-​commerce in the 1980s.
I hadn’t been in the store since 1990 and it was a nice surprise. I live in Hawaii now (yeah, the sound of the world’s smallest violin playing) and I miss having access to Shar Music where the salespeople could speak my language.
I’ve purchased two violins, dozens of cake or rosin (I drop them too much), a case, tons of strings, sheet music, and numerous accessories. After not playing for 20 years the chat feature was helpful in me choosing new strings that would survive the high humidity in Hawaii. I’ve always been satisfied with their service and will continue to use them.

I’ve been teaching and playing professionally for 30 years, and I’m surprised to hear negative reviews of this store. I’ve used their mail order since I was a student, and never once had a problem. Every instrument comes fully set up, and they offer easy returns. Their beginning instruments are wonderful, and easy to play. I buy strings from them routinely with no problems.

I’ve never had a bad experience with Shar. I’ve been ordering from them for almost 20 years, since my high school days. I even bought a bow from them one time — they shipped 5 or 6 of them to me, in my price range, in California, and I selected one. I guess they must have some kind of insurance to be sending out like $ 6,000−7,000 worth of bows at a time to people to try out. Their products are all high quality and I have never ordered any products that ended up being defective. The only thing I would criticize is their website. They have never had a good website… it’s always been very bad in some way or another. If they can find a way to get the website overhauled, and the shopping cart in better working order, it would be good.

I think the main problem with Shar is that they are the only game in town in terms of classical music services. So their customer service suffers. There are a few folks who actually want to help you, but sometimes you feel like you are being tolerated by musicians who can’t make it as professionals and so are inflicting their loss-​of-​talent-​emotion on us lowly customers.
Still they are the only game in town, so we have to endure it. Maybe someone out there can start an alternative that has a web service you can trust.
That being said, you will find what you need there (and if not they will order it for you).
Does anyone else feel that Shar needs a shot in the arm?

In elementary school, we were required to play an instrument. I played the violin. I was okay at it. When we moved, I gave up on playing the violin, because I wanted to hang out with friends and be ‘cool’ or what have you. And since we moved, my violin fell apart.
I wasn’t too familiar with how violins worked, since I stopped caring at about the age of 12, but I began to miss making music on a stringed instrument. For my birthday, my boyfriend and I went here to see if I could get my violin fixed.
We went and talked to get an estimate, and they explained everything that was wrong with the violin (yay neglect!) and went on further to explain things about the violin and violin making that I had never even thought about before. The man explaining things to us, did this without hesitation and it was a really great experience to be treated as a person instead of an idiot with a neglected broken violin.
They indeed fixed my violin and I’ve been really happy with it. The result looked beautiful and it was done earlier than estimated. Overall the ambiance of the place is wonderful. I definitely recommend if you are in the Ann Arbor-​Detroit area and are interested in learning, or even relearning, a stringed instrument.

I am a guitarist, and have been considering learning cello.
I went to Shar and had a very good experience talking to the staff about my options, the prices I would pay for rental and purchas.
The two people I spoke with were very happy to answer my questions, were willing to ask me questions to better relate to my experience and interests, and answered a couple of «dumb» questions I asked with aplomb and good vibes.
The instruments I looked at were well constructed; one was a refurbished instrument that looked, not new, bu well-​repaired and cared for.
I felt that the environment was supportive, friendly, and I felt no pressure at all. When I am ready to start working with cello, I will definitely go back there.

Eek !!! Working with Shar Music was an awful experience for me! I am a graduate of Interlochen and the SF Conservatory that is now a music teacher and mom of a child that wanted to start up cello. I made the mistake of believing that Shar music sent there instruments set up and had good customer service. The instrument I ordered didn’t come to me in good condition given that I bought it new. The peg didn’t work and the bridge was a mess. :(The customer service side of Shar has been the worst I have ever seen! And I have seen a lot. There is no way that I would ever recommend them to any of my parents at my school or local surrounding schools. Don’t make the expensive mistake I made!

For forty-​something years, Shar Products has served the national music community by selling and repairing stringed instruments. Their catalog lists contemporary and fine instruments, instrument accessories, strings, sheet music, and music records/​CD/​DVDs. You can order any product by internet or mail. If you live close to the store, you can visit the shop and try out their instruments and talk to their experts.
On a recent visit to Ann Arbor, I stopped by the store to try out some violins. I was surprised at the size of the store and the number of instruments they have on hand. Conveniently, they have several practice rooms where you can try out the instruments.
They also sell instrument cases and bags. Again, the number and variety were considerable.
As far as repairs go, Shar repaired my sister’s cello a few years ago. The workmanship was excellent. The repairs were done on time. So overall, my sister was very satisfied.
If you live locally to the store, Shar is a great place to check out instruments and supplies. The location is also convenient for quality repairs.
If you live far away, Shar is a great source for strings, accessories, and sheet music. I have always been happy with the products I’ve bought from Shar and the service I’ve received.