Blackerby Violin Shop

GREAT place!
Rented my violin from them… all the personnel are very knowledgeable and helpful!

My experience with Blackerby’s has been great! I went there to rent a violin and appreciate that the guy took the time to explain to me how to care for and store the instrument since I said it was my first time picking up a violin. They are friendly and helpful and even have a good sense of humor joking around together about YouTube videos.
I didn’t call around to compare, but think $ 20/​month for renting an instrument is very reasonable. (Plus, it’s a rent to own deal, so half goes towards the purchase of it.) Can’t go wrong there.
A big plus is their referral list of teachers. A lot of options there. I chose Kyra. At the back of the shop is an attached recital and practice space where I take lessons. I am a beginner player of violin and have been taking lessons from Kyra. She is fabulous!!! I recommend her if you’re looking for a teacher. I think she also has a studio more Central you can meet her at. I don’t remember, but just ask her.
Also, they have books for purchase and were helpful finding me a better chin rest.
I recommend them!

They have a bunch of great violins in stock with beautiful sounds! The staff are so helpful and professional that they know the best size of the violin that fits me, and would follow up on me when there is a better one available. I definitely recommend this shop!

Very knowledgeable, have violin pre amps, great place to get your violin set up for live performing with a full on band.

I’m so happy I finally got a violin. Well, rented one. Still, the staff was quick, helpful and very knowledgable. Got me a book to learn from, is one of the best books I’ve found. They provide a list of teachers all over the area, all different price ranges. I opted to teach myself, having two other instruments under my belt. But, I do stop by for adjustments and questions. There are no stupid questions here. I’m considering a cello next. They’ve got me hooked!

This shop is good. I’ve been using them for about 10 years now, and I have the utmost respect for the knowledge of the people working there. Especially concerning sheet music — the guy who works there can get a hold of just about anything that’s published. And if you order music through them, you don’t pay shipping.
I buy strings, rosin, and sheet music from them. And just about all my students rent instruments from them. I get my repairs done somewhere else, mostly because it’s a student shop.
They are always really friendly and well-​stocked. Decent prices, and it’s always nice to support local businesses.

Very helpful staff cordially offered advice and expertise to this newbie violinist. I appreciated their patience and suggestions. Thanks guys!

Well, I gave Blackerby another try & had an even worse experience this time. Called before I went & made sure they had a selection of cellos I could choose from. When I got there, a really friendly and helpful lady (I think her name is Jen) gave me 2 different ones to try. After choosing the one I liked better, I set it down & went to go do the paperwork. When I turned around, the cello was gone & I figured the other person who was working there had gone to pack it up. He comes back empty-​handed & I ask him where the cello is, and he says «you can’t have it but did you try the other one?» I told him I did & I liked the other one better, to which he replies «but this one costs more.»
LOL. Dude, do you think I’m an idiot? Granted, I don’t expect the store to remember me every time I come in, since I don’t even live here anymore. I’m not the type to pull a «obviously you don’t know who I am» but for the purposes of this review — I’m 24 years old, I just finished my Master’s of Music, I live and work in NYC as a cellist, had a concert review & picture of myself in the New York Times earlier this year, was in a band & had a record deal, do lots of recording sessions — basically, I’m an adult and I know what I’m doing and you don’t have to talk to me like I’m a 10-​year-​old who just started playing the cello. I don’t really give a fuck how much a cello costs, if it sounds ugly, then I don’t want to rent it! Simple as that.
Anyways, I kind of laughed at him & said «ok, but who cares how much it costs when it sounds like shit…» but I ended up just taking it anyways since I’d already driven all the way up there. He packs up the cello & gives me a suspicious look while asking if I’m sure that I won’t be taking the cello anywhere, that it will be staying in one place, even though I’d already told him on the phone that the only reason I needed it was to practice while staying at my parents’ house for the holiday. I don’t believe there’s any clause in the rental agreement that says you must keep your rental instrument in a single building so I’m not sure why he was asking me about that.
The cherry on top was that as I was leaving, he admonishes me to make sure I don’t leave the cello case standing up. Ha. I never leave my cello standing up. Thanks for making it extra clear that you think I lack any common sense, or knowledge of the instrument that I’ve been playing for 13 years.
This place was a lot friendlier when Joel Becktell was the co-​owner. I’m sure they are still plenty nice to the students who have long-​term rentals. Maybe it’s understandable that they don’t care about someone who only gives them $ 50 a year, but I believe that customer service shouldn’t be dependent on how much you spend. Now I’ll certainly never be returning & will be making sure to un-​recommend them to anyone who asks. See ya never Blackerby.

I’ve been playing and studying the violin for most of my life and have used the same instrument case since day one. I figured it was time to get a new one and happened to be in Austin one weekend and stopped by Blackerby Violin Shop.
My professor from UT recommended them while I was in college and I’ve heard many great things about their shop. So I decided to go take a look-​see for myself.
When I walked in, I saw the case that I wanted and asked Helen for help. She recommended a few other cases as well that fit my needs and budget. She even let me borrow a violin to see how comfortable it felt to put the instrument inside and out of the case. Sometimes, instrument cases are too snug or tight, other times too loose. It was good that have that comparison since my violin was at home in Houston.
I asked if there were other models similar to the case from that brand (BAM). She showed me a catalog and even told me which colors they had in stock. Helen was very helpful and friendly, and I really appreciated the patience she had while I was shopping around.
I decided to get the case since she offered so much help and after seeing that the price was the same as an online store. I wouldn’t be paying for shipping and either way, the case was so popular it was backordered and would take an estimate of months to get to me!
I’m glad I stopped by Blackerby and will be doing so again in the future on my visits to Austin. Thanks Helen for all of your help!

Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. They recommended the rent-​to-​own program and had everything we needed. I walked out of there with a violin for my Daughter and it only took about 10 minutes.

I hadnt played my violin in about a year and when I took it out the bridge was warped and it sounded strange and buzzy.
I took my violin to Blackerby and explained the situation– they were very understanding and didn’t make me feel silly or judged. The man working in the front tried for a while to adjust the bridge but told me it was still a little warped. He told me how much a new bridge would cost if I wanted to replace it, but when he saw the terrified look on my face he told me he would check with the luthier to see if my bridge could be repaired instead. It got fixed quickly and well!
I loved that this place was not pretentious, didnt try to sell/​oversell anything to me, and really worked with me on what I wanted! I will definitely go back for any future repairs.

I love this store.
The service is always top notch, the advice given honest, and the craftsmanship of the luthier is superb!
I have been an occasional visitor from their days across from UT and am really happy with the added space in their new location. They were willing to examine my instrument that I didn’t purchase there and give me a fair evaluation on it’s playability. In the end all we did to it was adjust the soundboard, they could have been huffy or sang the praises of their instruments, which by the way are fantastic, but instead they gave me great customer service, and that’s why when I upgrade I will buy my instrument from them.
If you are going to go to a stringed instrument store, please have this be your first stop. You will not be disappointed!

Took a cello here to be restrung. They were super nice and fast. When I came back later, the guy remembered my name.

Quick and painless.
I had a collapsed bridge and soundpost and Violins etc. informed that it could take up to two weeks to repair. Please! So I spoke to the kind woman at Blackerby and she said I could probably see my violin fixed on the same day. Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened. Ten minutes and the man had fixed the bridge, sound post, and he even tuned everything for me. All of this customer service for the price of FREE. Now I don’t know if that’s a standard move right there, but fast, friendly service just for the hell of it wins every time in my book.
I will return to Blackerby whenever my violin needs to be serviced.

My first experience here after moving to Austin from Chicago, SF, Philly and Portland… from what I saw yesterday, they are a top rate stringed instrument dealer with reasonably priced repair services and great service to boot. Nice people!
There is a recital hall in the back. Maybe after I get my bow rehaired and do some practicing, I’ll be worthy to play in it.
Abundant parking.

My experience with Blackerby is as a local Suzuki violin teacher and performer… and I hear good reviews from my students across the board. The Eastman instruments in Blackerby’s «rental fleet» are excellent quality — to get student instruments that are so predictably excellent is rare. Plus, the fact that the shop is right here in town is pretty much necessary for when the clueless parent (see their only negative review) inevitably breaks a string or needs service. Face it — if you’re going through the effort of getting a kid started in violin lessons, having as much local support as possible is important, and Blackerby is there for you.
The first thing that I noticed about Blackerby when they were still located in their old location (a quaint little house on Dean Keeton) was the prominently-​placed placard stating that they do not give teachers kickbacks. I was impressed with their entire room devoted to sheet music — it’s now even bigger and more complete after their move to the current Anderson Lane location. And I was intrigued that there were CDs of local string players near the cash register. But most importantly, they had in stock the Bernardel Rosin and Wolf Shoulder Rest that I came for.
Over the years I’ve gotten to know the staff of Blackerby, several of whom have been there since my first visit. They’ve helped me out with about everything a string guy could ask for — an appraisal and full cleanup for my antique violin, bow rehairs, sheet music, accessories, even now retailing the CDs that I play on. This is the one that I still can’t believe — they worked out a unique «on approval”/rental situation when I was trying out carbon fiber bows, knowing full well that I intended to take the $ 1K CodaBow on tour with me, and in the end when I decided not to buy I only owed a few dozen dollars!
Whether you’re seeking a rental instrument for a 3-​year old beginner or seeking your step-​up instrument for grad school, Blackerby is the place.

My stand up bass needed so work to be done and I decided to take a long shot with this place, boy was it a pleasant surprise!
the luthier is a fellow bass player and the price he quoted me was more than fair,
one of those hidden jems people talk about

The service at Blackerby leaves a lot ot be desired. Friendly questions are met with rolling eyes and heavy sighs. They barely grunt a few words at you in response. Don’t have any idea why they have to be so surly. The instrument rental policy is not competitive either. They require a $ 25 set up fee per instrument which other many retailers do not. We rented 2 violins from them for 1 month, and found a better deal from an out of town dealer who was willing to ship instruments for free and didn’t charge a set up fee. I do not plan to go back to Blackerby. I’d rather spend my money with folks who appreciate my business.

The folks at Blackerby truly know their stringed instruments. The shop was started by a professional cellist and violinist, and all the staff there plays some variety of stringed instrument in a rock band or classical ensemble. It’s still family owned.
They used to be located on Dean Keeton near the UT campus, but they’ve now moved up to W. Anderson between Burnet and Lamar, right across from Buffet Palace and Hobby Lobby. Parking is now easier, and the space has just about tripled, so you’re not bumping scrolls or bows with fellow customers.
Because of their new, larger location, they now offer on-​site music lessons, and they will soon have a recital hall where they’ll hold special events.
They do repairs and rentals. They have the largest stringed-​instrument sheet music library I’ve ever seen. Their instrument, strings, and accessory selection is incredible, and if you get Jennifer (cellist) or Joseph (violinist) to help you try out instruments, you’ll be amazed. Don’t forget to ask Jennifer to play you some Metallica. And Joseph is a walking library of classical music.