Listed below are a set of price estimates for common repairs from Gig Violins LLC in Madison, Wisconsin (note: prices for repairs vary by region, mostly due to cost of living considerations).
These are merely guidelines because the needs of every instrument are slightly different. We have listed these here to make the process more transparent and less intimidating for our customers. Please contact Gig Violins to talk about your instrument’s specific needs.
| Repair | Cost (Violin/Viola) | Cost (Cello) |
| Seasonal Instrument Check-up 1 | $30 | $30 |
| New Bridge (Professional) 2 | $250+ | $350+ |
| New Bridge (Standard) 3 | $125 | $175 |
| New Bridge (Student) 4 | $75 | $105 |
| New Soundpost | $70 | $90 |
| New Pegs (traditional) 5 | $120 + cost of pegs | $200 + cost of pegs |
| New Pegs (mechanical) 6 | $160 | $280 |
| Replace Tailpiece | $30 | $50 |
| Change Strings | $10 (Free if purchased from Gig Violins) | |
| Glue Seams 7 | $15 | $15 |
| Set Fallen Soundpost | $15 | $15 |
| Soundpost/Tonal Adjustment | $15-60 | $15-60 |
| Clean/Polish | $30-$90 | $60-$130 |
| Fingerboard Dressing | $70-$120 | $110-$150 |
| Crack Repair (small, not requiring top removal) | $50-200 | Variable |
| Crack Repair (large, requiring top to be removed) | $500+ | Variable |
| Bow Rehair | $70 | Cello $75, Bass $80 |
| Bow Tip Replacement (Tip Armour) 8 | $100 | Cello $120, Bass $130 |
| Thumb Grip Replacement | $40 | $40 |
- Recommended seasonal instrument service includes:
-Check and glue open seams
-Light Cleaning
-Peg Service (incl. fine tuners)
-Check soundpost & bridge
-Check/record vital measurements
-Investigate buzzes
-Monitor cracks and old repairs
-String change (on request) - Fitting a professional-level bridge requires more time and effort, a professionally fit bridge is ‘tuned’ to the individual instrument to specifically bring out the best and most balanced sound.
- Well fit bridge using better quality bridge material. Suitable for instruments between $1000-$8000
- Well fit bridge left a little thick, produces a good result on student level instruments appropriate for instruments less than $1000.
- Decent quality solid ebony pegs start around $50 a set, better quality can go upwards of $150 a set. Other materials are available upon request.
- For Wittner Finetune pegs, which I have found to be the best mechanical pegs in production at the moment.
- I keep the cost of gluing seams very low, because it is very important it is performed by a luthier. If a seam comes unglued, it means the instrument is healthy and has kept a bigger crack from forming somewhere else.
- Tip Armour is my material of choice for bow tip plate replacements. It is more durable than traditional materials (bone, ivory) and can be easily taken through customs.