The Violin Shop

What The Violin Shop does

The Violin Shop is a privately held, specialty string-instrument retailer and service center headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, founded in 1988 by Fred Carpenter. Its product catalog spans violins, violas, cellos, bows, cases, strings, rosin, shoulder rests, and amplification gear, with house-labeled sub-brands including Music City Fiddles (5-string and standard violins) and The Gigging Fiddler (stage equipment). Inventory covers student-level instruments from approximately $795 up to professional and antique violins priced at $20,000-$35,000. The business operates a single flagship showroom at 2504 8th Ave South in Nashville's Melrose neighborhood, supplemented by a Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront that ships nationwide, plus an out-of-state trial program requiring a $250 refundable deposit.

Revenue is generated across four streams: one-time instrument and accessory sales, subscription-based rentals (violin $30/mo, viola $35/mo, cello $75/mo) with 100% of payments accruing as equity toward up to 50% of a future purchase, on-site luthier repair and restoration services including a one-week guaranteed bow rehair, and an optional rental insurance/maintenance subscription ($6-$15/mo). An optional short-term rental tier ($100-$150/week) and trade-in policy (100% credit on instruments over $400) further reinforce customer retention. The on-site workshop is staffed by luthiers trained at premier programs (North Bennet Street School, Chicago School of Violin Making) and former apprentices of named restorers.

The customer base spans three primary segments: professional and semi-professional fiddlers and string players (including touring and session musicians who comprise a sizable share of Nashville's musical ecosystem), students and beginners served through the rental program, and collectors seeking rare or antique instruments and bow appraisals. Owner Brandon Godman has operated the business since January 2022, having acquired it from previous owner Ian Panton; Godman separately owns The Fiddle Mercantile in San Francisco, a sister shop serving the west coast fiddle community under a shared network.

Name

The Violin Shop

Legal name

The Violin Shop

Website

https://theviolinshop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Violin Shop is a Nashville-based specialty retailer of violins, violas, cellos, and bows, offering instruments from student to antique levels, on-site luthier repair services, and an equity-building rental program serving fiddlers, string students, and collectors nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

String Instrument Specialty Retail

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

SIC

Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra) (CRALAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instrument Repair, Maintenance & Luthier Services (CRALAEAF), Instrument Accessories & Consumables Retail (Strings, Reeds, Sticks, Cables) (CRALAEAE)

Keywords

• String instrument retail
• Violin repair services
• Instrument rental program
• Bow and instrument sales
• Musician accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Instrument Sales: Retail and online sales of violins, violas, cellos, and bows across a wide price range from student-level (under $3,000) to professional/antique instruments ($20,000-$35,000). Online storefront powered by Shopify.
2. Instrument and Bow Rentals: Monthly rental program for violins ($30/mo), violas ($35/mo), and cellos ($75/mo), with 100% of rental payments accruing as equity applicable to up to 50% of shop-owned instrument purchases. Rental packages include instrument, bow, case, and rosin. Maintenance/insurance program available for additional monthly fee.
3. Repair and Restoration Services: On-site workshop providing repairs, adjustments, bow rehairing, and full restorations for violins, violas, and cellos. One-week guaranteed bow rehair turnaround. Repair consultations by appointment.
4. Accessories, Strings, Cases, Apparel: Sale of complementary products including strings (D'Addario, Jargar, Larsen, Pirastro, Thomastik-Infeld, Prim), rosin, shoulder rests, cases, gigging/professional equipment, and branded TVS merchandise (hoodies, t-shirts, hats, tote bags).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Violin Shop is a specialty string instrument retailer that sells violins, violas, cellos, and bows across all price ranges from student-level (under $3,000) to professional and antique instruments (up to $35,000). The shop also offers complementary accessories (cases, strings, rosin, shoulder rests), branded apparel, books and media, an instrument rental program with equity accumulation toward purchase, and on-site repair, restoration, and bow rehair services by trained luthiers. Sales are fulfilled through a Nashville retail storefront and a Shopify-powered national e-commerce store.

Product overview

The Violin Shop is a specialty string instrument retailer and service center offering a comprehensive portfolio of violins, violas, cellos, bows, and accessories. The product lineup spans from entry-level student instruments (under $3,000) through rare, collector-grade instruments from master makers (exceeding $20,000). The shop operates several branded sub-lines including Music City Fiddles (house-labeled violins) and The Gigging Fiddler (amplification and stage equipment). Core offerings are complemented by a full accessory suite—cases, strings (D'Addario, Jargar, Larsen, Pirastro, Prim), rosin, shoulder rests, and general accessories—plus apparel and merchandise under the TVS brand. Services include an on-site repair workshop, a rental program with equity accumulation, and short-term rentals. The business is powered by Shopify e-commerce and maintains a physical retail presence in Nashville, TN.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Music City Fiddles: Shop's own line of violins including models such as Elite, Nashville, Artist, Old Hickory, and 5-String variants.
• The Gigging Fiddler

Products and services

• Violins The core string instrument category for The Violin Shop, spanning four price tiers from student-level instruments (~under $3,000) up to professional and antique masterworks exceeding $20,000 (with select pieces up to $35,000). Available through the physical store and online, sold as individual ready-to-ship units.
• 5-String Fiddles Specialized 5-string violins aimed at fiddlers needing extended range, sourced from named luthiers and the shop's Music City Fiddles house line. Sold individually as ready-to-ship instruments.
• Violas Violas in a range of body sizes (12-16 inches) from student to advanced levels, including pieces from David Goad Workshop, Jay Haide, Thomas Coleman, and other named makers. Sold individually through the store and online.
• Cellos Cellos from makers such as Jay Haide, Peter Kauffman, Paolo Lorenzo, John Juzek, Bernd Dimbath, and the Maggini Model, available at multiple price points. Sold individually through the physical and online store.
• Bows (Violin, Viola & Cello) Bows sold individually across price tiers (carbon fiber from $115 up through master antiques exceeding $10,000), spanning violin, viola, and cello applications. Includes named French, German, and contemporary makers plus modern carbon fiber options.
• The Gigging Fiddler Amplification Equipment A sub-brand of amplification and stage equipment for professional performers, including direct injection boxes (DI), audio preamps, pickups, microphone gear, and instrument stands, marketed to fiddlers and string players who perform live.
• Instrument Cases Cases for stringed instruments including BAM, Bobelock, Gewa, and Tonareli brands, with single and double-case configurations, sold individually.
• Shoulder Rests Shoulder rests for violin and viola from brands including Bon Musica, Everest, Kun, and Pirastro Korfker Luna, sold individually.
• Rosin Bow rosin products including Hill Dark, Bernadell, Larsen Light, Melos Dark, Jade, Pirastro Goldflex, Pops Bass, and Leatherwood Folk Fiddle Rosin, sold individually.
• Strings (Sets, Individual & by Brand) String sets and individual replacement strings for violin, viola, and cello, organized by brand (D'Addario, Jargar, Larsen, Pirastro, Prim, Thomastik-Infeld) and product type (string sets, E strings). Sold individually or as sets.
• General Accessories General accessories for string players including mutes, humidifiers, tuners, chin rests, endpin feet, and instrument stands, from brands such as Bech, Boveda, D'Addario, and Ingles. Sold individually.
• Monthly Instrument Rentals Subscription-based rental program for violins ($30/month), violas ($35/month), and cellos ($75/month), with 100% of payments accruing as equity toward up to 50% of a shop-owned instrument purchase. Each rental includes instrument, bow, case, rosin, and up to one set of strings and one bow per year.
• Short-Term Instrument Rentals Usage-based short-term rental of student-level instruments charged weekly: Violin $100/week, Viola $125/week, Cello $150/week, with a $500 refundable deposit required. TVS rental insurance is not included; renter assumes full responsibility.
• Repairs & Restoration Professional on-site luthier workshop providing instrument repairs, adjustments, bow rehairing (one-week guaranteed turnaround), and full restorations for violins, violas, and cellos. Repair consultations are by appointment.
• Apparel & Merchandise Branded TVS merchandise including hoodies (~$65.00), t-shirts (adult from $18.00-$25.00; youth $14.95), tote bags ($15.00), and caps/dad/trucker/grandpa hats ($25.00 each). Sold individually through the online and physical store.
• Books & Performance Media Curated books on violin and fiddle history, playing styles, and method materials, plus performance media such as The Fiddle Masters DVD Series. Sold individually.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Fiddle Mercantile (San Francisco, CA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022Both shops are owned by Brandon Godman and operate as sister shops. The Violin Shop in Nashville serves as the flagship, while The Fiddle Mercantile in San Francisco's Mission District serves the fiddle community of the greater Bay Area and broader west coast. This arrangement enables both shops to bring quality instruments and lutherie services to the west coast through the shared network and expertise of Brandon Godman.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Peter Prier & Sons Violins: Salt Lake City-based violin shop with a luthier workshop, rentals, sales, and bow services. A comparable family/specialist-run violin shop with similar workshop-retail hybrid model.
• Quinn Violins: St. Louis-based violin shop specializing in sales, rentals, and repair with a wide inventory from student to professional instruments. Directly comparable in the mid-size specialty violin retailer segment.
• Ifshin Violins: El Cerrito, CA-based specialty violin retailer with a strong rental program and sales of new/used instruments. Operates a similar retail + rental + repair model for student and intermediate players.
• Shar Music: Large Ann Arbor, MI-based string instrument and supplies retailer with a comprehensive online catalog and rental program. Directly competes on violins, violas, cellos, strings, accessories, and sheet music.
• Carriage House Violins: Brooklyn, NY-based full-service violin shop offering sales, rentals, repairs, and bows across student to professional levels. Comparable in business model to The Violin Shop with similar in-store workshop capabilities.
• The Fiddle Mercantile: Sister shop in San Francisco's Mission District, owned by the same person as The Violin Shop. Operates an identical violin/fiddle retail, repair, and rental model serving the Bay Area and broader west coast fiddle community.
• Robertson & Sons Violin Shop: Albuquerque, NM-based string instrument shop offering sales, rentals, bows, and repair services. Comparable specialist retailer with multi-generational expertise in violins, violas, and cellos.
• Williams Fine Violins: New York-based violin and bow dealer specializing in antique and contemporary instruments, with consignment and appraisal services. Overlaps with TVS in the higher-end violin and bow category.
• Southwest Strings: Stringed instrument retailer and rental provider serving students, schools, and educators across the U.S. Directly competes in the student rental, violin/viola/cello sales, and accessories market.

Broad incumbents

• Reverb: Large online marketplace for new and used musical instruments including a significant violin/family inventory. While not a specialist, it competes for the same online customer purchasing strings, accessories, and entry-level instruments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@theviolinshop1
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheViolinShop
• Instagraminstagram.com/theviolinshop
• TikToktiktok.com/@theviolinshopnash
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theviolinshop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Violin Shop