The Workshop

Orchestrated through years of experience professionally playing, building and repairing stringed instruments, Justin Rister and our team have extensive experience working on all violin family instruments. Stringed Instrument Services’ staff includes players and instrument technicians who are dedicated to performing high quality repairs that reflect the quality and value of your instrument.

select a service

We are passionate about making good quality instruments available to everyone. If it doesn’t sound right, feel right, or look right, come on in. We’ll take care of it— no appointment needed.
Evaluation and estimate for repair is given on the spot before any work is done.

Why Stringed Instrument Services?

We take pride in our repair shop. It’s where instruments come in a little worse for wear and leave ready to sing again. We repair all violin-family instruments — violin, viola, cello, and bass — whether it’s a minor buzz or a big crack. We do everything from bridge fitting and soundpost adjustments to fingerboard planing, peg repair, crack and seam gluing, and full restorations. If your instrument isn’t sounding or feeling quite right, we’re happy to take a look. We approach each repair with patience, skill, and respect for the instrument’s history — and we’re always happy to talk through what you’re noticing or wondering about. No appointment needed.

Looking for upright bass repair in Rochester, NY? Look no further.

Because of the size and scope of the upright bass, many shops shy away from them - here at Stringed Instrument Services we have a soft spot for the big low end instruments of the violin family. From setup and adjustment to major repair and overhaul, our staff is well versed in handling the unique challenges of the string bass. We have rentals for those just starting, intermediate instruments for college bound players, and offer expert repair, adjustment and setup work for professional players.

All bow repairs and rehairs are done in-house by bow specialist Jim Greer. Jim has studied at some of the top bow repair facilities, including the Violin Craftsmanship Institute and the Violin Society of America Bow Restoration workshop, under such names as Jerry Pasewicz, Rodney Mohr, David Orlin, Lynn Hanning and others. He provides a satisfaction guarantee on all of his work.

In addition to standard repairs and setups, we offer a range of specialty installations to improve comfort, playability, and performance—especially helpful for players with specific physical needs or stylistic preferences. Whether you're looking for more precise tuning, ergonomic adjustments, or amplified sound, we can walk you through the right upgrades for your instrument.

  • These pegs offer quick, easy and precise tuning for Violins, Violas and Cellos. Great for anyone who has difficulty operating regular pegs, these pegs will not slip or stick when the humidity changes and there is no need to loosen/tighten; simply turn the head to tune.

  • Posture pegs help make playing the cello more comfortable by giving your head and neck extra room to move. Traditional pegs can get in the way, especially in longer practice sessions, but posture pegs replace them with low-profile tuning keys—taking the pressure off and making things feel a lot more natural.

  • Wittner chin rests for violin or viola

  • We carry pickups from Realist, The Band, and Fishman for every instrument in the violin family. Whether you want a warm, natural sound or something a little more direct and punchy, we’ll help you find the right fit. Each pickup is professionally installed and set up to sound great.

  • A bent endpin brings the bass into a more ergonomic playing position, helping reduce strain while improving access to all strings—especially for arco players. Many musicians also find it enhances resonance and projection by allowing the instrument to vibrate more freely. It's a simple upgrade that can make a big difference in comfort and tone.

  • If you notice a note on your instrument that sounds wobbly, unfocused, or seems to “fight back” when you play it, you might be dealing with a wolf tone. It’s a common issue—especially on cellos and basses—and we carry a range of wolf eliminators to help tame it. Stop by the shop anytime and we’ll help you find the right solution to smooth things out.

  • If it’s not here, it doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Give us a ring or visit the shop.

"To play a wrong note is insignificant. to play without passion is inexcusable."

- ludwig van beethoven