FAQ
Frequently asked questions about purchasing and shipping instruments
What payment options do I have when I buy my instrument?
Corilon violins, or Corilon for short, is an online store specializing in high-quality violins, violas, cellos, and bows. We have been in business for over 20 years and offer one of the world’s largest and most interesting selections of high-quality vintage and antique European stringed instruments. The following payment methods are available to you when you purchase a violin, viola, cello or bow at Corilon violins:
- PayPal (Debit, Credit card)
- Credit cards
- Bank transfer
- German debit card or cash payment upon pickup
More information can be found on the Payment methods ...
Does Corilon offfer a customer service by phone?
Corilon does not offer general telephone customer service. Our experience shows that questions about historical string instruments deserve the care, expertise and depth that a quick phone call rarely allows. We respond to all inquiries in writing - via email - personally, competently, and without time pressure. For urgent matters from existing customers, telephone contact is possible by prior arrangement.
Does Corilon offer immediate shipping and how is my Corilon instrument shipped?
Corilon ships your ordered instrument as soon as possible after a personal review in perfect condition, tuned, ready to play, and securely packaged via Deutsche Post/DHL. Secure, worldwide shipping is free for you. More information delivery periods and packaging can be found on the Shipping costs page.
Why does shipping sometimes take a little time?
How does shipping work, and how long does it take? We offer free shipping worldwide—regardless of the instrument’s price. Whether it’s a student instrument or a high-quality historic violin: Shipping costs you nothing, no matter which country we’re shipping to. This offer is truly unique in the instrument trade.
Regarding delivery times: Within Germany, we usually deliver within a week; throughout Europe, delivery typically takes 1–2 weeks. International shipping via free standard shipping may sometimes take a little longer. If you’re in a hurry, you can opt for a premium shipping upgrade (airmail) for an additional fee—though please note: In remote regions, such as rural Australia or sparsely populated areas of the U.S., delivery may naturally take longer than in metropolitan areas, regardless of the shipping method chosen.
To make free worldwide shipping possible at all, it is provided as regular international standard shipping—not as express or air freight. Anyone expecting fast, free, and worldwide shipping at the same time should know: These factors cannot realistically be reconciled. However, the reason lies not only in the price but also in how we operate: Every instrument—regardless of its value—undergoes the same careful inspection, adjustment, and quality control before being carefully packed by hand. We do not ship mass-produced goods that are automatically picked and shipped.
At Corilon, craftsmanship and quality matter in every single step, much like the working methods of a traditional workshop. This attention to detail takes a little time—but it pays off in the quality and sound of the instrument when it arrives at your doorstep.
Do instruments from Corilon violins grow along with their players?
In a sense, they certainly can! As your abilities grow, you can take advantage of the Corilon trade guarantee, which will make it easier for you to acquire a new and more suitable instrument. We will credit you 100% of the original price toward the purchase of an upgrade in a higher price range. In our wide-ranging selection of violins, violas, and children's violins older and younger amateur and professional level musicians can always find the right instrument, from ¼-sized all the way to full-sized pieces. Read more on the Trade guarantee page.
How long is the trial period?
After receiving your order, you can try out your instrument for 30 days and, if you’re not satisfied, return it for a full refund. Corilon handles returns and refunds with flexibility. Every single return in over 20 years has been processed and correctly refunded by Corilon. Since 2025, we have also offered a return policy for on-site purchases. Learn more about our return policy here.
Is returning an instrument complicated?
No. We want every customer to be satisfied with their Corilon instrument and enjoy it for many years—that’s our philosophy. We handle returns and exchanges with flexibility: we certainly won’t hold minor scratches or imperfections in the finish—which occur naturally while playing—against you. To return the instrument, simply use the Corilon packaging, which is optimized for break-proof shipping, and send the package via standard mail to our address. We’ll take care of the rest — fee of charge, of course. Once we receive your return, we will process it and issue a refund within 14 business days.
What do I need to do when returning an instrument?
If you ship an instrument to Corilon as part of our return policy or trade guarantee, please make sure you have packed it securely and carefully. We recommend using the original Corilon packaging — optimized for safe shipping — in which you received the instrument from us, and sending the package via your courier of choice to our address. Make sure you include a notice or a copy of our original invoice. Upon receipt of your return, we will process it within 14 business days. Please see our more detailed information on packing and shipping a violin.
How are Corilon instruments restored and worked over?
Older instruments are distinctive personalities with a history, and the ones with good musical properties are especially likely to show clear evidence of their “biography.” As a result, each violin, viola, cello and violin bow we buy need a specialist to restore or work them over. Our in-house violin makers have over 25 years of professional experience and have given several older instruments a new lease on life – and in some cases, perhaps even more than one! When a violin arrives in our atelier, we begin by taking the time we need to thoroughly examine its condition and decide which steps are necessary to set up and make the instrument perfectly playable, without hidden damages. In doing this, Corilon violins follows two key principles:
- Respect the historic character of the instrument
An old violin is very rarely without flaws. And for that matter, it shouldn't be – after all, why else would centuries of violin makers spent so much time practicing the craft of artificially ageing their new products? Our instruments reflect their authentic history, and if that means that they have traces of use – even heavy ones – we see this as a sign of their good musical properties. The presence of a patina and crackling evolve naturally as the varnish ages, and aficionados of historic instruments appreciate this as such.
- It's about music – not museum pieces!
Our customers are musicians who want to use their fine stringed instruments, which is why we perform whatever repairs are necessary to maintain or restore the ideal playing properties. These can include regluing a top or neck that has come loose, or perhaps replacing a defective fingerboard, or fitting the violin with a new bridge, tailpiece and sound post.
Do instruments at Corilon have soundpost cracks or hidden defects?
No. Every instrument in the Corilon catalog is professionally inspected and restored to playing condition by our luthier’s workshop before being added to our selection. Instruments with soundpost cracks or other significant structural defects are not included in the catalog. Our policy is clear: No instrument at Corilon has hidden defects. What is stated in the description corresponds to the condition of the instrument. Buyers need not expect to discover unexpected damage after purchase.
Instruments requiring significant restoration—such as those with soundboard cracks secured with soundboard lining or cracks in the bass bar—appear in the Corilon catalog only in exceptional cases and exclusively as isolated instances among particularly valuable or historically significant pieces. These restorations are always documented in the text and openly communicated. In the lower price range, instruments with significant repairs are generally not found at Corilon. Repairing a soundpost crack with soundpost filler is a complex restoration costing several thousand euros, often exceeding the value of the instrument itself. For lower-priced instruments, such a restoration is not economically viable and is therefore not performed.
For technical context: For significant master instruments in the six-figure price range—such as instruments by Gagliano, Amati, or Stradivari—extensive restorations and soundpost cracks repaired with soundpost lining are a well-known and widely accepted restoration practice in the trade. They generally reduce the value of such instruments only slightly and are not uncommon in instruments of this age and provenance. However, this is a characteristic of the high-end segment, not a feature of the Corilon catalog as a whole, and certainly not of the lower price range.
Why does Corilon sometimes not name the maker of an instrument?
When it comes to historical string instruments, the question of attribution is complex and requires expert scrutiny. Corilon explicitly names a maker only when the attribution is scientifically verified. A label inside an instrument is not proof of authorship. Model labels bearing names such as “Stradivarius” or ‘Amati’ are found on hundreds of thousands of factory-made instruments with no connection whatsoever to these masters. Instruments without confirmed maker attribution are described by Corilon according to region of origin, era, and schoo; for example, “Mirecourt, early 19th century.” This is not an attempt to obscure the truth but the opposite: an honest description instead of a misleading attribution. Anyone who buys an instrument described as a “Mirecourt violin” gets exactly that - and no false guarantee of authorship.
My child needs a violin – what size should we order?
What violin size should a children's violin be? Are older instruments better than new ones? What makes more sense, renting or buying? In our helpful text children's violins you can find answers to common questions about the “first student violin” and a size chart.
Are the reviews of Corilon violins authentic?
Yes. We are committed to transparency in customer reviews and genuine feedback. Corilon violins has received excellent reviews and collects authentic feedback through transparent, independent platforms such as Google Maps (with an average rating of 4.9 to 5.0). Corilon has accumulated more than 350 positive 5-star reviews on Google over the years. More than 99% of these reviews from verified customers are 5-star positive, which reflects our long-standing work, our commitment to quality, and our customer-friendly approach—and inspires us anew every day. In 20 years, Corilon violins has sold nearly 10,000 instruments to satisfied customers. You can read some personal customer feedback, which we receive via email, on our website in the “Experiences and Customer Feedback” section.
Buying string instruments - online or from a Luthier?
The question of whether one can or should buy string instruments online has long since been answered. What was still a matter of deep conviction and debate ten years ago is now commonplace—just like buying clothes online: Once you’ve tried it, you no longer doubt the concept. The only question today is where and from whom to buy.
Can you really buy string instruments online?
Yes - and several buyers do so every day at Corilon violins. Buying string instruments online at Corilon means trying them out and playing them at home. It doesn't mean buying a violin without trying it out and without being able to return it (as might happen at an auction or when buying from a private seller). Buying string instruments online has become fully established in recent years. Professional dealers like Corilon offer a much wider selection, rare pieces, and more variety. Sound samples, detailed photos, certificates, and comprehensive descriptions enable you to make an informed decision. You browse online; you try out and play the instrument at home, at your own pace, with or without an audience, in your familiar surroundings—which offers tremendous advantages. Added to this is the return policy and the statutory 14-day right of withdrawal: Any instrument ordered online can be returned within 30 days without giving a reason. The risk for the buyer is therefore inherently lower than when purchasing in a store or from a luthier, where no official return policy is offered.
Does Corilon recommend buying string instruments online?
Yes — without reservation and across all price ranges in our catalog from student to professional violins and from €1,000 to €300,000. Our comprehensive warranties, risk-free shipping, value for money, excellent sound, and our wide selection are our strong points. At Corilon violins, you can listen to hundreds of professionally played instruments online and find the best violin for yourself. And you’ll pay significantly less than at a luthier, who often has only a few instruments in stock and charges correspondingly high prices.
Our low returns rate, the many enthusiastic emails from buyers all over the world, and the feedback we have received over many years demonstrate that it is entirely possible to choose a violin online – provided it is presented honestly, accurately and as authentically as possible before purchase. This is precisely what we have focused on in our online shopping experience at Corilon.
Our nearly 20 years of experience in global online sales show that this approach works. The low return rate and the many personal messages from satisfied buyers around the world confirm this. And because the final decision on a violin always rests with the musician, Corilon instruments can be tried out at home for 30 days at your leisure. Our goal is simple: The violin you receive should be the same one you saw on our website. Buying a violin online doesn't have to be a compromise: Find the perfect violin at Corilon.
Guaranteed online purchase at Corilon violins:
- 30-day unlimited return policy, full refund of purchase price
- Excellent value for money, even on expensive instruments
- Secure, worldwide shipping for 20 years
- Hassle-free refunds
- Individual sound samples for every single instrument
- Personal and expert advice from our managing director via email
- Trust-based service on-site
- Detailed photo documentation and meticulously crafted, authentic text descriptions
- Certificate option: A certificate can be ordered for each instrument
- Expert certificates for expensive violins, verifying their authenticity
Is buying a string instrument online at Corilon a blind purchase?
No. Purchasing an instrument online from Corilon is identical to ordering from a mail-order company. The instrument is delivered at our expense, played, trialed, and tested for comfort and playability; at home, in the orchestra, and in the concert hall. The purchase is not finalized until the 30-day return period has expired. Until then, the buyer retains the full right of return. Corilon violins supports the decision-making phase with custom sound recordings, detailed photo documentation, and personal consultation so that the buyer can assess the instrument as thoroughly as possible even before delivery. If you decide not to keep the instrument after trying it out, you return it. The return process is straightforward, and the purchase price is fully refunded.
Thousands of customers from all over the world—from Japan to Australia, from the U.S. to France—value Corilon violins’ expertise and enjoy shopping online with us. We would be happy to welcome you at our Munich location by appointment, where you can try out and select instruments in person. Our return policy also applies to in-store purchases.
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