Instrument Rentals FAQ

Eureka Music is here to help you get your students equipped for school, especially for band or orchestra class.

Below are some frequently asked questions that should help you understand how the instrument rental process works.

How do I know what size instrument to rent?

Sometimes your music teacher will tell you what size instrument you need for your student. If not, we can measure them in store to find the right size instrument for them. This only applies for orchestra instruments. Band instruments are one size fits all so no need to worry about a particular size for band instruments.

What do I need to rent an instrument?

The parent/responsible party needs to bring a driver's license and a credit or debit card so we can enter your rental information into our payment system. If you are renting an orchestra instrument, it's a good idea to bring your student with you so we can measure them for the right size instrument. The whole rental process is a walk in, no appointment necessary, and takes only a few minutes to complete. We typically ask for a billing address, an email address, two phone numbers, and a work phone number or email to complete the rental agreement. We must have this information at minimum to be able to rent the instrument.

Do you offer insurance for the rental?

Yes we do. It is optional but recommended to cover the cost of any repairs that might be needed over the course of your rental. Instruments will need care and maintenance from time to time and sometimes, accidents happen, so getting the insurance coverage for your instrument protects you from having to pay for costly repairs. The insurance does not cover loss or destruction of the instrument. If either of these should occur, you will be responsible for the replacement cost of the instrument.

What if I don't take the insurance?

Without insurance, you will be responsible for any repairs necessary to put your instrument back in playing condition. Eureka Music will take care of minor maintenance and adjustments but beyond that, without insurance, you will be responsible for the repair costs to fix your instrument.

Can my student switch instruments?

Sometimes a student starts out with one instrument and then is allowed to change to a different instrument better suited for them. This happens a lot with orchestra instruments -  not so much with band instruments. If your teacher approves an instrument change, bring your rental instrument to Eureka Music and we will swap it out for the one your student is switching to. An example of this is a student changing from a cello to a viola or violin.

What should I do to take care of my instrument?

Orchestra instruments are very susceptible to damage during extreme temperature situations. Never store your orchestra instrument in a car during hot or cold weather. This could result in cracking on the instrument and could cause you to be responsible for the cost of the repair of the instrument.

Band instruments need routine cleaning and sometimes lubricating to keep them performing their best. If you have any questions about how to perform this maintenance, please come by Eureka Music and we can show you how to clean your instrument and what products to use to lubricate it properly.

Any instrument, whether made out of wood, plastic or metal, can be very sensitive to how you handle it so always be careful with your instrument when you are taking it out of the case and holding it. The metal used in instrument making can be fragile and easily bent out of shape, causing your instrument to have performance issues. Problems usually occur when students are putting instruments together and they use more force than necessary to put the instrument together or hold the instrument in the wrong place and apply pressure.

Should I rent a new or used instrument?

Used instruments are popular because the monthly rental fee is lower than new instruments. The trade off is sometimes the used instrument needs maintenance while the new instrument shouldn't require any maintenance for some time. 

When it comes to orchestra instruments, unless your student needs an instrument that is full size, our orchestra inventory is mostly used and in great shape. We make sure your instrument is in tip top playing condition. If there is something that is not working right, we will make sure it gets corrected and let you use a 'loaner' instrument until it is ready.

For band instruments, several of our customers prefer used instruments for the cost savings. Again, we guarantee that the instrument is in playing condition and will fix any issues that might come up if needed.

Can I rent an instrument online?

You can reserve a rental instrument online through our website. This reservation holds your instrument until you can come into the store and complete a rental agreement form. You can also pick up any accessories not included with your rental at the same time.

If it is an orchestra instrument, we can measure your student at the same time as well. The reservation fee will cover your down payment for the rental so you won't be charged for the instrument again in store when you come to pick it up.

Eureka Music only rents instruments to customers in our service area which is defined by the following zip codes: 63025 and surrounding zip codes. We do not rent to out of state customers.

What is the difference between rent and rent to own?

Eureka Music offers rentals and rent to own instruments. Rental only instruments are usually orchestra instruments that are less than full size. For example, a 1/4 violin, a 13" viola, a 3/4 cello, a 1/2 bass - these are only rental instruments. You will not pay these off over time and will be charged a rental fee for every month you have it in your possession.

Rent to own instruments are either full size orchestra instruments or band instruments. If you rent one of these but are not sure if you want to keep paying for it until it is paid off, don't worry. You can bring the instrument back at any time and your contract ends at that time. We will just consider it a rental if it is not kept until the instrument is paid off. But if you keep the instrument until all the payments are made, you end up owning the instrument and we will stop charging you the monthly rental fee at that time.

You can also pay your instrument off early if you like. Please contact the manager for more information if you wish to pay your rent to own instrument off early.