Johnson String Instrument

Johnson String Instrument Together with Carriage House Violins, we form New England’s largest stringed instrument company. We value customer input.

We have served the Greater Boston string-playing community since 1976. Together with our bowed instrument sales division at Carriage House Violins, we form New England’s largest string instrument company, here to offer our customers—beginners through concert artists—the very best in bowed instruments sales and service. We are one of the first and most prominent internet resources for string player

s. Our instruments are acquired from a variety of local and international sources, including the major auction houses, collectors, private sale, and consignment. We perform instrument restorations and repairs, as well as bow rehairing and repairing. We also provide appraisals for instruments purchased from Johnson String and Carriage House Violins. In addition, we maintain the most complete and reliable rental program in the country. We stock an extensive selection of books, sheet music, Suzuki materials, cases and accessories—some exclusive to JSI—that can be purchased directly from our Newton, Massachusetts store, by mail, or securely from our website. If you need anything for your violin, viola, cello, bass, or guitar, we have it! We have a dedicated staff of professional players and violin makers that selects each and every instrument and bow we offer. This means that everything from the construction of the instrument to the resonance of the E string is evaluated with careful, experienced eyes and ears. Our Teacher Services have provided teachers with exceptional customer service for over 35 years. By offering the best rental program in the country, a vast selection of new and antique instruments and bows, sheet music, method books, teaching aids, and every imaginable stringed instrument accessory, we help teachers maintain their teaching studios. Please feel free to contact us with any questions and comments you may have.

05/28/2026

Season 3 of Ask a Luthier with Jess Fox continues. 🎻

The fingerboard isn’t flat — it’s sculpted. A specific amount of scoop runs under each string, deeper on the G side (more vibration, more clearance needed) and shallower on the E. There’s also a cross-curve that has to match a template consistently. When it doesn’t, both get corrected before the instrument goes back together.

Last week, Johnson String Instrument Vice President Joe Heffernan joined a delegation of NAMM music and arts advocates, ...
05/19/2026

Last week, Johnson String Instrument Vice President Joe Heffernan joined a delegation of NAMM music and arts advocates, and industry partners to speak with Members of Congress to request continued support for federal funding for quality, sequential music education as part of the school day for more than 50 million public school students.

Pictured📷:

📷 #1 (L to R):
National President, National Association for Music Education & Music Ed Chair, Berklee College of Music, Cecil Adderley
Senior Counsel to Congresswoman Katherine Clark, Ashley Bykerk
Vice President of Johnson String Instrument, Joe Heffernan
President & CEO of NAMM, John Mlynczak

📷 #2 (L to R):
Legislative Assistant to Senator Ed Markey, Trevor O'Connor,
Director of Arts, Media & Entertainment, Inspire EDU (NAMM Delegate), Danielle Collins
Vice President of Johnson String Instrument, Joe Heffernan

📷 #3 (L to R):
Legislative Correspondent to Congressman McGovern, Alicia Walden-Bryan,
National President, National Association for Music Education & Music Ed Chair, Berklee College of Music, Cecil Adderley,
Vice President of Johnson String Instrument, Joe Heffernan
Assistant Executive Director, Advocacy & Public Policy, National Association for Music Education, Amanda Karhuse,

📷 #4 (L to R):
Group Photo is of NAMM Advocacy D.C. Fly-in delegates, location is the US Capitol - Visitor Center.

05/13/2026

Season 3 of Ask a Luthier continues with Jess Fox! 🎻

Did you know the shape of a violin bridge is equal parts function and craftsmanship?

Jess breaks down the carving process — and how those elegant cutouts are as much about beauty as they are about the instrument.

05/06/2026

Zlatomir Fung breaks down the foundational bow strokes every cellist needs to know.

It’s now live on the new Carriage House Violins YouTube channel.

👇Watch it now! Link in the comments.👇

And while you’re there, subscribe to the channel! There’s a lot more coming.

05/01/2026

Season 3 of Ask a Luthier with Jess Fox continues. 🎻

The saddle comes pretty well set from the factory — but the shape still matters. If it's too tall or too upright, it can actually pull itself out. The curvature keeps it seated correctly, and the overall height affects the angle the strings break over the bridge.

It's a small adjustment with a real impact — raising or lowering the saddle is one of the tools a luthier can use to dial in that string angle just right.

04/30/2026

SYC cases are back, and they are sick! If you’re a cellist, you’re going to want to watch until the end for a fantastic design feature 😮 Shop the full assortment at the link in bio.

04/23/2026

Season 3 of Ask A Luthier with Jess Fox Continues! 🎻

Did you know there's a wrong way to drill a peg hole? Too far toward the peg box wall and your pegs won't stay. Too close to the head and the windings bunch up. Every peg is marked, trimmed, and drilled by hand — because the difference of a few millimeters affects how your instrument plays for years!

04/16/2026

Cello Posture with Cellist, Sydney Lee, Pt 3!

04/14/2026

Cello Posture with Cellist, Sydney Lee, Pt 2!

Address

1029 Chestnut Street
Newton Upper Falls, MA
02464

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16179640954

Website

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