Johnson String Instrument

Call Directions Website Contact the business

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 players. 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.

Sul Ponticello is when players place the bow right next to the wooden bridge of the instrument, producing a metallic, gl...
10/16/2026

Sul Ponticello is when players place the bow right next to the wooden bridge of the instrument, producing a metallic, glassy, fingernails-on-a-chalkboard sound.

Our spooky sheet music is 15% off for a limited time, with eerie classics and Halloween favorites for strings. Shop now at https://bit.ly/4yig9E9.

Cellos and violins can develop a ghostly defect called a “wolf tone.” It happens when the vibration of a played note cla...
10/14/2026

Cellos and violins can develop a ghostly defect called a “wolf tone.” It happens when the vibration of a played note clashes with the natural vibration frequency of the instrument’s wooden body. The result is a harsh, trembling howl, like a wolf crying out from inside the instrument. 🐺

Our spooky sheet music is 15% off for a limited time, with eerie classics and Halloween favorites for strings. Shop now at the link in bio.

Our store and phones will be closed on Monday, October 12, in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day.
10/12/2026

Our store and phones will be closed on Monday, October 12, in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day.

10/08/2026

Our reaction to you telling us when you last changed your strings🎻

Ever wonder what happens with the old rosin, case felt, or even a lost name tag from a past student once it returns to J...
10/02/2026

Ever wonder what happens with the old rosin, case felt, or even a lost name tag from a past student once it returns to Johnson String Instrument? They’re reused to make wonderful puppets to scare away the halloween demons!

Huge props to our longtime employee, Raquel, for making these awesome puppets!

09/29/2026

Looking for your next piece of sheet music? 🎻

Our Newton store holds one of the largest sheet music collections on the East Coast: thousands of titles from 170+ publishers. And for @‌Henleverlag fans, we carry one of the largest selections of Henle string music in the country.

We're one of the only stores left where you can walk in, hold the music in your hands, and flip through before you commit.

Shop sheet music at 1029 Chestnut St, Newton, MA, or at https://bit.ly/3VMydIM

09/25/2026

Grab your strings now before the discount ends at https://bit.ly/4AscqGu. 🎻

Michael Sherman breaks down how to pick the right strings for your instrument.

Three main categories to know:
🎻 Gut — the original string material, with a warmer, richer sound.
🎻 Steel — extremely stable tuning with a bright sound. A favorite for fiddle, bluegrass, and electric instruments.
🎻 Synthetic-core — the best of both worlds, mimicking gut's sound with modern tuning stability. Most strings on the market fall into this category.

09/23/2026

Middle school orchestra teacher LB Wendelin ( on TikTok) highlights just how far JSI's reach really goes. Based just outside of Boston, their school representatives drive to schools throughout New England and the NYC area — and if you're not local, they'll ship your rental anywhere in the U.S.

Your educational representative can help with more than just instruments: strings, sheet music, even things you won't find on the website, like a bass rack or music stands. Many schools qualify for special educator pricing, and JSI has extensive experience handling purchase orders, so big program orders can happen stress-free. 🎻

Rent your instrument at https://bit.ly/4rchJFK.

09/21/2026

Middle school orchestra teacher LB Wendelin has learned one thing over the years — something always comes up during the school year. A broken instrument, a forgotten order, last-minute concert needs.

That's why having a dedicated educational representative from JSI makes such a difference. They handle what comes up, so teachers can spend their time where it matters most — in the classroom, with their students. 🎻

Rent your instrument at https://bit.ly/4rchJFK

09/18/2026

Middle school orchestra teacher LB Wendelin (.orchdorkteacher) knows the struggle — an instrument that won't stay in tune, a bridge that won't stay put. It happens to every classroom, and it's often why students give up before they get the chance to love playing.

Behind the scenes at JSI, every instrument goes through real quality control: cases vacuumed out, bows checked and reconditioned in a dedicated room, and a full-time team of luthiers who play-test every single instrument before it ships.

Because when a student can actually make a beautiful sound, they stick with it. 🎻

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

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Johnson String Instrument posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Johnson String Instrument:

Shortcuts

Share