Business Details
41 Years
experience
Your Trusted Source for String Instruments in Ashland
Bellwood Violin has been serving musicians in southern Oregon and northern California since 1985. Founded by luthier Stephen Bacon, we established ourselves as the only fully equipped string repair, rental, and sales shop between Portland and the Bay Area. Located in Ashland, Oregon, our shop provides essential services to professional musicians, amateurs, students, and teachers, including in-house instrument and bow repairs for local school districts. We meet the professional needs of organizations like Southern Oregon University, Britt Festival, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival while serving as a clearinghouse for local instrument makers.Our educational initiatives include apprenticeships and internships, fostering connections between students, teachers, and professional musicians. We offer insurance appraisals, string instrument rentals, and consignment services, maintaining a diverse inventory of new, used, and consignment instruments. In 2025, Will Scharen, a classically trained trombonist with decades of musical experience, acquired the business, continuing our tradition of excellence and community service.
Services
Sales and Consignments
Instrument Repair
Restoration Services
Instrument Rentals
Insurance Appraisals
Apprenticeships
Internships
Details
- Year established: 1985
Highlights and features
- We are the only full-service string repair shop between Portland and the Bay Area
- Our team provides in-house repairs for major local school districts and arts organizations
- We maintain an extensive inventory of new, used, and consignment instruments
- Our apprenticeship programs train future luthiers and music professionals
- We offer equity-building rental plans toward instrument purchases
Services
Instrument Sales
Bellwood Violin offers a comprehensive selection of string instruments for sale, including violins, violas, cellos, and basses. Our inventory features new, used, and consignment instruments across all price points, from beginner to professional levels. We maintain relationships with local instrument makers and provide expert guidance to help musicians find the perfect instrument for their needs and budget.
Instrument Repair
Our full-service repair shop handles everything from minor adjustments to complete restorations. Services include string replacement, crack repairs, varnish retouching, peg fitting, bridge adjustments, and bow rehairing. Our experienced luthiers use traditional techniques and quality materials to ensure optimal performance and longevity of your string instruments.
Instrument Rentals
We offer flexible rental programs for violins, violas, cellos, and basses in various sizes. Our month-to-month agreements include no contracts, no hidden fees, and equity-building options where rental payments accumulate toward future instrument purchases. All rental instruments receive professional setup and ongoing maintenance to ensure playability.
Consignment Services
Bellwood Violin provides consignment opportunities for playable string instruments. We accept instruments on a case-by-case basis with favorable terms: 70/30% split for general consignments and 80/20% for instruments originally purchased from our shop. Our consignment program connects sellers with qualified buyers while maintaining professional presentation and security.
Apprenticeships
We offer hands-on educational programs in violin making and repair through apprenticeships and internships. These programs provide practical experience in instrument construction, restoration techniques, and shop management under the guidance of experienced luthiers, preparing students for careers in musical instrument craftsmanship.
People
Will Scharen
Owner
Will Scharen, a classically trained trombonist with degrees from New England Conservatory, joined Bellwood Violin as an apprentice before acquiring the business in 2025. With decades of musical experience and prior careers in music education and bicycle frame building, he now continues the shop's tradition of excellence while maintaining active performance roles in local orchestras.
Stephen Bacon
Founder
Stephen Bacon founded Bellwood Violin in 1985, establishing it as the premier string instrument shop in southern Oregon. As a skilled luthier, he built the business's reputation for quality craftsmanship and community service before retiring in 2025. His legacy continues through the shop's ongoing commitment to musical excellence and education.
Questions
What services does Bellwood Violin offer?
We provide string instrument sales, rentals, repairs, restorations, insurance appraisals, and consignment services for musicians of all levels.
Do you offer instrument rentals for students?
Yes, we rent violins, violas, cellos, and basses in various sizes with flexible month-to-month agreements and equity-building options.
Can I sell my instrument through Bellwood Violin?
We accept consignments for playable instruments with 70/30% split for general consignments and 80/20% for instruments originally purchased from us.
Are repairs done in-house?
Yes, our full-service luthier shop performs all repairs and restorations on-site, including string replacement, crack repairs, and bow maintenance.
Do you service local schools and organizations?
We provide in-house instrument repairs for local school districts and support major regional organizations like Oregon Shakespeare Festival.