Knilling Sebastian Viola Outfit

The Knilling Sebastian viola is one of the most trusted names in student string instruments, built to support the earliest stages of viola study. Each Sebastian starts with a solid carved spruce top and solid carved maple back, sides, and neck — real tonewoods, not laminate, at a student price point. A genuine ebony fingerboard, pegs, nut, and saddle round out a build quality that's uncommon at this level, giving the instrument a warmer, more responsive tone than typical beginner violas.

Every Sebastian viola at Town Center Music is available in 13", 14", 15", 15.5", and 16" body sizes, so students can move up as they grow without switching brands or losing the tone and setup they're used to.

Built for the Realities of Learning

An improperly adjusted instrument is one of the biggest obstacles a beginning string student faces — a viola that won't stay in tune, buzzes, or fights the bow makes it nearly impossible to build good technique. Knilling addresses this at the factory with a meticulous setup in their USA Knilling String Shop, using a Despiau bridge, D'Addario Prelude strings, and a composite tailpiece with four built-in fine tuners so students can tune confidently without needing perfect peg technique on day one.

What's Included in the Outfit

• Solid carved spruce top and solid carved maple back & sides, Stradivari body shape
• Genuine ebony fingerboard, pegs, nut, and saddle
• D'Addario Prelude strings and a Despiau bridge
• Composite tailpiece with four built-in fine tuners for easy tuning
• Covered, dart-shaped case for protection and easy carrying
• J. Rémy Debut carbon fiber bow
• Factory setup from the Knilling String Shop, plus a full quality check and any necessary adjustments by our own repair techs before it reaches our shop floor

Why Buy Your Sebastian Viola From Town Center Music

Ordering a student viola online, sight-unseen, is a gamble — sizing mistakes and factory setups that don't hold up are common complaints with big-box and online-only retailers. Town Center Music has outfitted string students throughout Suwanee, Duluth, Cumming, Johns Creek, Buford, and Sugar Hill since 2012. Bring your student into our shop and our staff will properly size them across our 13" to 16" range, free of charge — viola sizing is notoriously trickier than violin sizing, since body size doesn't correlate as neatly with student age or arm length.

Every instrument that comes through our doors, Sebastian included, is inspected, quality-checked, and adjusted in-house before it's ever placed on our shop floor, on top of the setup it already receives at the Knilling String Shop. And because we operate a full violin and viola repair department on-site, restringing, rehairing a bow, or handling a seasonal adjustment down the road means a trip across town, not shipping the instrument off and waiting weeks.

Who This Viola Is For

The Sebastian viola is built for beginning and early-intermediate students, whether in a school orchestra program, private lessons, or a violinist transitioning to viola. Parents new to buying a string instrument will appreciate a knowledgeable local shop for sizing and maintenance, while teachers recognize the Sebastian name as a dependable, educator-preferred choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size viola does my student need? Viola sizing is measured in body length rather than fractions, and it depends on arm length as much as age. Bring your student in for a free, proper fitting so they leave with the right size the first time.

What's included? The viola, a covered dart-shaped case, and a J. Rémy Debut carbon fiber bow — everything a new student needs to start playing.

Does this viola come already set up? Yes. It receives a factory setup at the Knilling String Shop, plus a quality check and any necessary adjustments from our team before it goes on our shop floor.

What if my student outgrows their viola? The Sebastian line spans 13" to 16", so most students can size up within the same trusted line. Stop by and we'll help fit the next size.

Do you repair violas if something goes wrong? Yes — we operate a full in-house violin and viola repair department, so restrings, rehairs, and adjustments are handled locally, not shipped out.

Visit Us in Suwanee, GA

Town Center Music has been making music makers since 2012, with many five-star Google reviews from families across the greater Gwinnett and Forsyth County area. We take pride in serving customers of every age and stage of musical ability, from a first-time beginner picking up a viola for the first time to advancing students and working professionals. Stop by our shop for a proper fitting, or reach out to our team with any questions about which Sebastian viola size is right for your student.