About our Makers: Bellissima

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Luthier carving a violin with other in-progress violins in the backgroundMaker Bio: Bellissima Violins

"Bellissima" is Italian for "beautiful," and our Bellissimas are indeed a beautiful family of violins. The exclusive student/amateur level label was introduced to our customers in 2009.

The demand for quality instruments at a low price has never been stronger than in recent years. Players seek the best instruments possible and are not willing, or able, to pay ridiculous prices to get them.

Thankfully the Chinese violin realm, through innovations and years of masterful training, has turned old stereotypes up-side-down and now offers some of the best instruments in the world. However, one still must be highly cautious in selecting an instrument from China. Amongst the "duds" are rare gems yet to be discovered.

Thus Fiddleheads owner Rhiannon Nachbaur spent over three years working with makers across China to develop a unique new instrument line that would suit her exceptionally high expectations. She sought an instrument to please both her roles:

1. As a symphony violinist and orchestral concertmaster she desired fantastic sound and playability with appropriate tonal variation from one model to the next to please a wide spectrum of tastes.

2. As a shop owner she required a well-constructed violin which would simultaneously offer the absolute best value to her customers and maintain the business' stellar reputation.

Thus the Bellissima line was born!

These beautifully antiqued, handmade workshop instruments are made in Shanghai exclusively for Fiddleheads. Each violin is meticulously setup in Canada with upgraded Dominant strings, a better quality maple bridge, new sound post, and genuine hardwood fittings. Quality control is strict and the line sees enthralling new models added each year.

In just a few short years providing these instruments, teachers across Canada and the USA are endorsing the instruments to their students, enthusiastically asserting the Bellissimas easily beat out the competition in higher price ranges, including European-made instruments! Though the retail price for violins at this level would typically be considerably for much higher in other shops, we post all our Bellissimas on permanent sales with generous discounts so more people can benefit from playing them.

Only 4/4 violins are commissioned as stock, but smaller sizes are available as special commissioned instruments. Additionally, models above the regular price range can be commissioned and various violin family instruments [viola, cello, bass] are available upon request.

Fun Fact: Each violin is played and uniquely named by Rhiannon personally to suit the instrument's musical and visual colour and personality.

See Bellissima Instruments Here