Articles by Dale T. - Lake Forest, IL

Articles by Dale T. - Lake Forest, IL

I would not buy from anywhere else

Your new website is tremendous, with such a professional but Rhiannon-personal feel.

I don't remember if it was in your old website but I particularly enjoyed your personal, extensive bio.

Also, all your accolades from clients present you in a shining light. Sadly, though, for reasons I totally understand, a website can't include all the humor and irreverence that is your hallmark in personal contacts.

Your inventory is amazing. I'm starting to think you weren't joking with me in talking at one point about your "back warehouse."

I want to assure you that I would not buy from somebody else since you've done all the work and and since you unquestionably are more fun to work with. It's the least I can do since you guaranteed without hesitation that I would not burst spontaneously in flames. [Inside joke]

Thanks again for all your fine attention.

July 8, 2021

Violin Queen of the Great Northwest

Rhiannon, I am utterly bowled over. I've never seen a more enthusiastic response to anything. What an amazing writeup. It is truly exciting to hear from you.

I think you have moved on from being merely being the most perfect purveyor of violins to being the undisputed Violin Queen of the Great Northwest.

Well, I can't say enough thank yous (or buy you enough chocolates) for your thinking so hard on my behalf. It's quite amazing. Are you sure you were ill [gallbladder surgery]? Where is all this energy and where are all these wonderful ideas (and machinations) coming from?

You are now the Queen of Persistence (and I thank you sincerely for that). Made up violin queen titles aside, you certainly are fun to buy a violin from.

Seriously, though. It's great to hear that you have recovered so terrifically. I don't think the violin world could withstand your being laid up for any length of time. Looking forward to what comes next. Best wishes.

July 6, 2021

You have to buy your violin here

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] What an amazing and delightful experience, although I don't know which is the better part-- my new VN-103L or my new long-distance violin friendship with Rhiannon.

In need of an upgrade from my good but not high-level instrument I contacted Fiddleheads and several other places.

Rhiannon responded and with her 360-degree violin knowledge, teaching and performance experience and easy-going manner quickly helped me figure out what I needed,
which turned out to be the VN-103L. While Rhiannon's service and keen interest in helping was fantastic, the smooth tone of the new instrument is definitely giving her a run for first-place in my rating.

I'll also add that the shipping (with all-important safe packaging for the trip from western Canada) ensured that my violin arrived in perfect shape and that Rhiannon carefully helped me pick out a strong and safe travel case.

If ever I need a new instrument or accessory, this will my place to go.

April 26, 2018

This violin is actually is accelerating my learning

Favorite Violin Lady Rhiannon, what do they say up in your neck of the woods when something really terrific and exciting happens? Around here we say something like "The Eagle has landed" or maybe just "YEE-HAW!" However, I'm not well-versed in Canadian idioms, so I'm just going with a simple "RHIANNON RULES!!!!"

You done good.

The much-anticipated new instrument arrived and was quickly being played.

Right out of the box its beautiful wood glowed and, after a tune, the violin had a rich and mellow tone. It's outstanding.

Now don't hate me but I totally disregarded your advice to let it get broken in a bit before I took it to my tough-minded teacher. That was your fault since the instrument you sent is too terrific to hide away. I had a lesson scheduled last night, so I took it with me, and [..... pause, building suspense,.....] she thought it was excellent.

My teacher raved over the quality of the sound, was very impressed with its wood and thought it was ideal for me.
We wound up using it for the rest of the night. It's already given me more confidence and huge enjoyment. My teacher was disappointed in me, however, for not taking a video of playing the first note.

I've had a really great week with my new violin, and my teacher continues to be very impressed with it (less so my playing) and said tonight that I would have to pay hugely more to get a better instrument. So it's a keeper and the payment for the balance I owe you will be on it's merry way on the wires as soon as I get done here.

At first I thought it might be a higher level of instrument than I could use well. I am finding, though, that its quality actually is accelerating my learning and making every session with it a true joy.

My teacher said that she will be in touch with you about sending something in for your website and seeing if she could arrange a link to you on hers, where she features several outstanding violin sellers. She wasn't familiar with you and asked for more information, which I'll give, so you may well be destined to become the Queen of Left-Handed Violins (and more, I hope).

Also, I think you are too modest. Your reputation, integrity and service are Rock-of-Gibraltar solid with me. I expect to nominate you for the Queen of Music (Humor and Customer Service Category) at next year's BC (maybe even all-Canada) Ms. Music Festival.

All funning aside, Rhiannon, I feel quite fortunate that you have lefties. I already feel that both my learning and playing is improving substantially in light of the tremendous sound quality. So thank you, and I truly look forward to finding something else that I need to buy so that I can pester you further.

Very best wishes to you. If ever you get to Chicago, let me know, as I would love to meet. I'll do the same if I find Kamloops in my future.

[UPDATE: 4 months later]
My VN-103 from Fiddleheads is proving to be a phenomenally beautiful appearing and sounding instrument. Rhiannon at Fiddleheads helped me immensely in selecting this instrument to fit where I stand in my learning journey. To note a few observations:

1. The 103 weighs in at exactly 16 ounces, 2 ounces less than my prior violin.

2. The color is beautiful throughout, with intriguing slight variations on both the front and the back as part of the understated antiqued look.

3. Overall, the color is a rich, mid-range mahogany.

4. The front shows a grain running parallel to the finger board, with a few areas of slightly lighter shades, leaving the impression of some aging. There is a darker outline of the violin front where the front meets the sides, which also contributes to the aging effect. The color differences on the back are a bit more pronounced, as the back is comprised of two separate pieces of wood. Overall, the back is something of a number of subtle, light and dark, horizontal stripes that line up seamlessly in the middle. The sides have a pretty-much uniform pattern of alternating and minutely varying stripes that continue up into the scroll.

5. The ebony chin rest has a subtle pearling of brown stripes in the black. This matches the wood used on the front, neck and back and draws attention when seen up close.

6. The sound is impeccable. It is both rich and deep and comes readily from every bow stroke. In contrast to my prior instrument, there is no metallic “sliding” sound that often comes from the slightly imperfect bow stroke of a learning student. In that and other ways the 103 could be said to be “forgiving.” My teacher, who has very discerning hearing, also praised the sound and was definitely impressed that I made the investment in my violin future.. After several weeks of using the violin I don't have a single critique of its sound quality. In fact, the sound has continued to improve throughout my use, and I look forward to reviewing again in a while as I continue to learn about the instrument's great performance.

7. As this is a substantially more advanced instrument than many learner violins, I am finding that the superior sound quality actually accelerates learning, primarily I think because the violin does not produce the harsh notes that can be so disruptive to a learner's playing on a lesser violin and because the superior sound is highly rewarding and therefore encourages more practice.

8. The production workmanship appears superb, and the pre-shipment preparation of the violin before shipment to make it ready to play immediately on arrival was meticulous. The packing for the shipment from Fiddleheads was extremely well-cushioned and protective.

9. This violin is more expensive than many that an intermediate player or a student might see. In my view, though, this is a classic case of long-term value vs. immediate cost. After several weeks of experience with the violin, I am totally convinced that the value (mainly from the substantial improvements in my playing and enjoyment that the violin is leading me to) has already exceeded the cost and will continue to do so.

April 19, 2018