Product: Violas

Infinitely grateful to have a left-handed viola made for me

I sent it the payment! I have full faith, and am infinitely grateful that I can cherish a left handed instrument like this.

Thank you for this opportunity! I've been catching myself looking at the pictures you sent over and over again, and will send thanks and a good review when she's in my hands.

These times are difficult for everybody, and being a person who depended on performing for 70% of my income, I know grumpiness won't bring anything back. Keep your life's work alive if you have the opportunity!

All good things for those who wait. Thanks for handling this. Wonderful! All is good! Thank you so much. Don't overwork yourself. I greatly appreciate the [case] upgrade!

July 31, 2020

All my worries about shopping online melted away

Since receiving my new Ivan Stankov viola from Rhiannon's Fiddleheads violin shop, I have been dancing on air. Let me tell you why, and why I can warmly and highly recommend Rhiannon's help in your search for the perfect violin or viola.

I'm over 70, and have been playing violin for a number of years (about 10), but wanted to switch to viola as I like the alto register better. Since my violins were family hand-me-downs I really knew nothing about how to find the perfect instrument. After searching the internet, I ran across the Fiddleheads' website and decided to just ask for information.

One of my biggest concerns was about shopping over the internet for something so complex and even more about shipping of such a fragile instrument. (I live in a semi-remote area of Alaska, and packages most often arrive late, crushed, or damaged.) Added to all this, I had limited income and a strict budget.

Rhiannon was wonderful, warm and personable throughout the entire transaction, from search to purchase. She answered all my questions large and small, took all my conditions and found a gorgeous viola with an amazing voice for me.

She arranged for photos and worked with the maker, Ivan Stankov, to provide a video recording so I could hear the viola's sound. Even after all this, I was hesitant about shipping, but Rhiannon described the lengths that would be taken to package the instrument safely. Not only did it arrive incredibly quickly, it came through unscathed – from Bulgaria to Alaska! The packaging was superb. The outer box had a couple of dings, but inner was fine.

As to the Ivan Stankov viola itself – first of all, it's beautiful. It's a 16" Guarneri model set up with rosewood fittings. But even more importantly, its voice is dark, warm, and resonant (a friend described it as having a dark chocolate tone). Switching from violin to viola can be, I'm told a bit difficult, but the setup was so great I've found the changeover to be very easy. I love it!

Reading the alto clef is a bit of a challenge, keeps the brain active for sure. It traveled very well, and is doing even better as days go by. As she recommended, I am playing it lots. Truly, I can't thank her enough. I am so glad Rhiannon found this viola for me!

I am so happy!! And I am dancing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!! Multiple hugs!!

If you want to find the perfect violin or viola, I highly recommend that you ask for Rhiannon's help!

November 4, 2019

Packaged beautifully and even more beautiful viola inside

Mother: Express took 2 days. Unpacking as we speak, Kennedy is super excited!!!! Thank you.... it looks so nice and it’s packaged beautifully!!!

Daughter: Hi Miss Rhiannon! My name is Kennedy, my mom has been contacting you for a while about purchasing a new viola! I am incredibly excited and grateful for your generous service! Thank you so much! I’m so happy that it’s here, and it’s so wonderful! Thanks again!

Mother: Thank you for playing the viola for us and doing all the extra details in your setup to make it just right. We’ll keep you posted, she is just super excited to start playing.

June 7, 2019

Even my husband noticed the sound difference!

I absolutely love Rhiannon's VA-909 16" Tertis viola!

The deep tones of the G- and C-strings even impressed my husband who usually doesn't notice such things!

Thanks so much for finding (and setting up) the perfect viola for me.

October 2, 2014

I absolutely love this viola

I will definitely not be turning this viola in at end of the trial.

Honestly, even though I have only been playing a couple of months, I know enough to say that I absolutely love this viola.

I am sure to drive my family crazy with all the playing I'll be putting in, but thanks to you, at least they will be listening to an excellent quality viola with a fantastic sound . . . even though the player could use a year or ten of experience! :) Thanks again!

July 15, 2011

I LOVE the low sound of this viola

The viola is beautiful!

It has a very pleasant voice (especially the C when you need a robust low note - if my teeth ever feel too tight, I will simply lay my jaw against the instrument & play a long, loud C and that will cure the problem!) :o

This is a nice deep instrument. I LOVE the low sound of the instrument -- VERY nice.

I can hardly wait for our Gospel group's next practice to see how it sounds with the other instruments in the group. Thanks kindly for your help.

April 18, 2011

Viola Feedback

OK, are you ready for the feedback?? One word: WOW

This viola absolutely ROCKS!!!!
The C-string is so loud and deep. My wife came into the room and thought I was playing a Cello.

The instrument is so well balanced and powerful.I am completely blown away - so, yes, it's definitely a keeper.


Let me know what my balance $$$ is so I can get you paid. Thanks for hanging in there - this one's a home run.

[UPDATE] This viola continues to absolutely amaze me I have a new dilemma - I don't want to play my other instrument any longer!!!

My wife keeps telling me that the lower notes on the C string sound like a cello, I tend to agree. It has amazing projection and power.

February 16, 2011

Our experience finding the right viola

We had been renting increasingly larger violas for a couple years, but this spring I started looking for a new viola to buy for my daughter. This would be her first “full-size” viola – one that she could play for at least several years, so I was looking for something that might match the quality of the well-aged rented instruments but on a more limited budget.

The pool of violas for sale in Winnipeg is pretty limited, and I had had some good experience with buying strings, accessories and bows online, so I so was ready to consider bringing in a couple of instruments from further away to try out.

I found Fiddleheads when looking up the maker of a line of instruments available though a local dealer. I liked the variety of violas at my price level, I liked that Rhiannon plays viola as well as violin, and I liked the kinds of things I read in the testimonials, so I sent off a message outlining what we were looking for and asking for recommendations.

Two days later I was treated to a generous couple of pages reviewing the potential best matches for us, and a month later we had a terrific viola – a special ordered Tertis style Zhu model 907.

Over the space of three weeks we tried out every available viola in the city, and none sounded or felt right – they were hard to play, harsh sounding, or just hollow-sounding.

Fiddleheads' 907 was different.


Even in its box it was so elegant-looking with its warm brown colour and jujube fittings. The neck is particularly slender and light so it’s easy to hold up for a long time. And the sound was great from the start – smooth and warm across all the strings and in higher positions, and responsive with strong and full projection (not just loud)– just what we were looking for!

My daughter’s teacher was impressed with several of the instruments we had brought for her to hear, and this one was, hands-down, the best of the lot.

For me the next test came when, less than two months later, she was playing a duet with one of the leading violists in the city and to my ear there was no really obvious difference in tonal quality between her new viola and his larger and more valuable instrument.

Back in orchestra and ensembles this fall, it’s great to hear her lone viola richly filling out the bottom end and support her as she tackles increasingly complex repertoire.

My daughter feels that, over the four months she’s been playing her new viola, the sound has warmed up even more, especially on the C string, the open string notes ring even more, and it resonates more when played or sympathetically when other instruments are played nearby.

I was really impressed by Rhiannon’s warm personal style, and investment in the process, balanced with practical business sense – it really was the next best thing to actually being in the store!

When it’s time to move to a more advanced instrument, we’re sure to be back to Fiddleheads and to the Zhu violas!

October 22, 2010

Getting heavy use in school orchestra and is a great Viola

The viola arrived today. My daughter is out of town until Saturday night so I can't give you her reaction. We have not told her about it, so it will be a complete surprise.

The color is more orange-ish than I thought it would be, which is very nice. I was expecting quite brown but there is a nice orange cast. Thumbs up for that.

We took the viola to her teacher to tune it and prepare it properly. She thought the tone and rich sound was wonderful. I'm no sound expert but comparing it to her crappy 14" violin with viola strings, it sounds like a cello. Thumbs way up for that!

[UPDATE: 39 months later]
It's been over 3 years since we bought my daughter's Viola. It is like new. She is in 11th grade now, 1st chair in the viola section.

Just popping in to say thanks for the great Viola--it is still getting heavy use and is a great Viola. And of course, the Tertis model has the fullest sound and louder than others. And I was so worried it might crack in our super dry desert heat, but it hasn't. You were so patient with all my emails and questions. Again, just giving you some good feedback. Hope you are well and happy and making lots of sales.

[UPDATE: 4 years later] I'm back. My daughter (now 17) was practicing to play a Bach duet at a local Bach festival. The president of the SouthWest (Utah) Symphony--who plays a Viola and was in charge of the festival-- wanted to show her how a certain part was played so he asked for her Viola and started playing it--and stopped.

"Wow, that's a rich full sound--that's a great Viola!"

She told him it was a Tertis model and he looked inside to see the label. He wasn't familiar with your series but was so impressed with that Viola. Of course, he had heard her playing it but when it was right next to his ear, he got the full effect.

I thought that a very good endorsement for your Tertis violas, from a Viola expert. I don't think he was just being kind either--he was genuinely surprised and impressed.

June 23, 2010

So glad I commissioned a violin with you!

WOW, these VA-903-in-progress pictures are AMAZING! Reminds me of when I was looking at my babies' ultrasound for the first time!

I really had no idea that everything was built from scratch! I thought the front/back would be pre-carved (but with violin thickness), and I thought the ribbing comes in a roll (like a roll of duct-tape)... ha,ha,ha!

I am also impressed with how much progress they have made in just 1 week. I don't know much about violin making, but at the rate they're going, looks like they'll be finished in a month.

Anyways, thank you so much for recommending a custom-made instrument, my worry is quickly disappearing!

March 25, 2010

This viola helped my daughter win 1st chair in youth orchestra

The 907 15" viola is such a lovely instrument, but I am soooo glad we went with the 909 in a 15.5" afterall, since Allison is playing the heck out of it.

She has really improved over the last few months and receives compliments on her instrument all of the time.

For the spring semester in the Fairbanks Youth Orchestra she has been placed 1st chair! Her conductor last week told her that she has been playing fabulously and congratulated her on her hard work.

Also, she was wrapping up a lesson and her instructor's next student was there, (a 50ish year old women) and she commented on the lovely sound of Allison's viola. We are very happy. Thank you! :)

March 4, 2010

Rhiannon's interest, concern, and loving and helpful attitude is a gift what sets her apart

The only local violin shop sells [cheap viola brand] and talks them up quite a bit. I shopped around on the internet and get other options and opinions.

There's also string**.com and violin**.com which I am looking into but I actually liked your site the best because you play the viola and are not some impersonal paid high school flunky making minimum wage who doesn't understand the viola.

By the way, the care and concern and tone of your email responses are stellar. I appreciate that just because I'm a nobody trying to spend almost nothing, you still show interest, concern, and a loving and helpful attitude.

I think this is probably a gift you have and I encourage you to continue to magnify it.

It is what sets you apart.

February 9, 2010

This viola is good enough for the Symphony

The feedback is fabulous. My teacher said that this viola is the best sounding viola she has heard under $2000. She also mentioned that it truly competes with some violas that shops will sell for $4000 to $5000.

A gal that is looking at buying viola is in the Symphony. The instrument is the best that the principle violist has ever heard under $2000 and performs as well as most that are priced at twice that much.

Basically, the viola that you set up for me, a new player, is good enough for the Symphony. It truly is a wonderful instrument.

April 10, 2009

A viola for Christmas

About a year ago, I started playing the viola and taking lessons using an old instrument we have had for several years. I've longed for one of my own. I had a difficult time finding the viola I was looking for, but I finally hooked up with a dealer in British Columbia (Rhiannon Nachbaur, www.fiddleheads.ca) whose website featured several makers.

She was very helpful. She was able to arrange for us to try two violas.... I chose 2 to bring home; Both sounded tremendous, but were very different.

Finally, yesterday we [decided on an instrument]. I hope over time to be able to do it justice with my playing.

December 29, 2008

Superb response, easy to play

Look at the beautiful back!

The violin responds very nicely and I don't have to alter my playing to get the sound I want.

January 1, 2008