Use: Soloist

It still am awestruck by its beautiful sound!

I still love my violin! [heart emoji]. I'm so happy with it!

It still am awestruck by its beautiful sound!

I changed the chin rest for a better fit and it's more comfortable now.

Thank you for your [valuation] letter. Very impressive!

June 20, 2023

Enthusiasm, sincerity and professionalism from a trustworthy seller

Thank you very much for all the information. Although we didn't end up buying the Zhu 909 violin, I am very impressed by your enthusiasm, sincerity and professionalism.

You are the best person that a customer could totally trust. I really appreciate all the help you provided even when you are not feeling well. Hopefully you could totally recover from COVID soon.

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] I am very impressed by Rhiannon's enthusiasm, sincerity and professionalism when I shop a violin for my son. She is the best person that a customer could totally trust.

April 1, 2023

I like this bow!

I honestly don't have much technical knowledge about bows. My original favourite bow was the one I got with my first violin, (more on that on my review of the VN103-L).

I have no idea what it was, but as it was the bow I started playing with, it was all I knew. I think it was probably a good bow. I even had it re-haired, until it slipped from my hands one day, landed on it's nose and cracked. I managed to make a repair, by binding with string, which would have added a little weight to the tip, and all that prompted me to get a backup bow.

According to my economy at the time, I bought a couple of cheap (really cheap!!) bows in local stores. How do they even produce them for €10? (rhetorical question, I know how) and I played with those bows for years. What I remember about them is that they were as bendy sideways as up and down, if you know what I mean. I also remember putting LOADS of rosin on them, and I never developed the ability to hold the bow steady and silently on the strings, start and stop clean, or get a nice even tone with a slow bow, that kind of thing.

But this is a review of the Voxy Vogue, not of my old €10-15 bows. Well, all I can say is: This bow is NOT anything like the above.

If you can afford it, get it!

I'd be really interested to find out some day how the Astute or Panache feels.

PROS: Cross-Border Arrivals, Fast Shipping, Free Gifts, Personal Connection, Value/Good Price

November 17, 2022

This is a very nice, very special violin

I sometime wonder about whether as a left-handed musician, choosing an instrument is actually a lot easier.

As a guitarist, I often walk into guitar shops, and the first thing I do is scan the walls, full of guitars, sometimes hundreds of them, but within 1 minute I have walked out the door again.

"Nope, no guitars in there".

What must it be like as a right hander? How can you choose from that myriad of options?

So when it comes to looking for a violin, years ago when I first looked I went through the usual:
- "Such a thing does not exist"
- "There is no such thing as a left handed violinist"
- "I advise you to learn to play the violin 'properly'" etc, etc..

Fiddleheads already had my attention just by OFFERING left handed violins, I REALLY appreciate that.

Next comes initial contact, a few questions, and I am delighted by Rhiannon's responses to my emails. (even checking, to be sure, that I do really want the left-handed model)

I don't know so much about violins, when you're left handed you don't always get to try out other people's instruments.

My first violin was certainly very old, the seam on the back was coming apart. I flipped the strings, fashioned a new bridge for it, swapped the bass bar and sound post, yes, I unglued the back and carefully removed the bass bar... But it never really sounded very good.

Some years later I bought a 5 string left-handed model on ebay from china, then I found out just how much the 1st string peg on the wrong side was getting in the way of my right hand. This new one didn't sound so great acoustically, but anyway I "optimised" it for pickup use and mostly played it through guitar pedals.

All this rant about this past is kind of a "full disclosure" if you like, because otherwise what is my opinion on the VN-103L worth?

But even so, I'm going to tell you, this is a really, really nice violin.

I'm finding tones, noises, feelings in there that I simply cannot put into words.

Originally, having gotten separated (certain events of 2020-2021) for the time being from those other two violins (maybe a good thing) - I decided to look on line for a something affordable, anything at all that I could use to improve playing, or at least not allow it dis-improve.

As I said, I found Fiddleheads left hander section and starting talking to Rhiannon. She inspired me to up a level to the 103 (and the rest of the kit) - with the great value packages, free advice, and throwing in a few gifts, and assurances about shipping and import to Mexico - that all came good.

Yes, I ended up spending about double what I had envisaged. I am really, really happy that I did, that she helped me see the wisdom in that.

I think this VN103-L is a very special instrument, and I have not even broken it in yet!

November 17, 2022

Works for me!

I have wondered... I dunno, it's Rosin. How much difference can there be? Probably quite a lot actually.

I've only lightly rosined my (Voxy Vogue) bow with this Kolstein Rosin and it feels good, it "grips" well.

When I say lightly, I mean that there is no extra rosin coming off the bow onto the violin, which I had a lot of before (although that can look cool, also rosin clouds on stage, very dramatic, possibly not great for the violin.)

Rhiannon's recommendation works out for me!

[PROS: Rhiannon's Teaching, Trustworthy]

November 17, 2022

This violin is a work of art that is taking me to a higher playing level

I am excited to have this remarkable Moneff violin take me to a higher level with my violin playing which has been so gratifying while at times also very humbling.

This violin is a work of art. It plays as well as it looks... amazing

I am confident in my choice although this planned holiday has cut short my time to interact efficiently with it.

[UPDATE: 8 months later] My Angela Moneff (2022) plays so very well as part of my Latin Jazz Band, at winery solo concerts and in Orchestral environments in Kamloops and in Salmon Arm.

The violin responds to every demand and is clearly a choice well made.

March 17, 2022

Solid upgrade

I purchased a Master Bench Violin about one and half years ago.

My daughter loves her violin and it has served her well thus far.

January 26, 2022

As featured in my recent album

[UPDATE: 10 months after purchase] I'm releasing a jazz violin album this week and wanted to let you know that your violin played a huge role in it.

I couldn't be happier with this instrument. It is silky and sweet over the entire range and especially on the E string where my former instrument was harsh and brittle.

It was such a pleasure to record this album with this new instrument and I can't thank you enough for steering me in the right direction.

If you want to check out the album go to this link. [Or listen at Youtube Music]

I hope things continue to go well with your business. It was so great to work with you after all these years.

[NOTE: Don MacDonald was Rhiannon's violin teacher in music college from 1996-1997]

[Read Don's Review of a VN-907 violin he tested for a friend, which led to this purchase]

January 6, 2022

A one of a kind violin dealer

[To Rhiannon] You are really something! I wish I had learned about you earlier.

I have bought so many violins, violas, and cellos, and would have rather bought them from you. I've bought from most of the major dealers and auction houses but you are really unique. I have never encountered anyone like you.

The violin arrived an hour ago. I already have tried it. I'm very pleased with it!

I was curious because in appearance, it looks much like my Guarneri Topa. But it sounds so different from the Guarneri model. It actually surprised me, even though it was consistent with expectations. It is exactly like you said: It has a brighter sound, as one would expect given that it is a Guadagnini type of violin.

I'm delighted with it. Great packing job! Thanks so much! Quick arrival too [Only 3 business days].

I hope we stay in touch! Congrats on the award!!!!

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] I bought a Topa Guadagnini violin from Rhiannon.

It was the best buying experience I think I've ever had for any instrument. She was totally unbelievable in her attention to detail, her great sense of humor, and her impeccable service.

My only regret is that her studio is so far away. She is a real treasure!

October 25, 2021

Buy a violin from a professional violinist

[In response to a Facebook post "Diamond rings are overrated. Buy her a violin from Fiddleheads instead."]

Or buy one from Fiddleheads for yourself. I did and it's the best gift and longest-lasting love I've given to myself.

I purchased four violins in my life. This violin is the one I am most happy with.

Lesson learned: listening to the experts, trying it out by professional players in different spaces to hear how it sound, and most of all, work with the vendor who is a professional violinist with good reputation and heart like Rhiannon!

October 16, 2021

Rich singing tone with a powerful projection

[My 13 year old daughter was] looking for a violin with a rich singing tone with a powerful projection... She likes the Dimitrov violin.

Daughter said, "There are no wolf tones anywhere on the violin. Violins I played before always had one or more wolf tones."

Thank you for free [upgrade to] strings.

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] Five Stars.

September 12, 2021

Wonderful sounding violin!!!

I have been very happy with the gorgeous sound of my Dimitrov violin.

It has ample projection and feels easy to play, no wolf tones, very even, and has that indescribable sweet yet powerful presence in the sound.

No better violin, past or present, and I have played on some of the best.

July 21, 2021

Top Quality Rest

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] I bought my wife a new shoulder rest from Fiddleheads and it arrived quickly and was top quality.

June 7, 2021

We all love this bow

My daughter, Emily, bought the Voxy Astute bow from you and loves it. [She is] working on her ARCT with her teacher [Okanagan Symphony Assistant Concertmaster] Susan Schaeffer.

Rhiannon is wonderful. We will support her business as long as we are allowed to play music in this crazy covid world!

November 18, 2020

Outstanding service, price and quality that beats bigger shops

[REVIEW: Facebook, 5 stars] Rhiannon met with me on short notice while I was passing through town. She was very nice to deal with and had multiple bows ready for me to try when I arrived.

This is a far nicer experience than trying violin and bows in a violin shop where there are several customers milling around.

I believe her bows are reasonably priced, most likely more competitively priced than what a [competing] violin shop would sell them for.

July 17, 2020