Posts tagged '*Five-Stars*'

Wow you are absolutely amazing thank you so much! You really did not disappoint :)

I guess there is a reason why you are rated 5 stars on google! I'll make sure to leave a review as well!

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars]

The best service ever! I finally got a left handed violin!

Very hard to find because most luthiers say left handed players get used to playing on the right side. But not Fiddleheads!!!

They are so nice and the experience was amazing even though it was fully online :)

Highly recommend!

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] Rhiannon helped me pull off the perfect surprise birthday gift with a lefty fiddle for my husband.

Working with her was like a breath of fresh air - she's kind, witty, and very generous.

Highly recommend this shop to anyone looking for a fiddle/violin. You won't be disappointed!

Over the years I've played on a number of different bows, some from Asia, and also some from Europe; but I've always been seeking to find "that perfect bow".

I have to say I think I've found it!

The Voxy Astute Bow is the perfect bow of both worlds, with that carbon fibre core and pernambuco wood cross over. The pernambuco on-lay gives you that traditional look and function that many players desire to have.

The first thing I noticed when picking up this bow, in my hands, was how light it is.

With the carbon fibre core being light weight and flexible I find the bow does not hold you back from different techniques you maybe trying to integrate into your bowling style. It sails smoothly through all styles of playing, various pace, pitch, and phenomenal handling.

I give the bow 5 stars!

The sound production I get out of my violin [read my review] is phenomenal with this bow! My low strings resonate with warmth and my high strings have a beautiful harmony with the Violin's natural resonance while using this bow.

I've had some bows in the past hinder my violin's sound and not allow me to get from piano all the way to forte. This bow does not hold you back...

I feel like a soloist, prima donna, diva when I have this bow in my right hand.

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] Rhiannon was very helpful online in answering my questions about the MJZ 909 violin.

She offered to send me up to two violins to try at home, but when I learned she had six in her shop, I made arrangements to drive to Kamloops from the US and try them in person.

Rhiannon was very gracious in welcoming me into her home/shop, and she helped me narrow down which violin was right for me - which was not an easy task since all of the violins were lovely.

I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a new violin.

I will not dissimulate that I have knocked at several doors... with no clear answer yet as to what would be a suitable try-it-out bow. Given the generosity you have displayed in our exchanges, Rhiannon, you'd be surprised to hear that some people get annoyed when requested to provide numbers. So I thank you very much for your kindness and patience.

I read your story with great interest and I recognize the kindness, honesty and humanity praised by the many customer testimonials. I went back to your shop's website and took some time to read a few of your articles - a very pleasant read.

I'm sorry to hear of your physical issues and that these have affected your musical activity. I acknowledge your resiliency. I promise I'll write a 5* review for your business.

[UPDATE: 2 months later]

Five Stars.

I got in touch with fiddleheads.ca shortly after last Christmas when I started out on a quest for a carbon fiber bow. I was in for carbon because of ecological reasons. It may also be relevant to specify that being a physical engineer I endeavoured to make sense of bows on mathematical grounds.

I knocked at several doors and nowhere did I get the attention that Rhiannon gave me.

Far from that in fact: when others only responded with their trivial sales pitches or dismissed me after a few emails or simply never answered my queries, she responded back - in lengths and with patience and consideration - each time.

She gave me the gift of her precious time as if I were an old friend.

Surely, she was quick to sense the type of tough customer I was but she didn't back up and provided me with all the numbers I asked for.

She is a true professional inside out. Anyone who takes the time to explore her shop's website will undoubtedly acknowledge the care that was put in setting it up: it's like a treasure box of information of all sorts.

My preference, I think, goes to the page with the articles she wrote: instructive, delightful and personal.

As of now, I have not committed to any bow but I can readily say that Rhiannon certainly helped me out with her sound advice and, overall, her kindness.

Wishing the best to you, I thank you, Rhiannon.

I was so excited to see left hand violins in a quality venue. Hard to come by as I had a "Carlton" from Long and McQuade and when I was ready to up my commitment they had nothing.

The Fiddleheads Sun VN-103L left-handed violin came two days ago can't lay it down.. so much more response...forgiving...it sings to me...a voice..it can make me cry.

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] I must say my experience "very much" exceeded my wildness expectations, from the time I engaged in (expertise guidance) through my situation and custom needs (left handed player) to the choice made and arrival of my AMAZING Violin 103L, I knew well I made the right choice.

How could I go wrong with the support I had been given by "fiddleheads" it felt like they were behind me during the whole process "Great Feeling".

The violin is very responsive... very forgiving... sounds like she sings out to me. Can't wait to hear her 'offering" in a few months of playing. I'm so excited.

Thank You Rhiannon for the "personal nudge" into the right direction. Much Appreciated.

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.

This violin is the upgrade of my dreams!

The fact is, being left-handed is expensive.

This is especially so with musical instruments. I'm sure a lot of other lefties here were, like me, constantly told that you SHOULD be great at stringed instruments as the fingering is done on the left and were encouraged by your teachers to buy right-handed instruments at regular prices.

But to me, the bow is what gives the violin its "voice" and it just makes sense that this voice should come from the dominant hand and it doesn't feel right playing the other way around.

I got my left-handed starter violin from a different vendor; it was a "cheap" starter but still priced at a HORRENDOUS mark-up from the identical right-handed version. The squeaks, screeches, sticky pegs, and cheap wood were definitely not worth that kind of price tag just for being constructed left-handed.

However, when I saw the Sun VN-102L intermediate violin on Fiddleheads, I knew this was the ideal upgrade.

It arrived today and it sounds GORGEOUS; beautiful, smooth, mellow tones and high-quality components - it's an absolute joy to play.

I almost feel guilty for getting a custom build, left-handed violin of this quality at this price.

I'd fully expect to pay double or even triple at another vendor for this level of instrument.

Rhiannon's service was immensely prompt and courteous.

My violin outfit was very well protected for its long journey across the country and even came with some cute little freebies!

I want to thank Rhiannon for her excellent service and her fantastic selection of gorgeous left-handed violins for all levels of players WITHOUT the prohibitive lefty mark-up that so many other vendors have.

I will be purchasing all my future violins, bows, and whatever else I need from Fiddleheads from now on!

[Email to Rhiannon] I've already left a review at the website but I just wanted to thank you personally as well. I received my Sun VN-102L today and I cannot get over how gorgeous it is.

It sounds beautiful (and here all this time I thought I was just a bad fiddle player! Turns out I was limited by my previous cheap instrument!)

As I said in my review, being a left-handed musician is a constant headache, mainly because of the severely limited options at an obscene mark-up.

This violin really is the upgrade of my dreams and I just wanted to say a massive THANK YOU for providing so many lefty options at such a reasonable price.

You've gained a lifelong customer in me and I'll be sure to send any family members looking to upgrade your way as well (we're Irish so there's a LOT of us and we're all musically inclined...you know how it is!)

Playing is my passion so being able to afford this violin and have my music actually sound good for once has made me so happy in the midst of a trying time for me.

I just wanted to let you know what a valuable service you've provided.

Sláinte!

Before buying, the only thing for certain at the moment is that I think you're great, Rhiannon, and I want to buy a fiddle from you (despite our discovery that the import duties/taxes will amount to almost a quarter of the final price!!)

Your approach is so honest and open which contrasts greatly with the opaqueness of others in the trade!

My lovely wife Heather spent almost 2 hrs devouring your website last night. I have every confidence that this will be a perfect fiddle for my remaining years as a regularly performing fiddler.

[UPDATE: Jan 7, 2023]

Hurray, Hurray, Hurray!!!! The Messiah Kowalski is here and I'm/we are over the moon!

As I think I might have said along the way, we wanted to check out two main properties of the sound - "sophistication" and "will it sound raw and new" (not according to the sound clips you posted but you never know... until the instrument is under the chin) - as the sound clips suggest it is smooth and silvery!!!

It is a wonderful match to my wife's violin - similar tone, and loud enough for her to hear what I'm doing without being overpowered.

[UPDATE: Jan 21, 2023]

I have just put the Messiah to bed properly for the first time since it arrived...

I have bought 4 bench fiddles at around the £6,000 to £8,000 mark over the years, but never before have I had one so refined from the get-go.

What we have is a fiddle with a self-assured, rounded creaminess - no hint of that new fiddle rawness that requires a couple of years playing in, and certainly not a 'now' fiddle with that big open (but rather hollow) sound.

I'll certainly be letting the world know how pleased we are via your website etc. With massive, grateful hugs,

[UPDATE: Jan 22, 2023]

The fiddle continues to grow in stature and is so surefooted and sumptuous!

[UPDATE: Jan 23, 2023]

This afternoon we had a 3 hr. session with a great 83 year-old local mouthie (mouth organ) player who has been immersed in this music (fiddles and pipes) since childhood.

At the start of the afternoon he said it was a 'good sounding' fiddle' - halfway through he said it 'sounded really nice' the when we finished he said 'what a great fiddle'!! We have played together on and off for 15 years or so in this set up but have never sounded better!

[UPDATE: Jan 25, 2023]

The Kowalski... is singing magnificently.

I'm knocked out by the degree of resonance - not just in the obvious, expected places (fingered G, D and A) but in other associated notes the first finger E on the D string for example...

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] I have played fiddle for over forty years and bought (and sold on - usually at a loss) a wide variety of instruments from improver level to bench-made instruments.

In all these 40 years I have never come across anyone as helpful, patient, enthusiastic and knowledgeable as Rhiannon!

In October last year I gave my lovely Tarquin Bolton violin to my son in the erroneous belief that I could see out my final years (I'm 74) with a lesser instrument.... after 3 months I began the search for an instrument which would match the Bolton fiddle!

What won me over to Fiddleheads against the UK competition was the complete transparency of approach and detail on the Fiddleheads site.

I'm now the proud and delighted owner of a Kowalski Strad model which, as it happens, matches my wife's violin more closely in tone and expression and upped the overall effect of our duets. She can barely believe that an instrument only months old could have such a mature and beautiful voice!!

I have no hesitation whatsoever in giving a 5 star review to Rhiannon, her business and this amazing Kowalski violin.

[UPDATE: Feb 5, 2023]

I should have emailed much sooner but the fact is I've been besotted with this gem of a fiddle, and I've played it lots for lots of people; the comments are consistently along the lines of 'what a lovely sounding fiddle'.

As I've explained before I am not the best fiddler in the world, but am privileged to play alongside some excellent fiddlers and this fiddle allows me to add a beautiful, full, creamy sound to the mix.

After all these years of searching I have found my perfect instrument!

A thousand thanks again for your amazing patience and wonderful encouragement.

[UPDATE: Feb 14, 2023]

I'm besotted by this violin - stunning looks, stunning sound. My wife has a beautiful violin with a £30,000 sound, and this Kowalski matches it.

[UPDATE: May 7, 2023]

Just to say the Kowalski continues to develop and delight.

If I had the money I'd buy the lot off you, and give them to my friends to play- what a glorious sound that would be!!!!

Love and thanks, xx

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] When my violin got stolen, Rhiannon was quick in helping me with insurance and providing original receipts and cost for a replacement.

One more thing, I travel the world a fair bit and I have not come across a violin yet in my price range, with such a quality fit and finish like the one [Bellissima] I originally purchased from Rhiannon.

To conclude, I will definitely purchase my replacement from Rhiannon.

Rhiannon, the owner, is considerate, diligent, and attentive. The customer service is excellent. She responds to inquiries with detailed explanations.

This is a superb online studio.

My new baby arrived today. Was amazed how light it was and how warm and sweet the tone is.

Rhiannon was right about how I would notice the difference between the Fiddleheads MJZ 909 and my Eastman Ivan Dunov. It is a nice step up for me.

The violin itself was everything I expected and more.

That being said, my next one will be my last one, and I hope to look for a "bench" made violin that I hope Rhiannon will help me find. I will report back again after I have spent a few months opening her up a bit.

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] Recently purchased my 2nd violin, upgrading from my Eastman Strings Ivan Dunov to Rhiannon's recommendation for me of the MJZ 909. Also purchased a new bow; VN65 and deluxe oblong case in blue.

First of, the customer service from Rhiannon was outstanding. She was very patient answering questions on the phone and via email until I was certain about everything.

The violin itself was everything I expected and more.

The projection and tone was both powerful and warm, and a nice step up from my student violin.

I am sure that in the next few months it will open up even more. The bow was nice, but for some reason, I seem to prefer my old one, perhaps because my old one is octagonal and feels easier for me to handle.

Thanks Rhiannon for all your help, hope to do business again when I upgrade to a bench made (I need to improve a bit first lol).

[UPDATE: 3 weeks later] FYI, My MJZ violin is only now starting to sing, and my god it sounds wonderful.

[UPDATE: 1 Month Later] I am writing once again to thank you for your incredible assistance in purchasing my MJZ 909. It truly is performing beyond my greatest expectations...

I am not a great violinist, (not even close) but I spend 3 to 4 hours a day immersed in practice, and it brings me more joy than I can explain.

My MJZ violin is only now starting to sing, and my god it sounds wonderful. My instructor, who is a lead violinist at symphony Nova Scotia, believes that... I may never outgrow my MJZ 909.

I just put MJ to bed after my final practice of the day. She never gives me trouble and always sounds sweet.

[Official Product Review] Buying a violin is leap of faith for many of us, especially in an on-line market place.

Needless to say, I did a ton of research which led me to Fiddleheads and Rhiannon. After much deliberation and consulting on what would suit me for an upgrade from my Eastman Ivan Dunov, the MJZ 909 became the prime candidate.

It arrived packed secure and safe in its case, and my first impression was how light it felt.

After drawing the bow a few times across it I knew right away Rhiannon was right about it being a good upgrade. The resonance and richness of its tone was the next thing I noticed, and this was just the beginning.

After a few weeks of playing it starting to really open up and show its true potential.

It seems is very playable and quite forgiving, especially for someone like me whom I would consider still a beginner after only a couple of years.

The sound quality is such that it makes me want to practice longer from the way it sings to me.

Although I am learning classical, I love to play fiddle tunes also, and my MJZ does both exceptionally well.

I had shopped around this model and Fiddleheads price was unbeatable, and the service and attention I received both before and after the sale was remarkable.

I think I have covered everything, but this process was as smooth as the perfect bow thanks to Rhiannon.

[PROS to Shopping at Fiddleheads] Award-Winning Owner, Eco-Friendly, Shop Exceeds Expectations, Fast Shipping, In-Home Trials, Ethics & Integrity, Expertise, Packaging & Safe Arrivals, Personal Connection, Proudly Canadian, Rhiannon's Entrepreneurship, Rhiannon's Musicianship

[PROS to this Product] Beats the Competition, Considerable Upgrade, Product Exceeds Expectations, Improves Playing, Luthier Setup, Playability/Ease of Use, Quality Craftsmanship, Tone & Tonal Improvement, Value/Good Price

Rhiannon, you rock! I like the personal touch... and that's really what sold me out on your website (beside the fact that it came out first in my search this morning, LOL).

I was completing my order when all the products in my cart became "Out of Stock". I [planned to] check again tomorrow (and every following day, if necessary) to see if your website was fixed. In the meantime, I was able to enter my addresses, so, easy peasy!

The website came back! Thanks a bunch, Rhiannon. Super appreciated. Santa's elves brought back your products! And I was able to order with the e-transfer!

Despite the crashing bug, which you fixed in no time, your website is top-noch. Can't wait to see & hear all this magic 'live' from [my nephew] Moose. He's currently learning a reel with a friend every Friday night as a Xmas present to our ears.

Thanks for everything, and especially the hugs of gratitude. Hugs of peace & joy back, enjoy the season! Dans la grâce!

[UPDATE: 5 stars google: Outstanding! Professional & Human, with a touch of Magic!

The best service on the web!

Great communication with the customer, will shop again for certain.

Thank you.