After purchasing all my prior violins in well known shops, with my teacher or a trusted friend by my side, I did what I never thought I should or would do. I purchased a Guarneri 909 model violin from Rhiannon over the internet.
I did not know Rhiannon or her shop, but after carefully looking over her website, having a brief telephone conversation with her and subsequent exchanges of emails I thought it was time to give Rhiannon and Fiddleheads Violin Shop an opportunity to prove the nay-sayers wrong.
So what were the results? I knew all about Zhu's reputation as a highly respected "Chinese" violin maker and I was buying his top-of-the-line "workshop" instrument. But there was still the open question of trying out the instrument like I had always done before ... Fiddleheads and Rhiannon are located on the West coast of Canada and I live on the East coast of the United States. I explained to Rhiannon the sound I was looking for and asked her to pick out an instrument.
After all, Rhiannon is not just the owner of the shop, more importantly for my purposes, she is also a respected teacher with a full schedule of students and an experienced symphany-level violinist. After thinking about all these factors, it was time to log onto paypal.
A week later I have a beautiful 909 in my hands. To say the violin is all I expected is an understatement.
The instrument is beautiful, the set-up is perfect, and the tone is amazing for a new instrument. As Rhiannon says, now all I have to do is, "Play it, Play it! Just play the darn thing! ... and there is no reason why the tone won't mature with each note."
It is safe to say that Rhiannon has a very, very happy customer to add to her long list of customers who evidently are as happy about the whole violin purchase experience as I am. Stay tuned to this website. I intend to add to the equally long list of very pleased 6 month follow-up reports. :) :) :) :) :)
[UPDATE: 1 month later] The fiddle I purchased from you is absolutely fantastic. The sound and responsiveness actually continues to improve. What separates your 909 Zhu and a Haide sold by the violin snobs is the massive advertising budget and your better set up. You are also a much better person with whom to deal, 'smart lady in the red dress!'
[Our condolences to Michael’s family following his passing on November 22, 2017]
The instrument is beautiful, the set-up is perfect, and the tone is amazing for a new instrument.
September 27, 2014
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Zhu VN-909 Violin with Certificate - Commissioned by Fiddleheads - Custom Setup - 4/4 size
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USD$6,500.00
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