Testimonials

Dear Cecile, Chris, and all the team,  I just wanted to say a very big "thank you" to all of you for your hard work on my violin.  It arrived safely this morning, and is barely recognisable! (In a good way.)  Also thanks for the Obligato strings, really lovely sound.  You take so much pride in your work and it shines through in all you do.  I know you had nightmares over the varnish but the end result is better than I could ever have hoped for.  Thank you so much.

I would like to thank you for the very prompt service received when I placed an online order for my new violin bow. I received the Standard Col Legno bow within three days, safely packaged and it arrived in perfect condition. It has certainly made a difference to the sound I am now able to produce from my violin!  The resonance and tone are much improved and the bow is definitely recommended to anyone who is looking to change from a wooden bow to a carbon fibre one for the first time.

My experience with Cardiff Violins began with my quest to buy another cello.  I already owned a lovely old cello which was totally restored many years ago and I was now looking for a second cello which would widen my scope of sound and repertoire.  I had heard very good feedback about the Luis & Clark cellos, so I contacted Luis & Clark in Milton, Boston USA and they kindly sent me a comprehensive pack of information, DVDs etc. Following further correspondence with Stephanie Leguia (Luis & Clark) she recommended that I contacted Cardiff Violins in Wales to see if they could arrange for me to try one of the cellos.  My first call to Cardiff Violins was answered by the delightful Cecile Limon who answered further questions I had regarding the Luis & Clark cello and carbon fibre instruments and said she would order one from Luis and Clark that I could try - without any obligation to purchase.  True to her word, Cecile contacted me a short while later and said the cello had arrived.  I arranged to travel to Cardiff with my wife and stay overnight at the Angel Hotel which is almost next to Cardiff Violins. On the day of our visit to the shop, we were greeted at the door by Katja.  Cecile then greeted us and said she had arranged for Katja, the shop’s cellist, to spend the rest of the day with us.  My first impressions of Cardiff Violins were of a feeling of tremendous warmth from Cecile and Katja in a very relaxed atmosphere. We were then taken by Katja to a room that had been set up to try the instrument. Soon I was introduced to The Luis & Clark cello by Katja, which I must admit looked stunning– but as always playing and hearing the cello is what it is all about.  I was not disappointed – the response; volume, ease of playing and quality of sound projected from the cello is very impressive.  A really beautiful instrument. I then met Chris King, who although very busy in the workshop, spent time with me discussing the instrument, strings, and the importance of a good set up to the performance of an instrument.  I next needed a new lightweight case for the cello, Katja and Magdalena again helped me choose the right case. The next day we returned to the shop to collect the new cello and case and say our farewells to our new friends we had made – Cecile, Chris, Katja and Magdalena who had made our visit to Cardiff Violins a very enjoyable experience which I would highly recommend to anyone.

I went in not expecting to get anything, but just to look because my brother Oliver Wilson-Dickson had found his main working violin in Cardiff Violins for an amazingly low price as the body was hand made in China by the exclusive makers they work with and then altered a bit and set up in the Cardiff Violins workshop… and it was just ridiculously good, so I ended up going, just to have a browse. I, however, fell in love with a 'Con Fuoco' violin and ended up getting ultimately a violin and a viola, a 'Con Fuoco' violin, and a 'Con Passione' viola,  and I traded in my old German violin and a Finkle bow and bought a  modern China-made much less expensive but such good quality and it allowed me to end up with a fantastic violin and viola!  I was amazed at how good the instruments were for the price! And also loved how helpful they were in trying to find me the sound I was looking for. I never thought I would ever own such beautiful sounding instruments without having to win the lottery. I'm really so happy! I am based in London but if I need anything done instrument wise I will always take a trip to Cardiff Violins.

Sovra playing her new instruments:

A HUGE THANK YOU TO CECILE & all at Cardiff Violins. How you managed to get the replacement brand new cello to Guernsey in time for Christmas was amazing. Our 10 year old daughter Catherine had no idea. We were relieved we took out the insurance you recommended and can not believe you have done all the liaising with the insurers and all we had to do when her previous cello broke was make the initial phone call. The insurers took all the details over the telephone and there was no need to fill out any forms. What a relief! The minute the cello box was opened and after a few seconds of jumping around Catherine had the first try. She said it was all perfectly tuned for her and just perfect to play.

I received a beautiful Czardas violin as an upgrade from my beginner’s violin, and it is even more beautiful and lovely than I had dreamed. I can't believe how much different it sounds and how much the Col Legno bow changes what I can do! The violin, bow, and especially your willingness to help me figure out a violin that was just right for me has definitely been worth ordering all the way from Idaho. I'm so happy with everything, and I can't thank you enough!  

Cardiff Violins did a terrific job transforming my violin bow from an exploited one to a humane one. I am delighted with the Coruss hair which must have the right rosin incidentally: Evah Pirazzi Gold that is. The bone tip was removed from my bow as was the mother of pearl which was replaced with black ebony wood. We do not need animal products so why use them when they are always a source of exploitation and torment, and yes this includes horse hair which generally comes from China with the horses ending up in the same old slaughterhouse. I am delighted with the bow sound and I cannot see any reason, even putting the paramount importance of ethics aside, why horse hair would be preferable. Also this idea that horse hair is the 'real thing' is simply ignorant nonsense. I find most people who say this have never even tried or tested or listened to Coruss hair and have no intention to do so: they are simply prejudiced. Please use Coruss hair and more importantly please be vegan. The world is vegan if you want it.

Thank you so much Cardiff Violins - I am absolutely delighted with my Vassil Valtchev violin (made in 2011). The violin looks great, and it sounds even better, with a warm, rich tone. It is a true pleasure to play it. Thank you also for the excellent customer service - choosing a violin from your wonderful selection is a marvellous experience.