Testimonials

I have known Chris King since 1977, when he was a student at the now defunct string instrument making school in Abertridwr, and I was a member of the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera. It is with the greatest pleasure that I have observed Cardiff Violins grow and become such a great asset to Cardiff, British and internationally based string players. During the past 35 years Chris has never lost sight of the fact that as pupils usually start playing with a small size, modest instrument, they then grow and need a larger instrument and if sufficient progress is made a fine instrument might be purchased. Cardiff Violins offer an excellent trade in scheme which allows pupils to upgrade to larger and better quality instruments. Over the past 35 years I have been delighted with this service. The variety of instruments available at Cardiff Violins is large. The cheapest instrument I have ever bought for a pupil cost £35 and an ex pupil of mine recently purchased a fine old Italian instrument at a cost which would have bought a reasonable house in Wales! As well as instrument sales, Cardiff Violins has an onsite workshop. Here new instruments are correctly prepared for sale and other instruments are repaired. I have always found the quality of work to be excellent. There are numerous rooms at Cardiff Violins where instruments and bows can be played, at your leisure in pleasant surroundings. Dear Chris and Cecile, I hope you will continue to look after us for many more years.

Finding the right instrument for one’s self is probably the hardest thing to do for a musician. I have always taken the violin seriously, it’s something I’m completely devoted to – I want to study the violin as far as I can, and I want to be a professional musician. Not only has looking for ‘The Right Violin’ been a long, exhausting journey all over the UK, it has also been a huge emotional journey. Stringed Instruments are not cheap. When I started violin lessons with Michael Bochmann (leader of the English String Orchestra) I realised I needed an instrument that could give a promising tone, and help me advance as a soloist. After about a year-and-a-half of searching for ‘The Right Violin’, I found Cardiff Violins. We gave them a ring, and we shortly agreed on a day to try out the stock of violins. After being disheartened after visiting so many other violin shops, I thought the same would happen again. How wrong I was. I was greeted SO warmly by the entire team, and they made me feel at home. I was so impressed by the amount of instruments they had in stock. The atmosphere was brilliant, and I was very relaxed whilst playing numerous violins – the service, and the advice I was given by everyone who works there was so wonderful, and I’m ever so grateful for it. In the end, I found ‘The Right Violin’. An Alfred Vincent, 1936. The condition and tone were perfect. But, that worried me! The price! I had the awful feeling it would be over our budget. Yet again, I was wrong. The price was within our budget – it made me realise that Cardiff Violins give honest prices, advice, and opinions on their instruments. Quality instruments, quality prices, and quality service. I have made a wonderful friendship with the team from Cardiff Violins! I can’t wait to take my violin everywhere! I haven’t had it long, but it’s got a very fun life ahead of it. 

I am a freelance violinist/violist and am a bit hard to classify…I enjoy being versatile as I love many styles of playing in many different contexts. I regularly work as an orchestral player, recitalist, Baroque violinist, Jazz violinist/violist, quartet and session player. I have always been interested in string playing from many parts of the world, from Cape Breton fiddling to Indian ragas!

I have just purchased a marvellous bow by American maker Lee Guthrie. Beautiful craftsmanship, powerful, superb playability, and it draws out colours and sonorities from my instrument I didn't know were there! Cardiff Violins have been extremely helpful and a pleasure to deal with. The Lee Guthrie is the third fine bow they have sold me. The others are a wonderful Baroque bow by Jacques Poullot, gorgeous and full of nuance and the renowned "Spiccato'" by Benoit Rolland- powerful, smooth and versatile. I use it for many styles including Jazz.

I bought a newly-made Baroque-style violin from a Chinese maker from eBay, and received it packed neatly and with the sound-post and bridge down. It looked smart, with a nice shape and good varnish, so I brought it to Chris King at Cardiff Violins and asked the simple question: ‘Is this a Baroque violin?’ ‘It will be when I’ve finished with it,’ Chris said, and made some critical comments about the set of the neck, the shape of the bridge and other matters he felt he could rectify. ‘How much do you think that will cost?’ I asked, and Chris told me to expect to pay about as much as I had spent on the violin. In the end, his bill came to around £350, which was what I had paid the maker, and the instrument was a great deal closer to my expectations of a Baroque violin, and I have been playing ever since with great pleasure, although no expertise whatsoever… I continue to visit Chris’s shop to buy strings, rosin and other accessories, and always enjoy the opportunity to try out instruments in the practice room, and chat to Chris and Cecile about matters violinistic and musicological. Cardiff Violins, in its picturesque arcade setting, is a wonderful place to learn more about the whole violin family of instruments, and acts as the hub of a network of contacts among musicians throughout Wales and the West Country.

Stunning!! I have been playing some of the Bach Cello Suites this week; the tone and resonance are outstanding.  Not sure what you did with the new bridge, and sound post placement, but it has made a good instrument exceptional. I have now just got to learn how to get the best out of it. So major thanks!

Cecile and Chris were a pleasure to meet and so helpful when I was trying to decide which instrument to choose. Being a mature 'enthusiastic amateur' as opposed to a 'pro', meant a certain degree of nervousness on my part, but I was very quickly put at ease by their friendly and supportive manner. Their service was just perfect, I couldn't fault it at all. Now as the proud owner of a beautiful Don Tatem viola, I couldn't be happier.  However, Chris, I do have one problem with it: at a recent rehearsal,  I still could hear wrong notes!  Any suggestions !!?

When I was looking for a new intermediate violin I found Cardiff Violins and having read the testimonials and seen what they had to offer I arranged to visit and try some violins. Fortunately, my partner and I had already planned to go visit the Millennium Center so this provided the excuse to drive over from Yorkshire. I was not disappointed. Everyone at Cardiff Violins is very focused on helping you find the right instrument. I spent two hours there trying a selection of violins in one of their trying out rooms. I finally selected a 'Con Fuoco'. It's a great violin and I have had many compliments over its tone and appearance. I can wholeheartedly recommend Cardiff Violins.

Well, there is not a lot I can say that has not already been said! Going to Cardiff Violins does not feel like going to a shop… it feels like looking up old friends – who happen to know a lot about what you need! Good advice is always there, Chris never screams at my latest discoveries…such as Pellegrina violas or the Luis & Clark instrument (which I affectionately call Captain Plastic!). They know I love innovation… and colour… which is why Cécile knew I would be perfect for one of BAM’s less subtle cases! They also introduced me to Arcus bows, which I now use all the time. It is so easy to take for granted the convenience of having a place where you can go and try stuff and discuss ideas…something the internet cannot compete with.