Testimonials

Chris King was first recommended to me by a dealer in London who suggested I was making unnecessary journeys to the capital for work on my violin, when there was an excellent repairer in Cardiff. That was thirty years ago, and since then I have had major work done by him on my 1879 Audinot. He repaired the scroll after an encounter with a frenzied viola player's "down bow" left a nasty crack. He also restored the varnish on the back after the violin had been left in storage in 100 degree heat at Hong Kong airport, melting it and even fusing it into the case. Both repairs were immaculate. Over the years, Chris and Cecile have always made time to remedy any problems I might have, and we are very lucky in Cardiff to have such a wonderful, friendly service close at hand.

I came to Cardiff Violins and very much enjoyed the warmth of the people and the place. I spent a lot of time playing their stock of violins, and particularly loved their set-ups. I felt very comfortable with Chris and the way he was working on tonal adjustment to achieve different effects,  and felt I could trust him with my Carcassi, so I asked him to set it up. I have never been so happy with my violin. The results are brilliant and unforgettable. The violin opened, became brilliant, and the intonation easier than ever to produce. That is what violinists want: an easy intonation. I have now seen a number of instruments transformed by Cardiff Violins' set ups, and strongly recommend you try them!

Cécile and Chris at Cardiff Violins, I just wanted to say thanks on behalf of my friend Sherlock Holmes for the violin he recently purchased from you. He would thank you himself; only, well Sherlock doesn’t really do that sort of thing.  You were extremely patient with him, much more than he deserved, which I should also thank you for, as a lot of people find him ‘difficult’. Thought you handled the situation very well, especially when he insisted on deducing the history of each instrument he picked up, in addition to identifying the rosin dust from each bow that had previously been used! Anyway, sorry about that, he’s always like it and yes it does get annoying, but at least you don’t have to live with him.

It is rare to find a shop where you feel you can relax and take your time; at Cardiff Violins they respect that choosing the right instrument can be a long process and requires a relaxed environment in which to make these important decisions. The staff are so welcoming, always at hand to help and advise or simply to bring you a fresh cup of tea, and they also know when to allow the customer some privacy in order to get to know their instrument of choice. Having an instrument that you feel proud of and helps you to play at your best is so important and is something that all at Cardiff Violins are fully aware of.

I have bought my wonderful Benoit Rolland and Joseph Arthur Vigneron bows from Cardiff Violins over the years, and I could not thank them enough for the enormous help and kind support they have given me. The bows are perfect for me, and make me enjoy practising and performing even more. My Vimercatti violin was acquired through Cardiff Violins four years ago. I was looking for a violin at the time and was contacted about an Italian violin which had just come in. It was made in the 18th century and has a beautiful rich tone. I am very happy with it and very fortunate to have it in my possession. www.juliahwang.com

The violin case arrived yesterday, and my daughter is very satisfied!!!!!  So thank you for your service. I will always recommend you to my friends! www.gospellights.dk

I'm a GelRest addict! It really helps to get a better purchase on the violin with less effort, thus reducing any excess tension which in turn makes it more relaxing to play! I always buy my GelRests and other violin accessories from Cardiff Violins as they're such good value and  super quick to order from!

Hi Chris, Cecile and all the nice staff in Cardiff Violins,

I want to write to you to let you know how much did enjoy the visit to your shop. Also I would like to stress the fact that my testimonial is addressed to those that are absolute beginners or one or two steps below, like me. Those that have not idea about violins and are in need of beginner's instrument and much more, really a lot more, help to make the decision on which one will suit him/her. I decided to go to your shop by recommendation of a good friend of mine, already playing violin, and firstly I did my research through internet and did read other people testimonials about you, your job and your shop. I have to say, after I knew you personally, that all those testimonials I did read were in some way wrong. My only fear is that my broken English possibly won't allow to say all that would like, to express all my feelings and how successful was for me the decision of going to your shop.

Formerly I did visit some other shops. Shops where violins were kept locked. That instantly sent a message to my brains: "We are not here for you, go away". Shops where the first sentence after the "Good morning/afternoon, sir" was "how much is your budget?". In short words, shops where they didn't look at the music lover, they looked at the customer wallet. Since the first moment, when I did phone you, the warmth, the will to help, was present and very noticeable for me. That got me instantly hooked. The moment I crossed your step door was a delight for my senses. My only worry was not to break anything. All the instruments were there, to the reach of my fingers, they weren't jailed in nice glassed urns. They were there telling "try me, please".

And what to say about you, the persons behind all those instruments? The welcome was warm enough, even when I changed my appointment time, you were still there smiling and waiting for me. You knew beforehand I was an absolute beginner and I felt like you were waiting for a famous performer. All what followed was magical. Your attendant was simply brilliant. She showed not dismay, restless, giving me all the explanations for my questions. Trying violin after violin. More like if we were friends. I never felt her rushing to close the sale. Never in a hurry to see me going and go for the next customer. 

I could be here writing for hours about all my feelings. But nothing I can write will be even close to the reality. They were three fantastic hours in my life. And what to say about you Chris, abandoning your workshop and finding five minutes to come to know me? Thanks very much for that detail. Amazing, simply amazing. I just will add that your way of doing business is far away unsurpassed.

You are brilliant, all you, stars in a world of mediocrity, in a world of money as the main moto, yours is the satisfaction of your customers, and probably you don't have customers, you now have friends. I am. I will, probably, carry on being an absolute novice for many years. I probably won't play decently a violin in my life. But now I am richer as a person, as now I knew you. From the bottom of my heart, a big thanks to all you.