General Buyer’s Experience
- Filed under: Photo Diary
- Date: Aug 22,2007
I started this page so that my buyers who have bought violins/violas/cellos/double basses or bows or cases from me can give me some comments, good or bad. This way I know where I can improve to provide for an even better buyer’s experience.
To all my friends and customers, thanks in advance!
–Jehpin 
Comments begin here:
For Camilo Acosta in Miami, USA.
:em20: Dear Jehpin! I received your violin very fast… :em69: it is really beautiful!! It looks even better than in these photos…tjhe sound is vibrant, mellow … with sweet tone . I am serioulsy thinking about playing the Beethoven violin concerto with it. it is sounding great, I am using eva pirazzi strings. The Violin festival is called “VIOLINISIMO 2007″ and it will take place in Maracaibo City, Venezuela. If i like my own performance, then I will send you a little bit of the video ! So Wish me luck for the concert!!! I cant thank you enough!!!
with all the best wishes!
Camilo Acosta
June 21st, 2008 at 11:03 am
Hi Jephin, I was recently fortunate enough to be able to acquire and sell
several beginners violins manufactured in the Republic of China. Having
witnessed a remarkable improvement in the standards of Chinese violins, I
decided to use the proceeds of these sales to buy a couple of advanced
instruments, the latest of which I acquired from you (#2080 Stradivarius Violin
With Tight Spruce). I would be delighted if you would publish this testimonal,
so as I could urge anyone considering purchasing a new violin from China to
contact you.
I am very impressed with the violin, the workmanship is superb and I can tell
that the violin was made with a high degree of care and pride. I had expected
that the violin may require a further set-up on arrival, this is often
inevitable when buying a new violin at such a competitive price from a remote
seller. However the bridge is cut well, pegs just right,and the soundpost
appears to be in optimum position.
In fact, after a quick string change (to Dominant) I slid in my pick-up and
gigged with my violin that very night, where the instrument won many admirers
from my band and audience. The wood has been well selected, the spruce being
every bit as tight as described and the two piece maple back a good match. At
this early stage, the instrument, whilst responsive and easy to play, doesn’t
quite carry dynamically in the same way as some of my other violins, but I do
believe that this will certainly follow as the violin plays and matures. On my
next string change I will most likely fit Evah Pirazzi which may give me more
depth of volume, as they have with a gorgeous but dainty French violin of mine.
Certainly as things stand the voice of this violin is captivating, and this is
certainly nothing I would wish to comprimise in any way.
I look forward to updating you as to how this violin is progressing, and I
hope, to dealing with you in the future. Please keep me updated as to any new
stock you acquire - macfarlanedavid@hotmail.com.
In the meantime, thank you and best wishes, David Macfarlane
June 4th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Hi Jehpin,
I received my new Strad Hellier style violin #1888 and top Pernambuco bow today, and am very pleased.
Delivery was quick, and the case protected the instrument well during shipping.
I immediately replaced the strings with a set of Dominant.
The fullness of tone and dark quality of the voice are just what I wanted, even now, before the wood and strings have had a chance to adjust and settle in.
The inlay work is well-done. It’s a nice violin.
Thanks,
Eric
May 28th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I received the violin last Monday, May 26. Unfortunately, when I opened the package at the post office the chinrest was broken in half. I asked the post about it, but they were not so helpful (as expected). They just told me that all the parcels they handle are contained in sacks (such a careless way), so damage is inevitable. Seeing the waste of time in arguing with them, I left and went immediately to a workshop and have the chinrest glued using an extremely strong wood glue. The chinrest is now OK.
Aside from that, everything inside are in excellent condition. The instrument’s integrity is still there, and the bows were equally fine. I gave the violin to my friend the next day and he was very happy of it even with the slight damage. The tone is nice in the upper registers, average in the lower. The metallic sound is still there, but I believe in a few days it will be gone and the tone will continue to be broken in. He also loved the pernambuco bow, as well as the brazil, but he will resell the latter seeing no need for it (he has 4 bows already). Right now the violin is undergoing a setup with a local luthier.
Thanks and more power to your business!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:59 am
OPERA CELLO #38
The Cello #38 has arrived a few months back (only had the time to post this up due to Uni), The sound post fell so I had to send it to a luthier to get it fixed.
The Cello is REALLY beautiful. The ‘holes’ or imperfections that show up due to the antiquating techniques actually looks very nice on the cello, so the cello looks a lot nicer than in the pictures.
Sound wise:
Its excellent, when I got it, I immediately played it, being a new cello, metallic sounds were expected and the strings aren’t that great either and the sound in the higher register is very unpredictable.
I thought it would take me another week or two to break into it, but by the second hour of playing it, the sound became more settled, and was getting more and more resonant as I played it and the metallic sound has decreased considerably.
I played The Swan first before any other piece. When I played it first time round as the higher register was still unstable, so I thought I’d play it next time, but after I realized the sound was more resonant, I attempted The Swan again, and I couldn’t really believe it when the sound was very resonant unlike the first time I played it.
The highest note was still a bit metallic but its a very full sound. Its a matter of time (and practice) before it will give its best. I haven’t even changed its strings yet.
The bows were very responsive too. The cello case is superb.
It performed really well in the String Ensemble and people were impressed with it. The sound is really strong
I actually need to find a cello mute since the cello is VERY loud and the apartment I’m in isn’t exactly soundproof, thats how powerful the sound is. In fact, it is as loud, if not louder than the Double Bass in the String Ensemble =)
Thank you so much for the beautiful Cello, its definitely worth it and Im VERY pleased with it =)
Cheers,
Fakhruddin Ismail
May 1st, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Thank you, Ohsung Kwon. The music is very beautiful.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Hi aprilrain,
In the recording, I still used the stings that came with the violin which is ok. I actually ordered Infeld Blue and Red 2 sets. Seems like every body using the Dominant though. I researched through the korean forum. Because my instrument is a bit bright, I might like to bring out a little darker side of the violin. Some people suggested Infeld Red has a bit darker and rich overtone. So I am going to try. I don’t know how it would sound yet. I may get the strings soon maybe like tomorrow or so, probably I will record again with Infeld strings later. Did it help?
April 29th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Hi Ohsung Kwon, what strings do you use on your Opera Antique Stradivarius Pro model? Thanks.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Hi Jehpin. I received the Balokovic today–exactly the maximum shipping duration of 8 days. Wow! I am really impressed with it. Seeing and playing it now with much satisfaction, I really regret having you inconvenienced and hassled by my constant change of mind.
The varnishing and wood selection is excellent (I agree with your other customers, the violin is a lot better than the pictures), and I can’t believe hearing a new violin with such tonal quality as this. The carrying power blew me off. Having such an impressive tone with just ordinary steel core strings, I think the tone will greatly improve with better synthetic/ gut core ones. As with the bow, the craftsmanship is excellent too, and it’s really comfortable. Everything arrived well, except for a broken but repairable bow holder. Good job and good luck to your growing business.
Regards,
Francino
April 26th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Hi Laura,
Yes, it is Opera Antique Stradivarius Pro Model. My friend at the school played for me.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Hi Jehpin,
Howdy. I bought a pernambuco violin bow with snakewood frog. It arrived in the USA in good shape. It is very beautiful and sounds very good too. Of course it sounds better than I what had. You are a pleasure to deal with. I’ll recommend you to everyone. Thank you so much and I wish you luck in your business.
Tanya