Buyer’s Letters
- 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
61 Responses for "Buyer’s Letters"
Comment left on behalf of customer:
I have recently bought a violin and bow from Jehpin over the internet, which hasn’t arrived yet. I am very pleased so far with the help he’s offered me. It is especially mentionable that he’s been very responsive, helpful and precise in the communication we’ve had so far and that he generated lots of alternative ideas and good answers to the many questions I had.
The only suggestion I would have to further improve the service is that you could put a little note in your shipping information that incoming tax is the responsibility of the buyer and that it will usually depend on the declared value of the goods. Even though this is self- explanatory on the one hand, it might, however, make extra-clear that the declared value of the goods will also determine the maximum insurance paid if the parcel arrives broken.
I’ve bought two bows, a baroque viola bow and a baroque violin bow, snake wood. Both are well made. So I’m a highly pleased man!
Two months ago i bought a 5 Star Performa. I never thought that a violin at this price range can have so much appeal. I’ve actually underestimated its’ beauty. And then during ensemble practice my colleagues made comments that the varnish is very nice and the tone is very sweet. The volume is not loud, but it’s loud enough for playing Baroque repertoires. I think the Performa is also perfect for the advancing student. The sound is good enough for playing solo in a small concert hall. Above all, the price is perfect. I wish to see more of the tiger flamed and fractional sizes (1/2 to 3/4) for bidding.
I recently bought an Emiliai violin from Jehpin Liew, The Old Violin House. It arrived in lovely condition in an unexpected very nice violin case. I am very happy with the purchase. The violin meets my expectations and more. It is a nice violin with lovely tone, very reasonably priced. The service was fantastic. Very prompt with great communication from Jehpin. It was great to be able to track the violin as it shipped into Australia. I am a very satisfied customer and I would be most happy to buy from the Old Violin House again. Thank you Jehpin.
I bought recently a Vecchio Violin from Jehpin to try. I regreted at first not having bought the one piece back Vecchio, but then when I beheld the two piece maple back violin with my own eyes, I fell in love with it almost at that instant. I’m impressed by the workmanship of a violin at this price. It does have a very warm tone that is somewhat “dark” , which is rare in a new violin. I have placed a new set of Medium Gauge Alliance Vivace from Corelli and I find that they match very well. What I love most about this violin is the light weight and the impressive volume that is not sharp. It’s very hard to put down once you start playing. Of all the violins I bought from Jehpin, this is my favourite. Well, I also like the Performa but this is lighter. I have yet to try the Emiliani to compare. I only wish that there could be more choices for the case upgrade and that the sticker “Fragile” should be attached to the box when shipping. Thank you again for the Vecchio. Hope to buy more in the future.
I bought a violin bow . It is a transitional bow as stated . It helps me play better . Jehpin was very accomodating and always answered my questions as promptly as he could . The rate he is going , I think he will go a long way .
With regret , though , my intention of buying a Gagliano from him did not push thru . Someday in the distant future , I might just do that . It was a nice experience dealing with him . This I am saying from the bottom of my heart . Good luck to him and to his family .
Toy
The “Birdeyes” violin which I bought from Jehpin some four months ago has settled down to be a very good instrument. When the price is taken into account, the quality is superb! A nicely balanced tone on all strings, responsive and easy to play: I certainly intend to buy from Jehpin again. Many thanks!
Dave F-M
In the last three or four months i have bought 3 violins the maggini /tertis designed/and the Opera Guarneri violin .. I put on jargar strings on the Guarneri and the tone of this violin was remarkable and was so easy to play, I have bought other violins on the internet but these violins don’t come close to the high quality violins that Jehpin sells …
All the best for 2008 and keep up the good work
Ray
We were so very pleased with the beautiful hand varnished violin we purchased from Jephin. Not only is the sound as beautiful as the violin but the customer service, information and overall experience of purchase from Jehpin was very pleasant.
We are excited to share our experience of quality and professionalism to our entire family. We are looking forward to future purchases and would like to thank Jehpin for making this a wonderful first purchase experience.
Jehpin replied to our emails quickly and was able to provide us with information regarding a violin that was not pictured on his website. He came through and provided excellent customer service and information for us and made it possible for us to purchase our beautiful violin.
Keep up the excellent workmanship Jehpin!
Sincerely,
Michael & Mona Lisa Embry
Dear Jehpin, It was a pleasure doing business with you.
I can only recommend Jehpin to future custumers. I especially liked the detailed information (many pictures) about the instrument.
Excellent service. Congratulation.
Thank you for the great violin.
Adrianne
I’d just like to share some good thoughts that I have about my dealings with Jehpin. I have bought several violins from him. The violins range from being “good for the money” to being fine instruments, better than just “good for the money”. Jehpin keeps trying to improve the quality of the instruments he brings “to market”, he is easy to talk to (he is very good about answering questions and responds quickly to emails), and from my experiences, he just seems to be a good guy in general. He packs the instruments well, and has them shipped fairly quickly (especially considering the distance they travel). I’m looking forward to doing more business with him in the future, and hope he has a good year.
-Peter Schwimmer
Hi everyone,
Can some people please help me make the right choice of violin to sample? There are too many to choose from and so far I am eyeing on the Emiliani, since it has excellent advertising (once you play this, you cannot put it down). I don’t know if it really lives up to the name or not. I would like to try the vecchio since they look good, and also has good advertising. But I am more after of tone , looks only come secondary. I cannot buy all the violins for trying since it will be too costly. You may send your reply directly to me at marco(dot)puglisi(at)yahoo(dot)it. If it’s not encrypted, it’s marco.puglisi@yahoo.it
As an Italian, I am convinced that we have a long and great tradition of violin making. Often, we don’t hear nice things about Chinese violins. But I would like to see or hear for myself if indeed the Chinese can make good quality stringed instruments at a much lower price than their European counterparts.
I will be truly grateful if you can help me give your comments about the different violins. Please let me know what are your favourites and why. Thank you.
Best regards,
Marco
Dear Jehpin,
It was a pleasure doing business with you. The bows are fantastic!!! The tone and response is phenomenal. I’m very pleased with the product you provide and the craftsmanship is impeccable! I’m very pleased with the whole communication/buying experience. EXCELLENT!!!
Thank you again,
Denis
Hello Everyone,
I’m really glad to have a chance to set out how terrific Jeh Pin has been in my dealings with him. I wanted a baroque cello bow. In the end we didn’t find one that suited me, but the transaction itself was so friendly, efficient, caring and professional that I come away with all positive feelings. Of course I’d love to have a bow as well, but that will have to wait a bit. As we all know, it’s finicky to find a bow that suits, and trying to do it by internet is inherently more difficult. One would only embark if you had full confidence in the seller. When the bow came, it just wasn’t well balanced for me. Jeh Pin couldn’t have been more accommodating. It’s not just that he offered a refund immediately, but he asked for all the feedback I could give him so he could try to find one that would suit better. I told him what I could, and we tried again. The second bow was way better, but still not what I’m looking for, so I returned it for a full refund. But those facts, while positive in every way, don’t capture the essence of the transaction for me. During it, TJ was born, the holidays came and went. Jeh Pin’s communications were unfailingly open, cheerful, helpful, inquiring and sensible. He was willing to keep trying to find a good bow for me, but never pushed me should I prefer to just give up and take the refund. By the end, when I decided not to keep pursuing things this way, he was gracious and quick. I ended up sorry to close the transaction because it meant we’d no longer be in communication! Well, you can’t get much better than that for a transaction that in the end didn’t result in a purchase. I really hope I have a chance to do some more business with him in the future, and recommend him to everyone with tremendous enthusiasm.
I recently bought two violins the Old Violin House and have been very pleased. All I needed to do was replace the bridge with one more flat for my playing style, but for someone who plays classical the bridge that comes with it will do great. I play bluegrass music and this violin cuts well in a band. Someone who plays bluegrass has to contend with loud banjos and this violin can do it. I was really impressed with the tones this instrument has. The violin is very well balanced with deep bass notes with an excellent E string response. The midrange A and D string is right in there as well. I have had others come up to me and comment on how well it projects in the band. It came to me with a wonderful light case as well. This violin is starting to settle down and play in well now after a few weeks. You can not get a violin like this for the price from any dealer in the states anywhere. All I can say who ever the maker is has got his act together in the making and finish department. My experience is around forty years playing in bands and I have been exposed to alot of violins during that time. you can not go wrong purchasing one for yourself. I bet you will be happy with it.
I just received my first Opera model violin from Jehpin, and I think it is a very fine instrument in that it looks very nice, was almost completely set-up (just needed to have the bridge cut down just a tiny bit to lower the action), and it has a very nice smooth and rich tone (not too dark, not bright, just warm, balanced, sweet, and fairly focused). It is one of the best new instruments I have tried, and it even sounded very good with the steel strings that came installed on it (which actually aren’t too bad at all – but they would be better used with a fine tuner tailpiece – for tuning concerns). Thanks a lot Jehpin for the great sevice and the fine instrument.
-Peter
January 14, 2008
I recently bought a Vecchio. I had the boxwood pegs and chin rest replaced with ebony, had a luthier lower the bridge for my tiny hands, and put Obligato strings on it. The sound of this instrument with the new strings is superb! The G and D are velvety and deep, and the A and E ring without being piercing. I couldn’t be happier with my violin. The projection is enough to fill a church without a mic, and the violin reaches the back pews even when being played pianissimo. I was thrilled at the volume this violin produced, even with its original workshop strings.
My only regret is that there is no label inside. I would really like to have the luthier’s label, which would certainly add to the appreciation of the instrument over the years. An anonymous violin doesn’t command the same respect as a violin with a luthier’s name in it. I would still recommend the Vecchio to anyone without reservation. You cannot find a better sound anywhere for the price. My advice to anyone who is contemplating buying one is to get it now, before they become more expensive.
Thanks, Jehpin, for a perfectly beautiful violin.
Bonnie
I bought a Stradivari model by Jehpin!
What a rich and powerful sound in this violin! It’s wonderful!!!
And the varnishing is so realistic: it seems really and old instrument!
I love it!!
Then Jehpin is a very nice person: I’m very pleased to meet him on the web!
Thanks Jehpin!
Gianluigi
Dear Jehpin,
I want to thank you for the courage to produce and market violins based on the Tertis model. From the moment it arrived and got tuned up I was pleased with the resonance which is even, clear, and sweet across all four strings, with every indication that upon ripening with careful playing will emerge into a rich sounding violin. The materials and workmanship are of very high quality and make for an aesthetically beautiful instrument. I have loaned it to a young talented student, but now I doubt that I’ll get it back as she wants to buy it from me. Maybe I’ll end up getting another! At any rate, I can surely recommend Jehpin’s violins not only for the qualities mentioned above, but for the the kind, expeditious, and professional manner in which he handled the transaction. Thank you. Joseph
I HAVE BOUGHT THREE VIOLINS FROM JEHPIN I HIGHLY RECCOMMEND HIM-I WILL BUY MORE FROM HIM I AM SURE IN THE FUTURE-THEY ARE OF GOOD QUALITY= AS NICE AS SOME OF MY HIGHER PRICED VIOLINS-AND A GREAT PERSON TO DEAL WITH-HE WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE AND TRIES HIS BEST I THINK TO BE SURE YOU ARE
Dear Jephin,
Searching the internet for instruments and bows has given me a remarkable education. I’ve learned a great deal more about the materials and varying degree of craftmanship and what i find important….innovation.
Being a cabinet-maker/desinger of custom furniture my eyes lends it’s way to seeing the beauty in the world around us. Finding what you offer and your business practice tells me of your dedication, I find this very impressive!! Now having received my first bow from you simply impressed me! My first violin from you will be arriving in a couple of days and I can hardly wait to start playing it. Thank you for supporting all the luthiers you do and may they know my gratitude too.
Phil
I have bought a fine old style baroque viola bow: perfect and beautiful snake wood and a fine balance. I am very happy with it.
Ofcourse is it a bit of a risk buying bows and instruments straight from internet, but Jephin promessed my a not satisfied-money back garantee.
But I am more than happy. Everyone in my orchestra is enthousiastic about the bow!
Thanx a lot, Jephin!
greetings
Stephen Tjon
The Netherlands
I just bought your Premier violin in your lineup, as far as I am concerned; it is the ”OPERA.” At first exam, it is superbly crafted with superior quality and well-chosen old woods, and the maker honored the rare quality wood with his best quality hand craftsmanship in the true Master’s level of work. It is rare and satisfying to see a NEW ”OLD MASTER” violin. When I take my time and do my best to set it up with the best bridge and equal strings to match the voice of the instrument, I will write back and I fully expect to tell you that I am ordering another – or more. I can sell it with no effort when a buyer sees and hears it -it will sell itself. It is indeed, the kind of superior gentle ‘antiquing’ to age the violin to match the age of the wood. That skill is a rare gift for a maker – to not over-do by just rubbing and scrubbing crude color and inflicting harm to the instrument, in the name of ”antique.” You have a winner and I will keep you posted on the finished presentation. Thanks for your help – -Jehpin – -YOU made it happen!
Hi Everybody,
Recently I have bought a silver mounted cello bow (check out from Jehpin’s catalogue). Ohowh! it is made near to perfection -flexibility, balance, materials used, and above all the artistry and craftmanship are envious to many.His shipping,delivery, and packing are all excellent as he sticks to his commitments.
I am looking forward to get one of his Rugieri Cello if our dear Jehpin could find some time out of his pressing commitments to make it in near future.
I bought a 7/8 Performa violin and I couldn’t be more pleased! It has a deep, rich and warm tone and projects incredibly well, considering the size. Every day it’s voice continues to open up and I am surprised by it’s mature tone even at this early stage. It is very well made and came with a high quality case. I am a professional player, but because I am very short with small hands, I have been looking for an affordable smaller violin for quite some time. Thanks Jehpin! I hope you come out with more 7/8 size violins. I will buy another one!
- Christina
I have bought 2 violins from jehpin and i am very satisfied with build quality and sonority .The violins are already used in professional orchestra and are breaking in very nicely .No wolf notes,which is a plague for many high end violins ,and lots of punch and projection . This is a unique case in ebay trading ,as very good violins are offered for very modest prices.I would like to see labels on the violins,as this makes them stand out and hold their own .Until now ,I think this is the best deal in the net for new violins and ,with a good set up ,they sound better and more mature in comparison to much much more expensive instruments .Congratulations to this seller and I wish him continuation of success in his business .
I recently bought a cello from Jehpin. The instrument itself is simply excellent. The wood and the craftsmanship are of the highest quality. The difference between my previous cellos and this one is hard to describe. This one is so responsive, it plays so easy.
I agree that it would be nice to know the luthier’s name. But there is no label inside. If Jehpin sends me a label I would be happy to place it inside.
As a friendly gesture from Jehpin, I also received a bow. Is is enough to say that since then I have not used my previous favorite bow.
Dear Jehpin, I can only congratulate you, and wish that your business will flourish because you deserve it. It is good to know that there are people like you. I will highly recommend you to my friends.
Thank you again, Adrianne
Hi Jephin,
I just wanted to write you a quick note to say that I am really enjoying this violin! Sophia (my 6 1/2 year old daughter – also a beginner) and I have hardly missed an evening of practice since it arrived. It is generally with regret that I put it away for the evening – the sound next to my ear is sweet and inviting – even though I am just learning as a beginner, that sound makes it a pleasure to practice. I find myself running through the string major scales just for pleasure, listening for my sound and gaining skill in small steps. My step daughter (16 years old) tries it occasionally, and is now hinting that she would like to return to the violin herself, after being away for 4 years.
I put on Pirastro Tonica strings. The difference in the E is profound – it has life there now, where before it was gritty and hard. The G of the Pirastras is almost too warm – I may put the original G back on. I’ve also since added an ebony inlay to the bridge under the E string, and made and set a new sound post (not really needed, I think). I found the varnish under the bridge feet had been pushed around a bit, probably because it had not fully cured before first being set up. I scraped that varnish flat, and refitted the bridge feet. All this has brought the open and stopped E into better balance. The A string has receded in sound a bit, so I may fuss with the sound post some more. I’m not in a hurry to make more changes, because the Tonica strings seem to take a week of tuning after being loosened. I would also suggest having the luthier add a label (or send it to me to add) inside these instruments. They are just too good to have no pedigree.
I would be proud to have you put this letter and the picture of my beautiful instrument (Alpine 1084)on your web site, and recommend to anyone considering doing business my highest regards. I know you worked very hard to get me a fine instrument that fit my budget, and the experience was a genuine pleasure. We’ll be back as Sophia grows into another instrument (and for a bow for me)!
Good luck,
Bryan B
I’ve bought 4 or 5 violins from you Jehpin and two or three bows, and they are better than any other violins or bows I have purchased (except for my standard session fiddle which cost 5000 euro). I have a collection of 20+ violins ranging from 100 Euro to several at or above a thousand, so you are doing well by beating nearly all of them
My one negative comment is that the varnish on your violins is sometimes tacky and not completely dry. This leads to marks from the tailpiece packing during transport, or fluff getting stuck to it from the case lining or from cleaning. I know the luthiers need to make money but your QA process should make sure varnish is totally dried in a dust-free environment before shipping.
Keep up the good work, I wish you all the best and would recommend your violins to anyone looking for fairly priced but decent instruments.
Jehpin’s Response:
Thanks for your feedback. The varnish problem existed during winter in my Performa workshop last year. The problem is solved now as we’ve improved on the varnish now. I’m glad the other workshops like the Opera and Alpine workshops have fine varnish. Thanks! Feedbacks like this help me improve.
I purchased the Perfect Vecchio in 3/08.
I have nothing but praise for the professionalism of Jehpin! He has so many models and I had a strong idea as where I wanted to go with my fiddle playing so I asked Jehpin for his advise. His response was caring, practical, and immediate.
I purchased the Vecchio because it comes from recycled spruce. I like the idea that the wood in this violin has a history, perhaps a spirit, and a new incarnation as a musical instrument.
After the purchase, Jehpin immediately shipped the violin and immediately sent me the tracking number. The violin arrived quickly, in perfect shape and was ready for playing.
New instruments require time for the sound to mature and deepen. I will not know the full voice of the Vecchio for a year or two but it seems to sound better and better every day. I am a member of a fiddle group and cannot wait to show them my beautiful violin from China!
I discussed some of my suggestions for improving the product with Jehpin in a separate email. The two things I had to do to make playing this violin more comfortable were:
1. Sand a rough spot off the fingerboard that was digging into my knuckle
2. I put fine tuners on all four strings as the pegs did not work well.
After a year of playing I will have professionals do a set up but I imagine the only things they will do will be refit the pegs and maybe further adjust the bridge.
It plays smoothly, has a well balanced sound and tone across all the strings and although is presently a little thin in sound quality, I expect the sound quality to develop over the next year or two.
I love this violin so much.
Thank you Johpin and all his craftmen!
Daniel in Michigan.
The Kreisler violin I bought a month ago I find very attractive with its mild antiquation. The instrument is light with a subtle luminacy and has a focused, balanced sound. I felt that it was really as described. The strings were synthetic core and were better than I expected, AVERNA, from Taiwan. I tried Sensicore then put back the Averna. The setup was ready to play, the bridge and soundpost were in place, although I lowered the bridge to suit my taste. The case was of a modern design with rounded corners, very nice and practical.
Mr. Jehpin is a very helpful seller. He is frank and appreciates honest concerns of his buyers.
Thank you, Mr Jehpin, and wishing you continued success.
Hello Out There: I just purchased one of Jehpin’s violins, snd so far as I can tell it is a quality instrument. I own several old violins, Strad copies, and I wanted to try a Guarneri Model. This violin I got from you is very loud, and smooth, and has a pretty good finish, but the finish needs to be smoother, it is kind of course. I am very well pleased with your service, and the quality of your product. I have been playing a fiddle for about 35yrs. so I think I know what I want in a fiddle, and this one is very good for a new one, and I think it will sound much better after it has been played awhile. I use Infeld Superflexible #15 strings on all my fiddles, because they sound the best to me, and have a longer life. I want to thank you for your quick and caring service, it is a pleasure to deal with someone as good as you have been to me. Thanks again, and I hope that you are very successful in your business. Jerry
I just purchased a violin from Jephin and couldn’t be more pleased. I feel I received an outstanding violin for what I paid. I couldn’t afford an expensive one in the U.S. and the sound is such a difference in what I normally play. I carefully read the positive feedback and felt that Jephin was a trustworthy individual. My violin sings! I just need a quality bow now. Thank you so much!
hi jephin.the violin arrived today all in one piece.
its very beautiful!more than i had hoped.very well
made.it has a very good sound for a new instrument.
id say it will open up into a fine sounding violin.
thanks for everything.you are a
pleasure to deal with.first class!could you please tell
me the name of the maker and pass on my regards
to him.he has made this man very happy.
regards
christy.
a thought can be a fine thing,if,you can think of it!
I recently purchased a pernambuco violin bow with abalone shell frog. It was packaged very well and arrived undamaged. WOW, this bow is beautiful! A real work of art for a VERY reasonable price. The shipping was unbelievable! Only 7 days all the way from China, amazing! It takes me longer to get items that I order within my own country let alone all the way from China, and the shipping fee was VERY reasonable! Jehpin is a very professional, no-nonsense guy to deal with and I would not hesitate to deal with him again. Highly recommended!
Arnold Hryciuk
Manitoba, Canada
for what this worth?
i am left handed and i got a few quotes for a handmade lefty.
the prices ranged from 2500 euro to 4000. euro.i live in dingle
co kerry ireland.so i suppose that must be about right.i did’nt
have that much to spend so off i went looking online.one day i
came across old violin house.and asked jephin if he could have
one made for me at a good price.he came back with 400 euro for
a lefty delivered to ireland!i wont bore with the will i risk
it or not details.i did!the fiddle arrived two days ago and am
i pleased i took the chance!its beautiful.well made.finished very
well.it looks as if its got substance!the sound for a new fiddle
sounds fine to me.it seems to be changing already,settling the more
i play it.look!if you are looking to buy a fiddle let me try to put
your mind at rest.IF YOU BUY FROM JEPHIN,YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED!
i took the chance and am very happy i did.you should do the same,and
when you do, you will leave a message like this too.thanks jephin!
and thanks to dan sun the maker too. deadly!
We have received two fractional sized carbon fiber bows from Jehpin, In the communication Jehpin did not always answer my questions immediately — he had a few trips during that time. So, be patient. He is there and he will help you, in case you wondered like I did. We decided to get small carbon fiber bows for my kids, thinking that CF bows will allow them to enjoy playing violins without the worry of bow breakage. The problem was, there is no such things in our local stores. So I decided to try Jehpin’s product.
It took longer than we thought. What happened was that the bows Jehpin first received from the maker had the wrong hair color and so Jehpin returned the product to the maker (We ordered different color hair for different sized bow. It was very confusing). This is actually a good sign that Jehpin takes good care of the orders.
Anyhow the bows have finally arrived, and I must say we are very happy with them. They look exactly the same as the ones shown on Jehpin’s webpages. They produce a slightly louder and brighter voice than the wood bows we have, and I would guess that this is what people said about CF bows. My kids like them, with big smiles on their faces.
I bought his Opera antique stradivari. I like the sound. However, I saw there are 2 kinds of violin. one is stradivari, the other is guarneri. I didn’t know until today for warm tone you should get guarneri. But I see the pictures look almost same between guarneri and strad. Is the tone quite different from each other?
Hi Guys!
Are you still looking for good violin and searching around Ebay? You should get Jehpin’s violin.
I am music student at University of Illinois studying piano. I got some interest in the violin playing. And I bought mine about a month ago. The transaction was very smooth, and shipping takes about a week from my purchase.
I bought Opera Antique Stradivarius Pro model. When I saw the violin at first, I just loved it so much. (I think it looks much better than picture on ebay) I took a new picture with my good camera (Canon 30D + 35mm EF lens) About a month now, my violin sound is breaking in, and the tone is getting better. After I bought this violin, I joined one Korean blog for whom loves violin. I put my pictures on this page and I also recorded with professional recorder at the school. So you can see my violin with better looking and listen to the VIOLIN SOUND!!!
I am beginner for violin, but I ask my friend to play a little bit with my violin. She is very nice violin player at the school. She just grabbed it and playing scales and a little bit of Sibelius. Now You can get confidence on your buying from Jehpin. Hope you enjoy my pictures and sound clip as well
The web address is ;
http://cafe.naver.com/violin79/39068
Check this out!
Hi Ohsung Kwon, is the music posted on your website played by the Opera Antique Stradivarius Pro model?
I bought an Opera Cannone for my kid. I put on Evah Pirazzi strings. The sound is very nice, deeper, louder and more powerful than a T20 model I bought from elsewhere, though my kid and I all like the look of T20. I like to get the best I can afford so that I can wait for the violin to become better and better, no need to upgrade violin again. I particularly look for good oil varnished model. It is a fact that all top violins are oil varnished. The E string sometimes has the zzzzzzzzz sound, just like all violins my kid has played. I will try Hill E and Obligato E strings.
To Aprilrain:
You can try the Pirazzi golden E.
Now I´m playing with a Performa 5 stars with strings Dominant + golden E and I have too a Opera Strad Pro with Obligato with golden E.
It´s difficult to choose the best but I put always a golden E in my violins.
Regards
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
Hi Laura,
Yes, it is Opera Antique Stradivarius Pro Model. My friend at the school played for me.
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
Hi Ohsung Kwon, what strings do you use on your Opera Antique Stradivarius Pro model? Thanks.
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?
Thank you, Ohsung Kwon. The music is very beautiful.
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
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!
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
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
Jehpin is a good man to deal with. My transactions with him went pretty smoothly.
I ordered a Joseph Guarneri del Gesu “The Canonne” (Pro) violin, and a bow with abalone shell frog. The violin is more than what I expected. The craftsmanship is superb, and her tonality-sweet, mellow, and powerful- is remarkable. The bow is stunning as well.
I requested to have it delivered via DHL, and it arrived in great condition in just 5 days.
Jehpin is a very trustworthy and true-to-his-words man. I recommend everyone who wants to buy a new violin or bow to have business with him. The violins and bows he is trying to sell are incredibly awesome in quality at such affordable prices compared to other instrument dealers.
Jehpin, more power to your progressing business!
All the best,
Nina Sarah
I LOVE the cello bow that I bought from you, Jehpin. The transaction went smoothly and it arrived pretty quickly.
The bow is even finer looking than the pictures show, and the craftmanship is excellent. In addition to being a very lovely bow to look at, it is weighted nicely, with good balance and so, right now, it is my preferred bow to use of the two that I have.
Keep up the good work
BJ
About a month ago I bought my second violin from Jehpin. My first was a Veccio which I do like very much. My second violin is an Opera Guarneri del Gesu Pro.
This violin I love dearly.
It apparently was in back-stock for a while so has some age to it. I think that makes all the difference in the tone. It is richer with a deep low end and a sweet high end. I replaced the tailpiece with so there are 4 adjustable tuners and put Dominate strings with a Hill steel E string on it. Just wonderful in the improvement. I sense the soundpost is too heavy so will probably have a local violin shop cut a new bridge and sound post after I have played the Guarneri for half a year or so.
Overall, I am pleased with the bargin I got on eBay, the speedy shipping Jehpin is famous for, love the look and antiquing on my violin, and look forward to years of fiddling on this violin.
Hi Jehpin,
Since April when I purchased it, my Balokovic continues to show progress. Tonal development is nearing the optimum level. From the powerful quality it had before, the tone already mellowed and the texture is pliable, almost velvety. The richness is still there, as well as the carrying power. The upper registers already lost the ‘metallic’ sound, replaced by a beautiful, sweet and ringing tone. A bit surprising here is the fact that this developments were exhibited just with the ordinary steel strings you strung it with. As for the lower registers, they are now full and warm, enabling emphasis, flair & drama for phrasings. I restrung the G & D strings with used Thomastik-Infeld Vision strings.
Thank you very much Jehpin!
good luck to your business
hi, i am looking to buy my daughter(19years) a Stradivarius violin. i looked at your web page but could not find prices. as far as i understood that these violins are made in china therefore they are much cheaper(by far) from the original ones. i have already bought her two violins (made in china) but they sound awful. could you let me know of what is the best violin and what is the price. i live in australia
Hi:
I bought a Gagliano from Jehpin last year around Xmas (2007) and have not yet had it set up professionally… but I’m already buying another master level violin this year, because from the beauty of the last violin’s craftmanship I can already tell its potentials!
All best wishes.
I recently bought a Snakewood Baroque Violin Bow and i Am Very Very Pleased !!!
It was my first ever online purchase, and my first ever Baroque Bow.
And it arrived after 1 week… exactly as he said !!!
I must say it was beautifully made. ( I may be one of the first to own a Baroque Bow in the Philippines since no one here is a Serious fan of “Baroque music on Period Instruments” yet ) even my Traditionalist Violin Teacher agrees that it sounds better than my modern bow.
I highly recommend JP’s products, services !!! and I applaud his efforts !!!
Friendly fast service, well-made products … this will definitely not be my last purchase !!!
2 weeks from now i will play Early Music using the Baroque Bow in our University’s Mini theater… i will proudly highlight JP’s Baroque Bow.
Looking forward to my next Period-Instrument purchase !!!
-Ron
Hello Jehpin,
I have purchased 3 violins from you in the last several weeks, and I am
well pleased with all of them. I especially like the Vecchio series 400, that was no. 5213. It is a copy of a French violin owned by a Russian Violinist, i understand. Anyway, I like the appearance; I like the tone, and I LOVE the varnish. It really looks like a Cremonese in color. I don’t know the name of the Maker; nor do I know the French Master that he copied. My guess is, that it may be a copy of a J. B. Vuillaume. Maybe you can “enlighten me, in both cases. I hope to buy more from you in the future. Thank you for providing these excellent instruments at an affordable price. C. R. Carrier
Actually my Vecchio workshop’s violins has some influences from Amati as well. It’s a modified Amati body, according the tonewood that we use. You can tell it has a compact body, but this design certainly has not prevented it from having a powerful projection. It’s a delicate balance act.
–jp
Leave a comment