I wanted to stop in once again, and thank you for the great service, and a great violin. I received a Wang Wenqing signature with the higher archings (which makes a HUGE difference in the volume), and the workmanship is nothing short of gorgeous — especially at such a low price point. Incredible value, and an incredible instrument.
For any future Jazz-Swing fiddlers, I highly recommend this model. Very easy to play, and the sound rivals many of the more “advanced, high-end” violins I’ve played (with prices easily in excess of $2000). …which begs the question…”Did I just get very lucky with a GREAT example of this luthier’s work?”
Only time will tell…….but I have a feeling you may be onto something with Wenqing. …and I have a feeling I may have just bought an early example of what’s to come for Ovistrings and their associates. Keep up the great work, and keep swingin’!!
Respectfully,
S.G. Martin
Motown, Michigan USA
[“Dullboy” Martin ]
Kurt from USA
JP,
My viola arrived yesterday the 16th, in perfect condition. I was not expecting it until the end of the week after the Shanghai Customs delay.
I cant thank you enough for the great communication and “Top Notch” customer service you`ve given me.
With great customer service, fair market pricing, and a top quality product, you have proven yourself a worthy company.
You have my loyalty as a future customer.
Best Regards,
Kurt.
P.S. I still have a Cello to buy. The last one sold was beautiful!!
Forgot to add, I’m sure we’d all like to see some PRO+ VECCHIO workshop violins for auction too
If the standard of your PRO VECCHIO violins (the warm, resonant tone especially) is anything to go by, imagine the appeal for a PRO+ VECCHIO.
White Da Salo 5-String Copy Review:
So this was the third violin I bought from Jephin (first two being a PRO VECCHIO and a PRO+ OPERA) and when it arrived, my expectations were fullfilled. OUTSTANDING craftsmanship (which was highly praised by my luthier) and nice dark tone to it as well.
There were some things that did bother me nonetheless:
I assumed (probably shouldn’t have) that the violin had been finished/varnished with a clear dirt-proof and water-proof making it as useable as your golden-brown 5-String Da Salo vioiins.
The second thing that bothered me was: although the violin did have a wider than normal fingerboard, nut and therefore neck, it still wasn’t wide enough! This obviously made it more difficult to play.
The last thing is: the C-string is a little flabby, you need to play it quite lightly else it goes sharp. Not a problem with all the other strings though. The E has still been kept bright and clear even though a larger bass-bar has been incorporated to make the C-string work.
If you were to make this violin firstly: with some kind of clear (to maintain the whiteness of the violin) dirt/water-proof varnish and secondly: with a wider neck, nut and fingerboard to incorporate normal 4-String string spacings, they’d be even more popular than they are now!
Overall though, I must stress, EXCEPTIONAL craftsmanship and therefore, still very good value for money!
I must admit at first I was a little skeptical of the quality of violins being sold across the internet and at the rate at which they are made in order to be sold but nonetheless, I thought I’d try give the violins a chance and proceeded to purchase my first one from Jehpin.
The violin was a PRO level VECCHIO Copy of A 19th Century French Violin. When it arrived, with its boxwood fittings with the black trims and spectacular varnishing, I literally had butterflies in my stomach, you know, the kind when you see THE girl for the first time!
So I couldn’t wait to try it out. My first impression was JEEZ! It’s loud! I thought my £4000 Breton was loud but this beats it hands down.
Second thing I noticed was the warm, mellow tone and the resonancy. I’m not saying that it sounds like a 100+ year old violin that has been played everyday since it was made but the tonal quality was actually very, very good. My teacher said she’s very jealous and she plays a J.B. Vuillaume…
I do have some criticism for this violin though (and I’m not sure if this goes for all your PRO level violins but certainly this one):
When I played it for the first few weeks, there was a lot of black stuff coming off onto my fingers from the fingerboard and hence the fingerboard was a little sticky and made it a little more difficult to play.
With regards to the case and the bow that came with it, the bow didn’t completely wind down properly…so I was a little dissappointed with that aspect but it was well balanced, a little too flexible but as far as free bows come, GOOD.
And the case was nice too.
More of these violins should come with boxwood fittings though because they make the violin look so much more elegant and prettier (if done properly) than standard, boring ebony (but none of the boxwood fittings with the tacky yellow trim please :S)
You also ought to describe anything out the norm about a particular violin (e.g. narrow string spacings, unvarnished/unfinished, so they are more prone to dirt and sweat from hands(as your white Da Salo ones are).
I have since proceeded to buy three more violins off Jehpin: a PRO+ Stradivari Wilhelmj Copy from the OPERA workshop (none of the sticky fingerboard business here!), a GORGEOUS Da Salo 5-string (some reservations about the narrowness of the string spacings though) and then most recently, your famous Copy of a Sebastian Klotz baroque violin.
Definitely worth the money, if you’re wondering whether you should to buy a violin over the internet, go for Jehpin’s ones. If his violins weren’t up to standard or anything in his description was dodgy he’d be out of business by now. He’s a Platinum seller for a good reason.
Jehpin, I bought from “Old Violin House” under recommendation of my friend who had purchased an excellent violin from you. Mine is from Ning & Ivanov-as I have connections with Russia so I wanted one of these -it is a superb instrument in tone, sound and appearance! I can’t be any happier-except that I just ordered a 16.5″ viola from the same maker-and when it arrives, I’ll even be happier yet. Can you tell me what Mr. Ivanov’s first name is and which city that he came from please?
Sincerely, Jon Miller
Hi ZJ & Jehpin,
I would like to thank you for the wonderful violin[ 5 Star Vecchio Workshop Copy of Strad Master Violin Red Varnish (420) ]
The shipping was so fast.. I am really happy with my violin, it’s above my expectations! The sound is full and bright, just what I’ve been looking for. The varnish is also very well made. I like my new violin very much. However, it’s very sad that I have to paste the luthier’s name myself.. I mean I don’t know how to paste that inside the violin, lol. The case is also very nice.. about the cobra bow I really really like it, I’m glad I got it for free! and the pernambuco crafted silver bow is superb. I’m really satisfied right now.
Adeeba Ramlan, Malaysia.
Dear Jehpin!
I received your violin (Stainer 1668) 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
Miami, USA
Greetings, Jehpin!
I wanted to stop in once again, and thank you for the great service, and a great violin. I received a Wang Wenqing signature with the higher archings (which makes a HUGE difference in the volume), and the workmanship is nothing short of gorgeous — especially at such a low price point. Incredible value, and an incredible instrument.
For any future Jazz-Swing fiddlers, I highly recommend this model. Very easy to play, and the sound rivals many of the more “advanced, high-end” violins I’ve played (with prices easily in excess of $2000). …which begs the question…”Did I just get very lucky with a GREAT example of this luthier’s work?”
Only time will tell…….but I have a feeling you may be onto something with Wenqing. …and I have a feeling I may have just bought an early example of what’s to come for Ovistrings and their associates. Keep up the great work, and keep swingin’!!
Respectfully,
S.G. Martin
Motown, Michigan USA
I was very pleased to receive the Vecchio 5 string violin #6795 you sent. It is a very beautiful instrument. Its craftsmanship is exquisite. At first the sound quality was lacking (it sounded flat even when it was tuned correctly the notes just sounded off; however, once I replaced the strings to Helicores it really opened the instrument up). I have another viola that is 16.5 and the Vecchio is able to project just as loud. I am blown away by this because it is the size of a violin with the heart of a big viola. The Vecchio is a wonderfully made instrument. For those that want both a violin and a viola you can’t beat it.
I showed it to a local violin maker hear in the USA and he was blown away by it. He says it reminds him of the finest made Czechoslovakian violins. He was very impressed with the fine craftsmanship and blown away by the sound.
Thanks again for sending me the Vecchio 5 string violin #6795. I am very happy with it
Sincerely
Dear Jehpin,
I bought a 1726 Balokovic violin 4/4 #4456 and a Vintage Spruce Strad 1716 #5124 last December. They both arrived safely with case and bow as advertised and I am pleased with the sound and performance of both instruments when fitted with Thomastik Dominant strings.
However I have noticed that both violins are smaller than my other instruments, although they meant as full-size violins. The body and the overall length is a good few millimetres shorter than my other violins; and my other violins will not fit in the cases you sent!
Could you just confirm that these are authentic dimensions for Strad and Guarneri copies?
Thank you,
Iolo Jones.
Thank you so very much, JP. The pernumbuco bow with abalone shell frog that you made for me was an absolute work of art. The craftsmanship was outstanding. The bow itself is something to marvel at.. as was your incredible service. I am most definitely looking forward to not only purchasing from you again in the future but recommending your company to my friends and associates. Thanks also to Ben, who pointed me in your direction.
It was an honor to work with you .. and I sincerely thank you.
L.M.Fudge
This is my 2nd purchase from JP & OVH and i am very very very pleased indeed !!!
… i’m very happy with the Baroque Violin (baroque violin 6338).
My friends praise JP for the craftsmanship, beauty and grace of the instrument.
I praise JP for the very close copy of a Baroque Violin. It still sends shivers up my spine.
A local Luthier, Mr. Gabute is so pleased with the tone of the violin he played it for 20 mins wearing a smile on his face, exclaiming “i like the tone … ‘malamig’ (cool) and sweet …”
Now all i need are Baroque Gut Strings to complete the set !!! ^-^
It’s well worth the 1 year wait !!!
i wish you, your family and business all the best !!!
Sincerely,
Ron
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
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
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