Client Reviews
July 2024—player’s words after an extensive restoration to a violin made in Italy by Ansaldo Poggi, see other blog post on website pages
“Rachael, just to follow up, as I sit with this violin, I am so deeply moved, hard to express how this feels. It’s so opened up, deep and rich sounding, back to its old self and more. Plus, omg, it is so beautiful! Elegant, well traveled antiquity look to it, like you retained and enriched its life story in its look, so to speak. All the little touches as well, like the edge doublings, the varnish touchup is amazing, and I could go on and on. It has this 'furry' quality to the sound that I remember it had when I first got it. That I didn't realize had been slowly eroded, until now."
—David Balakrishnan, founding violinist of the two-time Grammy winning Turtle Island Quartet.
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March 2025—varnish restoration to a fine mandolin
“I strung up the mandolin. It plays strong and full…like it always has. Making it appear less tired was really important to me as the care taker. I have a lot of nice instruments, but this one is priceless. I couldn’t have asked for a better restoration of this instrument. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
—Thomas Shewmake, from the band One-Button Suit
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Feb 2026—after adjustments to neck angle, fingerboard dressing, a new bridge and new soundpost.
“THANK YOU SO MUCH for the work on my violin
It sounds much more mature. The tone quality & sound projection are awesome! In fact, I think it projects more & produces a crisper tone. It sounds so beautiful - like it was meant to sound!
There is a huge difference in playability- the feel is much more comfortable. I literally do not have the evil "death grip" I'd get from pressing on the strings like before. Much less tension on my hand & a lot more freedom to practice vibrato & shift. It's basically a new instrument & it's brought such joy back into my playing. I have literally been playing it for HOURS since I got it back!”
—Becca G.