I would highly recommend Thomas if you need a new instrument/bow. He has a great selection, a good ear with valuable insights from his experience as both a player and luthier, and is very responsive. The summer before starting my masters at music school, I went to Thomas to upgrade my bow. He had an extensive selection of makers ranging from the late 1800s onwards (including contemporary makers), and very thoughtful insights on the strengths of each. For example, he came back to listen once I narrowed down to a few bows and pointed out that one bow had a slightly richer timbre, but the other sounded more vocal because it responded more to any inflections I was adding to my lines. I can tell he really loves what he does, because he knew the histories and playing characteristics of every single bow off the top of his head, and he also showed me a massive book of bow makers to show the different styles and lineages of craftsmen. He was very attentive and patient throughout (including letting me do a second pass through the whole selection after I had already borrowed my favorite bow for a week, just so I could be completely sure of my final choice). I would definitely go back to Thomas again if I ever need anything else, and I believe he also does a lot of luthier work and adjustments. read more

I had an incredible experience working with Thomas at Bay Fine Strings. Finding the right bow is such a personal process, and Thomas made the entire experience feel thoughtful, low-pressure, and enjoyable from start to finish. He was incredibly patient as I worked through a wide range of bows, answering every question with deep knowledge and never making me feel rushed. What I appreciated most was that he encouraged me to take several bows home to Los Angeles for an extended trial. Being able to live with them, compare them on different instruments and in different performance settings, and make such an important decision without feeling pressured made all the difference. Thomas is honest, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in helping musicians find the right fit rather than simply making a sale. His expertise and generosity with his time gave me complete confidence in my decision, and I couldn't be happier with the bow I chose. If you're looking for someone who truly cares about matching musicians with the right instrument or bow, I can't recommend Thomas and Bay Fine Strings highly enough. read more

I had a great experience with Thomas at Bay Fine Strings! I found a beautiful contemporary violin and bow that I absolutely love at his shop. Thomas was very generous with his time as I spent several hours trying instruments and bows over two days. He was extremely knowledgeable about the histories and makers of everything I tried out, had a lot of helpful suggestions and observations, and made adjustments to the instruments to better suit me as we went along. I got a great Riboni case as well. I also brought in a violin and viola for restoration at the same time - they're old student instruments that belonged to my grandmother. Thomas cleaned them and set them up beautifully. After his work, they sound much better than I thought they could! Thomas was very accommodating of my family's tight schedule, since we were visiting San Francisco and only had a few days before driving back to Colorado. His communication is excellent, and he's refreshingly unpretentious compared to many other violin shops I've visited. I'm thrilled with my new violin! read more

Bay Fine Strings - A Trusted Haven for String Players Bay Fine Strings is a true gem for Bay Area musicians, offering everything from student rentals to rare antique instruments and bows. What sets this shop apart is owner Thomas Yee--a professionally trained violinist with deep expertise in both performance and instrument adjustment. Thomas combines his musical insight with hands-on repair skills, ensuring each instrument is optimized for tone and playability. His close relationships with today's top modern makers give him unique insight into their craftsmanship, adding a level of trust and knowledge that's hard to find. Equally important, Thomas is incredibly accessible--offering flexible trial appointments and genuine support throughout the selection process. At Bay Fine Strings, quality, trust, and personal care come together to create an exceptional experience for string players of all levels. Highly recommended. read more

I originally was going to Thomas to have a posture peg installed, but ended up making some other adjustments on my cello. He offered ideas to improve specific needs like wolf tones, and out of balance tone quality from weather, string changes, or who knows? My cello is sounding so much better after Thomas made some diagnosis and came up with creative solutions. He also did some great rehairs that when coupled with an amazing new rosin he recommended, provided great results. While having so much success everything else, I also had him touch up some worn areas on my cello which also turned out well. Now more than a professional colleague, he is also a friend to support the care of my professional instrument. He is worth a visit just to get an honest assessment and some possible creative solutions for your instrument, that in the long run might save you money and time...and he's just a great guy to work with! read more

I brought in 2 violins for maintenance, and the whole process was very seamless. Thomas responds to emails and calls very quickly, and when I brought in the violins, he explained what fixes he would make clearly. He readily responded to the questions I had. I was able to come in the next day to pick up the violins, and he adjusted the sound post while we were there, to focus the sound even more. Thomas also let me try some non-consumer level violins and bows crafted by master-makers for fun, and he was very knowledgable and enthusiastic about each instrument and bow. The services that he offered for my maintenance included: bridge-steaming to de-warp the bridge, pulling back the tail-gut, string change, sound post adjustment, and some small adjustments such as making sure the pegs don't slip, and adding bridge parchment. Overall, Thomas is knowledgable and kind, and would recommend his service. read more

My sister and I were looking for a 7/8 or smaller full sized cello and came across Bay Fine Strings. Thomas ensured that I had the opportunity to try multiple instruments and appreciate the differences between them (including beautiful antiques) and kindly gave me all the space and information I needed to feel 100% confident in my decision. Thomas also took the time to understand my experience with music and what I was looking for in a cello, which made us feel very cared for. I ended up falling in love with the cello outfit Thomas put together (see image) and I am so incredibly happy with the cello. We were very impressed with the quality of the all the instruments at Bay Fine Strings and Thomas' expertise. We look forward to working with him again in the future! read more

I brought both my teenage daughters to Bay Fine Strings. One plays violin and one cello. Mr. Yee (He asked us to call him Thomas and was quite unassuming.) was wonderfully accommodating and patient as my two daughters played through his selection of instruments. His showroom is stunning and in a beautiful neighborhood, yet we found the prices very fair. Mr. Yee also played each violin and cello at our request so we could hear the various tones of each instrument as played by someone who knew how they should be played. Our experience was well worth the drive from Sacramento and we happily purchased two instruments. He provided us with excellent documentation. I highly recommend if you are in the market for a stringed instrument that you give Bay Fine Strings a try. read more

I purchased a viola bow from Bay Fine Strings a few years ago, and I couldn't be happier with it. I worked directly with Thomas Yee, who provided exceptional service. The bow itself is fantastic. It produces a very clear sound and is beautifully balanced, making playing a joy. The purchasing process was also excellent. Thomas mailed me a selection of bows to try (I believe we did two rounds), and he was incredibly patient and genuinely committed to ensuring I found the perfect fit. It was a smooth and enjoyable experience, and I really appreciated that Thomas wasn't satisfied until I was completely happy with my choice. I would highly recommend Bay Fine Strings to anyone looking for a quality instrument or bow and a personalized, caring purchasing experience. read more

I had a great experience working with Thomas to get my 20-year old student violin repaired. As a highly skilled and professional luthier, Thomas performed all the necessary restoration work (such as replacing the tailpiece, re-curving the bridge, fitting new strings, refinishing surface scratches, etc.) to transform my violin into a responsive and great-sounding instrument. Thomas is also very knowledgeable about bows; he guided me toward a Pernambuco bow that pairs perfectly with my newly repaired violin, and the difference in playability is remarkable. I will definitely go to his shop again for all my future violin and bow needs. If anyone needs help with their violins and violin bows, I highly recommend to go to Bay Fine Strings. read more

I've had a truly wonderful experience both purchasing and repairing violins at Bay Fine Strings. Thomas, the owner, is incredibly knowledgeable and patient--he took the time to show us a wide variety of instruments and answer all our questions. My son purchased his first full-size violin from Thomas, as well as his first solo instrument, and each time, Thomas made the process easy and enjoyable. Just this week, he carefully repaired and cleaned my son's violin, demonstrating once again his dedication and professionalism. I always feel confident knowing we can return to Thomas for any violin issues, upgrades, or accessories. I highly recommend Bay Fine Strings to anyone looking for quality instruments and exceptional service! read more

I reached out to Thomas by mistake when I tried to call another store. I feel this was fate, since he was able to help me find a "beginner violin" to bide my time as I recover from surgery. Thomas was expedient, compassionate, educative, and a really kind soul. He was easy to work with. I signed a rental contract for the next 30 days, and if I do like this instrument (never played any kind before) then I intend to purchase it down the road, once life is stable again. I would highly recommend Bay Fine Strings. I'm uploading a few photos because the quality of this violin is gorgeous and deserves to be seen. He said in a few weeks he plans to move his shop into San Francisco. Remember to make an appointment!! read more

I've had an amazing experience interacting with Thomas, the owner of Bay Fine Strings. He was invited to the University of Notre Dame to give a clinic to the violin studio, in which he demonstrated how to adjust specific aspects of the violin to achieve the optimal sound. Thomas is knowledgeable about the pros and cons of equipment on the violins, such as shoulder rests and chin rests. A player can make a huge improvement on their instruments by changing a few items when they take them to Thomas. I would highly recommend Bay Fine Strings to any string players for both instruments, and a personalized suggestion on making the optimal sound based on the given condition! read more

We had a great experience at Bay Fine Strings. We were looking to upgrade our daughter's violin and compared instruments from multiple shops. Thomas was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and spent a lot of time helping her trying many different violins, listening carefully to her play, and making adjustments to help instrument perform at its best for her. During our visits, we never felt pressured, and his guidance made the entire process so enjoyable and educational. We found a violin and bow that were an excellent match for our daughter. We would highly recommend Bay Fine Strings to anyone looking for quality instruments and exceptional service. read more

I went to this shop to have much overdue maintenance done on my fine violin and bow and for insurance appraisals on both items. Thomas Yee is extremely knowledgeable and suggested several repairs/enhancements and set up my violin which is sounding and playing better than it has in many years. He thoroughly researched my violin and bow and I am very happy with the appraisals and the professional documents he provided including very high quality photographs. Throughout the process, Thomas was in constant communication and all the work was done within a very short period of time. I highly recommend this shop run by Thomas. read more

I was extremely pleased (and relieved!) to find Thomas Yee and Bay Fine Strings. I had been taking my instrument to a shop I trusted for decades, and when the owner retired, I was very nervous about finding another shop/luthier. I read about Bay Fine Strings on line and wrote to them. I had a very pleasant correspondence with Thomas who arranged for me to come in. It was obvious from the moment I walked in to his shop that he was very knowledgeable, listened well, and, most importantly, had a true passion for his work. I will certainly return when needed, and will send all my friends! read more

Last week I posted on a cello Facebook group asking for assistance finding a rental cello in the San Francisco area. All of the recommendations and places that I was seeing were charging a whole month's rental fee for a cello that was only need for a weekend. Thomas sent me a private message offering his help and services. Not only was he very kind but the price was very reasonable and he was accommodating with times! I received a high quality cello, bow, case and customer service. I will continue to seek services from Bay Fine Strings and can't recommend Thomas enough! Thank you!! read more

I've decided to buy my first cello in my mid-50's and to start lessons. Bay Area Strings, spent a great deal of time with me, as he played different cellos, so that I could hear how different the sound is with each cello. In the end, I went with the cello that spoke to me once he lifted it from its stand. I'm now the proud owner of a Strad Moderne Cello and bow, brand new cello stand, and hardshell case. Truly one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard from an instrument and thank you, Bay Fine Strings, for giving me the confidence to move forward with this endeavor. read more

My experience buying a cello from Thomas Yee, owner of Bay Fine Strings in San Francisco, was outstanding. Thomas was professional, knowledgeable, and patient, giving me the chance to play several different instruments without any pressure or hassle. The entire process felt smooth and enjoyable, and I truly valued his expertise and guidance. Thanks to his support, I felt completely confident in my decision and am very happy with the Ernst Kessler 1883 cello I purchased. Thank you Thomas for being an integral part of my journey back to my classical cello roots. read more