I went to Heaney's violin to rent a violin after reviewing their website, because it is one of the closest violin shops to me. A man,I'm assuming is the owner of the shop was very shady about the pricing, showing the selection of instruments, and had a very condescending tone of voice when speaking to me about the instrument. He was very hasty, rude, and uninformative. I had to ask questions to get answers, which he definitely did not seem happy to give. This is the first time I have felt disappointed in an instrument shop.This place seems to value money over the joy of music and appreciation for music. I can't even seem to find common courtesy in this shop. This is the type of place where any new customer can easily get ripped off or taken advantage of if they do not keep their receipts and statements ready. I do not recommend this shop to anyone. read more

Owner raised 1/2 price after you test it 2 weeks later. The owner patrick raised high price $1350.-for the cello bow when I told them I my tutor liked it and planed to buy it after we took for approval 2 weeks ago. I showed him the written approval agreement with price $900.- on paper., then he had to agree to not to raised 1/2 price. read more

I had a similar experience to another reviewer on Yelp - owner doubled the price on an instrument after I showed interest and requested the item for approval. Owner never called me back regarding another instrument. This shop is definitely geared towards beginners and amateurs who may not know the difference - buyer beware! I would instead highly recommend Kamimoto Violins or Palo Alto Violins. read more

heaney's violins is probably the friendliest music shop i've ever been to. at larry haussler's (of palo alto violins) recommendation (he even called the place beforehand for me to make sure they knew i was coming) i brought my bow here to be rehaired. the staff is extremely professional and courteous. they'll explain everything to you to the minutest detail. they let me try a carbon-fiber bow - i didn't even know these things existed. patrick heaney is like the wand-guy in the harry potter books: he can pick up a bow, feel it in his hands, and tell you the type of wood, the type of finish, the weight of the bow, how much it probably cost new, and its current value. i sort of expected him to wave it around and have sparks come out of the end. i was waiting for him to say, "it is not the owner who finds the bow, but the bow that finds the owner." in fact, the whole store had a kind of harry potterish feel to it. unfortunately, i didn't get much work done here, but i had a high-quality rehairing done on my bow, with a new leather. in two days they had my bow done, playing better than i remembered it. my only misgiving is that the one-inch wide strip of goatskin leather cost $30 (and was the cheapest one they had - for $50 i could have had lizard skin) - but then again, i have no idea how much it's supposed to cost, and i'm sure it could easily run much higher. this isn't exactly a guitar center tuneup either, so i'd say at least half the price is the expertise it takes to glue it on properly. considering the condition that my bow was in (at the highest tension the hairs were completely stretched out, and it was missing chunks of strands), the price was very fair. i would come back to buy my next bow. read more

We have several string musicians in our family, including one at the SF Conservatory. Heaney Violins has assisted us with our cello, our violin, and our viola. We have not yet brought in our double bass, but I am sure when we do, Patrick Heaney will be able to serve us well. Heaney Violins has rehaired bows, changed strings, put in special pegs, fixed bridges, and made other repairs. Patrick is extremely knowledgeable, courteous and kind, and he is generous with his time and his advice. He is a gentleman, and the service he provides at the level that I imagine service used to be like in a bygone era. So if you are searching for a cello store, a violin store, a viola store, or a double bass store, or need to rehair your bow, or purchase supplies, stop by Heaney's Violins. Sometimes there is a bit of a wait, because Patrick gives each customer his full attention and commitment. This is in stark contrast to our previous string store, where the people who worked in the store were incredibly inattentive and ran from customer to customer. read more

I am very impressed with the quality of the service and integrity of Heaney Violins. I have been there fives times - for a rehair, trying cello bows, to investigate a buzz in my cello and for new strings. The quality of the rehair was excellent. I was considering switching to different guage strings and they let me try a shop string first. When switching to a different brand of C string, they offered to let me return it with a few days if I wasn't satisfied. Patrick and his staff are very professional and friendly. Patrick has always been very patient and helpful. read more

I am a recent beginner but needed to find an instrument that would allow me to grow and progress in my learning. A friend of mine told me about Heaney and I was so glad I drove down there. I have been into other violin stores in the East Bay and found them to be a little snooty and just unwilling to help me find the right instrument. I came to Heaney and initially rented one first to see if I liked it. I found out what I liked and didn't like about the instrument, then I returned it and purchased a cello that fit me perfectly! I took my time and played all of the available instruments in my price rage and the staff were most patient with me. They are helpful, but very hands off -- which was just what I needed. I never felt pressured to purchase an instrument from them. I would recommend them as an affordable, knowledgeable, and friendly place to pick out your next cello, violin, or viola. read more

Went in recently and asked to have my violin checked. OMG, realized after haven taken my violin to West Valley Music (on Castro St.- Mtn. View) that I almost got ripped off from this place. One of the gal suggested that I replace "literally" everything on my violin, which would cost roughly $200. At WVM store they said I only needed new "fine tuner", which was only $2.75 per string. At WVM they even tuned my violin and all was good to go. I would honestly never go back to Heaney Violins after this incident. It showed me clearly that they don't have good business practice. Vultures!!!! Very Sad and Unfortunate... especially for those that don't know anything about the instrument. read more

Brought in a violin that was in two pieces. The finger board was not attached to the violin. Patrick first asked me if I was going to use it as a decoration. I said no! I plan on playing it. He did mention at times people bring in violins such that they can just display them. An interesting thing and nothing wrong with that. Then Patrick explained to me what needed to be done. Since I wasn't in a hurry, I have another violin, I waited til the school rush was over(Sept-Oct 2015). I left the violin with Haney Violins for about 2 months. I was in no hurry nor did I want them to rush the job. I finally got a call that my violin was ready and I was excited :-). I went to pick up the violin and it looked so beautiful. I asked if I could borrow a bow as I had never heard it. After I played for a few seconds I realized I had struck gold. The deep tone was amazing. To be honest I rarely play the violin I have had since college any more; just this one and what a find. Heaney Violins did a fabulous job in fixing the instrument which I feel is partially the reason it sounds so powerful and sweet. read more

I am a professional musician and concertize internationally. I have visited dozens of violin shops around the world and Heaney Violins is about as good a shop as you can hope to fine anywhere. I trust Heaney Violins with instrument maintenance (bow rehairs etc) and regularly purchase my strings and other supplies there. Prices are extremely fair, the quality of work is excellent and the service is warm/attentive. Owner Patrick Heaney is a devoted, ethical and knowledgable craftsman & businessman. I strongly recommend Heaney Violins. read more

Best customer service in the Bay Area. We worked with Ben, Patrick, and Jim on a cello case. They were so patient and took their time and effort, even on a "case". This is a place where things, big or small, would be taken care of in a professional way. read more

My daughter recently started violin lessons and was complaining about her chin rest hurting her. Most of the other music shops in the area did not have anything for a 1/4-sized violin but Heaney Violins did. They had in stock this new over-the end chin rest that fit just right. I also brought in my old violin which had developed a crack in the neck where the A-peg goes into. Simple repair, very reasonably priced ($30). Spoke with Patrick Heaney who is super-nice and very knowlegeable. It's great to have this shop in the local area. read more

I needed to borrow a cello for a wedding in Santa Cruz, and Ben and the Heaney Violins staff were very helpful in finding a solution for me! They were very responsive and had great customer service. I definitely recommend them to anyone needing a rental in the area! read more

I'm a professional violinist, and I go to Patrick Heaney's shop all the time. I felt compelled to write a review after reading some of the 1-star reviews. I am especially skeptical of the person who wrote that his kid dropped the violin... dropping a violin is pretty bad, and that's the customer fault, not Patrick's! Any violin, even a Stradivarius, will break if you drop it!!! My experience at Patrick's shop is always great. It's true that you occasionally wait a few minutes, but that's only because everyone gets full attention. Bow rehairs are excellent, and prices are very fair. I recommend Heaney Violins very highly. read more

My family have rented three violins from Heaney. It's a good place to fix, rent or purchase string instruments for a reasonable price. I enjoy their products and services and would like to rate four stars for the store. However, I find it frustrating to make back-orders through Heaney; it was just too slow. At one time I waited more than a year for two violin hangers until they finally have them ready. The store should either cancel the back-ordering service or develop a more efficient one. read more

As a first time customer I was impressed by the friendliness, professionalism and workmanship of Ben and Benito. They repaired the sound post in my daughter's violin and then tuned it as well, free of charge, while we waited. We will definitely return for any of our violin needs! :) read more

The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. I've been in a few times with my 8 year old (violin) and 10 year old (viola) daughters. They both recently started taking lessons and I know absolutely nothing about string instruments. I am always treated with respect. They have taken time to help us with shoulder rests, instrument sizing, and other newbie questions. Excellent customer service. We will definitely continue to come to Heaney. read more

I took an old violin in there for restringing and setup - completely painless, finished well and done quickly. They also carry the full stock of bits and pieces which any string player needs. Staff knowledgable and welcoming - an excellent shop. read more

For many years we go to them for getting my children's viola and cello or any problems to be fixed. They are very patient and responsive. Great customer service! read more

I brought my son's violin bow to have the bow hair replaced. They showed that the bow hair was narrowing at the frog. But the bow hair itself was fine. They widened the bow hair in 15 minutes and did not charge. Awesome customer service!!! read more

My friend and I headed down to Heaney last night to see if we could rent a violin for my friend. The staff there were incredibly courteous and helpful, and we were able to rent an intermediate violin (several steps up from the beginner student version!). I was so happy to be able to rent a good violin rather than the usual basic outfit. Thanks for thinking outside the square Heaney! They also went out of their way to make sure the chin rest was comfortable and swapped one over for us. The staff at Heaney know their stuff and it was a real pleasure to deal with them. If you love good string instruments, and want great service, this is definitely the place to go. This store is able to cater for the beginner through to the advanced instrumentalist and has a huge selection of fine instruments. read more

I have bought violins, strings, shoulder rests, and other musical instrument accessories from Heaney's violins, at the particular suggestion of the ultra-picky violin master I study with. How nice to find that, not only does Patrick Heaney stock high quality instruments and accessories in a perfectly reasonable price range, he and his staff offer excellent help and consultation for both beginners and more experienced musicians - at no rush, and sometimes against their best interests business-wise (several times I have been advised against spending more money on items or adjustments they did not think were necessary for my specific music needs). And after I bought my last violin here, and had brought it back for various extra adjustments (I wanted to try a different chin rest, then a different e string, etc) - not only did he and his staff not appear tired of my requests, they kept insisting on changing everything for free. I finally had to insist, two months after the purchase, that it was time I paid full price for any further extra service! Most of the yelp reviews I read here rave about Mr. Heaney's shop, and I can see why. It's interesting to me that the very few reviews NOT exceedingly favorable are so low - it makes me wonder if in some cases, those reviews are slanted for other reasons. Sure someone can change a price, that can happen even by accident, particularly in the volume of business Heaney's violins enjoys. But if the salesperson, upon seeing the written original estimate, then corrects the price - what more can one ask? Interpretations may vary, but it's the actions that speak louder than words. I find Heaney's violins a terrific resource. And I just wish all the other businesses I deal with, in my day to day life, acted even half as helpful, as courteous, and as honest and trustworthy as these people do. read more

The staff went above and beyond for me several times during the course of their service on my cello. Overall it was a perfect experience.

Paraphrasing another review, says it all--staff very welcoming, knowledgeable, and helpful.. Clear that they love what they are doing and love violins! Bottom line is great prices--it cost me $22 to get a new set of strings (installed) for my violin and they "lubed" the knobs for free, all done while I waited. read more

I'm a beginning adult violinist and I had a great experience buying my first real bow here (upgrade from the cheap fiberglass one that came with my cheap violin :-) ). They gave me a practice room and let me try out several bows, and they even brought out some violins for my BF (at the time) to try out and let him use another practice room to keep him occupied while I deliberated. The staff seemed nice and knowledgeable and didn't pressure me. I love my new bow! read more

This is seriously the best Luthier in the Bay Area, and perhaps beyond. Living in Berkeley for several years, I would go out of my way and come to Mountain View when I was shopping for and (after I bought) servicing my cello. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, and the range of instruments they have is impressive. When I finally decided to purchase, Patrick gave me a great deal on a new Dunov instrument with a bow and soft case. And just recently when I moved to Europe, they helped me pack and ship my instrument safely, and didn't even charge for labor. Heaney Violins is a great example of how good, honest business can cultivate a dedicated group of happy customers. I'm sad that I have to leave them. read more

I've bought a cello & a viola here and a bow, had repairs done, and rented as well, once using the rent-to-own and once not. Great advice on the instruments, and great matching of instrument to musician -- each one has a voice that suits your ears and your playing, and the trick is to find that one. Prices matched other stores for similar items, but service and other things were much better here. Of course you can buy junk cheaper elsewhere, but when I did, my daughter hated the sound of that vioin and didn't want to play anymore -- she only wanted to play mine! Patrick has bent over backwards over the past few years, helping me to learn more about the pluses and minuses of every piece on the instruments and bows and why one musician would choose one thing and one another. He pointed out which ones were cheaper and why, and he was willing to order whatever I wanted, cheaper or more expensive. He and his staff even had patience for my vague "that one's voice doesn't match the other instruments in our home" comments, and had one of their staff play cello after cello for me, and of course letting me play them, too, and take them home to try out longer. This year, when I was helping in a local school, I went back to Patrick and asked his advice on how to save money on repairs, etc., while still getting a great sound. He showed me how to make many repairs that would save money (and time), and of course told me a few that I might "prefer" not to make myself -- his nice way of saying those need much more skill than I could gain in a couple of weeks. He told me several things that other schools do to save money, and the pluses and minuses of each option. Patrick already had an agreement with that school to do repairs, so helping me only decreased his business, not helped it. As he said, he'd rather do the repairs that are truly need and wanted, not charge for things I could learn to do myself if I wanted. I've heard him gently advise against certain instruments that are very poorly made because they don't hold up and of course then the repair costs would be too expensive, but generally he will get you whatever you want. Several times I've seen him try to explain things to a customer, only to have the customer (usually a dad) not have the patience to listen and just try to get "the bottom line". If you listen, you'd be amazed what you can learn from this man, and many others in his staff, and be much more likely to find the right instrument for you! Of course this customer service takes time, so don't think you can rush a stringed instrument purchase, unless you don't care. I love the other review about the comparison to him selling bows and the wand seller in Harry Potter -- I agree! read more

Store did not honor it's policy of try-out period (called ahead and they offered). Explained that it's a busy back-to-school rental time and some people took advantage of the policy without intension to rent or purchase. BIG MISTAKE for the store - we DO intend to rent and eventually purchase. Not trusting your customers means business going somewhere else. Going to Sono Strings on the other side of Grant road that offers 100% rental cost towards purchase. Learn to trust and honor your policy without string attach please! read more

My daughter was asked to play violin for a friend's wedding. Her instrument was in another state due to a recent move. Coordinating getting it shipped here took way longer than expected (6 weeks!). By the time the instrument arrived she only had a few weeks left to learn the music. When we received the instrument, the bridge had been knocked off and the A string tuning peg was stuck. Even though the staff at Heaney Violins was busy the day I took the violin in for a repair, they took time to fix it on the spot. When I tried to pay them, they refused payment and said they were happy to do it. Their pleasant attitude and efficient help was more than appreciated. read more

This place surely knows how to make money. I meant it, they really know how to squeeze the juice out of people. We went there to trade in a violin since we were told that we would only pay the difference or some good discounted price for trade-in. We still ended up paying a hefty price, anyway. The violins are made in China, they look nice. One would think they're high-quality for the price paid. My kid accidentally drop the violin and it hit its spruce case (bad quality, weak attachment). The fingerboard fell apart. We had to bring it back to the store, hoping that it's still covered under a warranty. We asked them to tune the violin (a good violin store would do this even without being asked), as well. It turned out that we had to pay for the re-attachment (didn't I say they're business people?). When my son was about to practice, he figured the violin was out of tune. This is a big deal for parents who do not play violins, like ourselves. Our kid doesn't know how to tune its violin yet, now we had to ask his teacher to spend another 5-10 minutes (taken out from a 30-minute lesson) to do just that. We are really disappointed with Heaney. We've never had good feeling coming out of the store. If you know good violin stores that care about their products, their customers, please share with us. Thanks. read more

I called to inquire about renting a cello for my friend who will be flying in from out of town to play at my wedding in July. I was ready to pay for an expensive week long minimum or something, but Ben let me know that there would be no charge. WHAT?! He said that they standardly let people try out their instruments for a week at a time before committing and that our case would fall under this category. So happy and we will have beautiful music on a gorgeous instrument at the wedding! read more

Patrick let me tried many violins they had from $6k to $16k and brought them home -- I eventually did not buy it from Heaney violin, but their service and help are great. Thanks Patrick! read more

This is the 3rd shop I visited with the violin. I will definitely recommend anyone who needs to rent an instrument to come here. Though I didn't spend any money here, it doesn't mean that I will not go back. Here are the things I observed. Pros: - Given that the shop is so busy, they were still willing to see and talk to me, I am eternally grateful to the staff and the owner Patrick. - Even though I waited for 30 mins, Patrick also spent 20 mins talking to me is amazing!! That is a Pro to me. - Patrick is very detailed and he explains to his rental client as to what to do and what not to do regarding the bows and instrument. He really took his time with each one of them and that is why I didn't mind the wait, b/c I know that he (or his staff) will spend the same time with me. - I overheard that they will not charge to replace the string if the string broke if you bring the instrument back to them for fixing. That is a plus. What a policy!!! My friend who rented a violin at Scott Cao had to pay to get the broken string replaced. - Patrick gave me a verbal estimate of the repairs, then letting me know that it is not worth repairing. He said that he will give me a written estimate if I go back at the end of Sept when things calm down on the rental side Cons: This shop is super busy during this time because it is rental season. So if you are looking for repairs to be done, please be advised not to visit till end of September. read more

I am new to the Bay area after 15 years as a professional musician in another city, and I am so happy to have found Heaney violins. Patrick did the best rehair my bow has had in years, and repaired an open seam in my violin quickly and efficiently, and at a very reasonable cost. He gave me valuable advice about traveling with my instrument, and treated me with real courtesy and kindness. He's very knowledgeable and professional, and I will rely on him whenever my violin or viola needs expert care. read more

My first experience with Patrick was shortly after he opened in Mountain View. I brought in an electric violin, a violin, and a viola. His work was excellent, and I have gone back again and again. He spends time with me and with other customers without giving me a rushed feeling. His charges are modest, and he obviously does not charge for time. The people who work with him are knowledgeable and also give me all the time I want. His shop usually has several customers, but the atmosphere is friendly and laid back. The quality of work is 5 star, and he backs it up. I actually feel inspired to practice after visiting his shop. read more

Love this place. My cello teacher recommended it to me, and their customer service is superb. I wish more string shops could be like this place. Really! read more

My son's cello teacher says his cello needed a minor repair to lower the nut so the strings are more pliable to his small hand. I called Heany's to ask about the repair schedule. I was told on the phone it'll take about 1 day to 1 week to have the repair made. I didn't like the 1 week timing but had to get it done. I drove there right after my call. Talked to Patrick, the owner, and he told me I have to bring the cello back in A-MONTH-AND-A HALF because he has so much backlog in repair work! Why not instruct your staff to tell people on the phone about the backlog???? Might as well close the store until you can catch up on the work! He admitted that he overheard his employee's phone conversation with me. But why didn't he correct his employee's quote on the timing? He offered no apology for wasting an hour of my time/life. I will never return to the store if I can help it. read more

I really have to agree with everyone else. Patrick, Neil and Connie are the nicest, most professional people and have really helped me with all aspects of having a young violinist in the family with a clueless mom. They are closed on Mondays, but open mid-morning, when they are not as busy. read more

Patrick made two simple repairs to my son's violin bow today that saved me $100+. I was in and out in 5 minutes, a very satisfied customer.

When my daughter and I both started playing violin about 6 years ago, we knew nothing about the instrument nor what we were doing. We have purchased cases, bows, re-hairs, and other odds and ends over the years. I echo what others have said that Patrick and his staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. I have always felt like they take time to let us try different things and hmm-n-ha over our decision. They have provided excellent customer service when things have gone awry and have a good relationship with our violin teacher, which has also been helpful. read more