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    Olsen Violins

    4.7 (31 reviews)
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    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    My violin bridge, made by Sten Olsen.
    Suor K.

    After spending a few years surrounded by friends who play for a local community orchestra, and even longer with the itch to start playing music again, I decided to learn how to play the violin in 2007. A friend of mine, who is the concertmaster for said local community orchestra, highly recommended Sten Olsen. We called ahead to make sure that he was working that day and that he would have instruments around my price range available. We drove over and I listened to my friend play on a few of the violins (I had no violin training at the time). I picked about 3 violins and a couple bows to bring home, with no payment down, and only an agreement to return them back to the shop. I also borrowed some violins from David Stone. Although David Stone does have a lot of violins, I found Sten Olsen's violins to be in better shape. I took a few private lessons, and Sten didn't call until the 3rd week after my visit. He's quite understanding and didn't rush me to bring them back. A couple more weeks passed and I finally decided on the 1864 Bulgarian violin. When I returned to the shop, Sten offered to give me a few things for free, including a carbon fiber bow, a violin case, and some rosin. He also provided an appraisal. After two years, I came back to buy a wood bow, since I started noticing the weird weight distribution in my carbon fiber bow. It's always a pleasure to come back, since Sten remembers who you are when you walk in. He remembered that I purchased the Bulgarian violin and asked questions about my friend's community orchestra. Sten let me borrow about 5-6 bows, again without a down payment, and only a signed agreement to return them back to the shop. Sten takes great care of his violins and make them sound amazing. The one thing that won me over with the violin that I bought was the fact that it was loud. Much louder than the other violins I looked at. That is the result of Sten working his magic on the positioning of the sound post to produce the best quality sound. I have let my violinist friends borrow my violin and the just love how much sound comes out of this wooden box. In hindsight, my violin is also bright though my preference is for a darker sound, so I tend to purchase Obligato strings. From what I recall, all of the violins that I borrowed from Sten have Evah Pirazzi strings, which are top of the line soloist strings. Kind of overkill if you ask me :) Pros: + Sten has a lot of experience as a luthier. He used to work for Bischofberger in Capitol Hill, if I recall correctly. + Sten's shop has a dedicated sound room to try instruments and bows. + Sten's violins are in great shape and have great sound. Cons: - His shop is in Phinney Ridge (this could be a pro, if you live nearby). - The cost of re-hairing a bow is more expensive than at Bischofberger.

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    8 months ago

    Went here to get a violin for my 5 year old. They were so helpful and it was very reasonable for the rental.

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    15 years ago

    We received immediate and generous service after my daughter bumped her violin and the sound-post fell.

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    Review Highlights - Olsen Violins

    That is the result of Sten working his magic on the positioning of the sound post to produce the best quality sound.

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    I came in to Ted Brown Music for the first time to look at guitars and maybe play a few as I start…read morea journey to purchase a new acoustic. Not only did I leave with a little more information, a little more confirmation about the kind of guitars that suit me, but the particular employee working that night was so kind and helpful. First, the store itself. It's tucked away at the end of a plaza that includes a cute dessert place. The store is small and carries a modest variety of instruments, as well as sheet music and accesories. I'm not sure if this was just timing but the guitars seemed more suited toward beginners, and most fell under $500. I found a couple that I wanted to try out and this gentlemen engaged me in a really non-intrusive way, leading to a nice conversation and him offering to plug in the electric acoustic I was playing. Later, I heard him helping a kid make up his mind about some part to his instrument that he needed to replace. When I left he let me know he appreciated me and welcomed me back anytime, and I know many employees say that at places, but he just had that genuineness to him. I will definitely keep this shop in mind as a shop around and encourage anyone looking for sheet music, lessons, or exploring what instrument to get next or for your first one to put this place on the top of your list!

    Mannfried Funk Cello Instructor

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    I started taking cello lessons again with Mannfried Funk, a former Seattle Symphony member. He's…read moregot a great teaching space in his home on Phinny ridge but also makes house calls. He's a super likable guy and very patient. Something I need to get up on YouTube is his comical dog - who literally sings along when he's playing (stops after a bit - it's not a distraction). If you're looking for a Cello teacher in Seattle (or the Eastside) I'd highly recommend him. You can reach him via email at MKFS381@AOL.com

    "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."…read more --Honest Abe For all those about to bust orchestral maneuvers (in the dark or otherwise), get ready to sharpen your axe. My son's first cello lesson with Mannfried Funk (my friend exclaimed that this is the best musical name a person could have, bar none, and he's dead-on!), began with an almost entirely visual assessment of where he was at skillwise, as evidenced by his physical relationship to the cello. In about 45 seconds, Mannfried had it all dialed in. My kid has always been running to catch up. He started orchestra a year behind the flock in his first school, then 2 years behind the excellent and more intensive Eckstein orchestra (which rehearses daily). In each case, he caught up, and in each case was Most Improved. But all that hustling to "learn the music" meant he never "learned the cello." Mannfried makes this important distinction, and it's incredibly astute. He took one look at everything: posture, limbs, sweep of the bow, and--not unkindly--told him to just put the cello down for a while. It was an awesome lesson. An abnormally long lesson. They talked about physics and gravity, about proaction and reaction, about efficiency, conservation of energy, and minimization of effort. He had Maximo stand up, then return to the chair and position himself with the cello no less than five times to reinforce the muscle memory of what will be an entirely new, more efficient posture. This guy knows his shit backwards and forward. And let's not forget his SINGING DOG. He said that for a while he'd sequester the dog upstairs to keep him from singing along, but he'd still hear him up there, disconsolate and humming. But the lesson. Every student could and should have this kind of a foundation, and truthfully no group instructor will ever have the time and resources (and many would never have the intimate knowledge themselves) to impart this kind of an education--it approached the metaphysical. There are talented practitioners, and there are talented teachers, and they're not always the same people. I'm sure this guy can play like a house on fire, but christ on a cracker, has he got a genius for teaching. He doesn't talk down or patronize, nor is he gruff or the stern taskmaster. He is a persuasive, knowledgeable clinician with an intuitive, and highly prescriptive approach. Not only am I thrilled we've found him, I'm considering reinitiating lessons myself. I could not recommend him more highly to any student at any stage of their musical evolution. And for beginners, a few sessions with him ought to be mandatory.

    Olsen Violins - musicalinstrumentsandteachers - Updated May 2026

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