Let me give some context for my 5-star review.
I have not purchased anything from The Violin Shop.
I have not had any services rendered from The Violin Shop.
These are my experiences with this excellent company.
My 14 yo kiddo dropped his viola and cracked it. His viola instructor recommended The Violin Shop which is the only repair she takes her own instrument to.
She lives in Clairemont and we live near SDSU, so the drive is not a quick one, but she insisted this is the shop.
Shane promptly returned my phone call, said they were more of a repair than a restore shop which is what I needed. He told me to email pictures and reassured me that anything can be repaired. I emailed my pictures to the wrong email address and Shane called me later saying he had not received anything, and wanted to let me know that.
I re-sent the pictures to the correct one and he again promptly responded, but his tone was hesitant and I was worried. He said they could repair it but it would be so expensive because of where the crack was, which was more of a puncture, and then a crack split up the entire front and half the back of this viola.
I explained I am a high school teacher at San Diego High and my son just started 9th grade; that the band & orchestra program did not have the best instruments so I saved up $200 to buy a used one for him. Shane was amazed at that price and said the repair would be way too much more. I relented and stated the kiddo would just have to use the school one, probably comparable to the one I bought used for him, and that would just have to work.
Shane's empathy was so sincere, he told me to wait a few minutes because he may have a solution for me. Couple minutes later, he returned and explained over the phone that a grandfather brought in his viola, too used to be repaired and resold in their shop, but still very much usable and my kiddo could have this one -- a free donation -- this gesture was amazingly kind.
Shane tuned it up, asked when we could come by to get it, and within 3 days, my kiddo was back practicing with his new, used viola.
Kiddo's instructor suggested we may invest in getting the bridge repaired so I was happy to think we could use The Violin Shop. Hubby called Shane up, he said to bring it on up, and I was thinking maybe a week later, we'd get the viola back. Nope, viola came back the same day, Shane said the bridge was in good shape, only needed a little filing down. Done and done.
The love of music and the instruments that bring music to life -- this is The Violin Shop. We thank you for your kindness. read more