Washington DC violin shops

May 21, 2008 at 06:58 PM · Bill Weaver in Bethesda, MD:

1.800.713.2879

Honest man. I've known Bill for over 15 years, and recommend him to anyone and everyone I know looking for concert-quality instruments with solid investment standing. He deals only 10K and above.

Eric

May 21, 2008 at 07:12 PM · I agree. Be careful of big city prices and mark-ups, though. I know it first-hand living in Manhattan.

Eric

May 21, 2008 at 07:43 PM · David Bromberg Fine Violins

601 N. Market St.

Wilmington, DE 19801

david@davidbrombergfineviolins.com

302-472-6700

A nicer, more honest, more accommodating person/dealer you won't find.

May 21, 2008 at 11:21 PM · Right around DC, Weaver's (Bethesda, MD) probably has the largest selection of top-end instruments. You can also check out Brobst Violin Shop, www.brobstviolins.com, in Alexandria, VA, where I recently had fun trying out some high-end instruments with a friend. You might also try calling Gailes' Violin Shop, www.gailesviolin.com, to see what they have. Bill Gailes keeps a smaller inventory focused more on the emerging player, but he often has a few very nice instruments as well.

Wilmington, Philadelphia, and NYC are all a fairly easy train ride from DC, so don't count out those cities, either.

May 22, 2008 at 02:48 AM · Perrin and Associates Fine Violins in Baltimore. It's about 30-45 minutes from DC, and they are GREAT. The contact info should be in the "violin shops" section of this site.

May 22, 2008 at 03:19 AM · Thank you for all your answers. I played a few instruments today at Brobst, and was impressed with the service and selection. I will visit the Weaver shop soon.

May 23, 2008 at 11:40 PM · If I can ask, why have you chosen $45k as your price cut-off? When I was trying out instruments with a friend who was looking for a major upgrade in her violin, we tried out instruments based on maker, country of origin, and a number of other criteria. Although our budget was $40-70k, the clear winner in our ears were two violins that turned to be priced at $28k and $35k. In contrast, neither of us particularly liked the $90k Scarampella that we tried out.

May 25, 2008 at 01:36 AM · I can't help but remember Stern's advice about needing more than 200K to better the top modern makers. Considering he said that a while back that figure would probably be more like 500K now.

May 25, 2008 at 11:01 PM · not sure what they have in that price range but

Gailes Violin Shop

10013 Rhode Island Avenue

College Park, MD 20740

301-474-4300

http://www.gailesviolin.com/

They're just north of D.C.-- keep following Rhode Island Avenue out (north) from central DC.Gaile's Violins is located right before R.I Ave. hits the Washington Beltway. They're excellent luthiers who are easy to talk with, will give you an infinite amount of time to try different instruments, and will give you excellent technical support in the years following your purchase.

May 26, 2008 at 04:42 PM · I agree with the previous recommendations, but I also agree with the person who said not to rule out NYC or Philadelphia. With $45K, I would definitely go to NYC and see folks like Rene Morel or to Philly and see Fred Oster.

May 27, 2008 at 02:32 AM · Thanks for the responses. Initially, I wanted to spend as little as possible... of course. But I was not happy with the instruments that I tried, and the price increased little by little. The younger and cheaper instruments gave me power but not the quality of sound that I yearned for. The older and in my price range had limited power and were uneven (some with wolfs). I will keep trying. At the Brobst violins, I tried a Vuillaume, 160K, powerful sound, but well above my range.

May 27, 2008 at 03:35 AM · About two months ago, Brobst had a couple of French violins that I quite liked--at first impression. I know my friend and I tried a Bernadel and a Gand they had there, but it was a different one--perhaps the Pierre & Hippolyte Silvestre, Lyon 1845 currently listed in their inventory--that really caught my ear that day. They also had a very nice Hill for $25k at that time that was incredibly easy to play, with a wonderfully even-tempered sound, but without quite as much soloist-caliber projection as other, more powerful instruments.