Violin shops in NYC
Anyone know of some great luthier/violin shops in NYC, upper west side near juilliard? Not looking to buy a Strad, but I am interested in replacing my old violin. Where can I go?
Thanks a lot for any help.
Replies (39)
There are many violin shops in the building of 250 West 54th St.
NYC is a REALLY expensive place to shop for violins, but I wish you good luck. Violin shopping can be lots of fun!
Preston
I highly recommend David Segal Violins which is right around the corner from Julliard (212) 769-4559.
Machold
Try DS Buck Violins. He's at the address Preston mentioned. The owner is an all-around nice guy and has a good selection of violins for sale in his shop. Phone number is 212-582-8200.
I would humbly recommend Machold Rare Violins. But the Upper West Side has several makers and dealers, including Rene Morel, Christoph Landon, Rare Violins of New York (Bruno Price), and Greg Singer, just to name a few.
I'd say as well that although New York is an expensive place to live and work, some of the prices I've seen coming out of Chicago lately make some of the New York dealers seem like bargains.
It has to be near Juilliard because I'm attending a symposium there and I won't have time to travel that much.
Machold is propably out of my price league. I'm not in the market for the types of things that they are selling.
Sounds like fun. Remember though you can be just about anywhere in Manhattan in less than 30 min.
I know that's the image of Machold that many musicians have, but our inventory includes the full range of instruments. A violin doesn't have to be worth $2 million to be rare.
Check out Gregory Singer violins. It is an excellent shop.
Personally I loved this store:
Strings and Other Things
1995 Broadway 212-362-0857
and just like Jim Miller said, " you can be just about anywhere in Manhattan in less than 30 min."
It's Disney World for adults. Time to visit again, I think.
Michael, did you get my last e-mail?
NYC is too expensive in the price range
you are looking at. You would be better off
with a dealer in a smaller place.
Europe seems cheaper as well.
I don't think the perception of NYC being overpriced is accurate at all. The violin market is an international one now, and violins are priced on an international basis. In my experience, the place to find overpriced violins is little out-of-the-way places where there's no competition, and the shop doesn't really know much about the market. In that situation I've seen a number of things badly overpriced because the seller really didn't know what they were worth and was shooting for the moon (I mean $20,000 things--or even $3000 ones--selling for $50,000). One thing you do find that might skew things is that if you go into a good shop you're going to see a totally different type of thing than elsewhere--better, more expensive things than a small shop can have naturally gravitate to the better shops.
Willhelm, I don't ever recall naming a price range, so I don't know where you are getting this from.
I am sure one can find violins in NYC for $30,000.
Michael reminds me I've seen some things in really good shops that were underpriced from utilitarian point of view. They were there because they could appreciate what they really were. A couple of experiences come to mind. I'd be writing lots of emails to line some things up.
If you're interested in modern fiddles, you might want to check out JosephTripodi.
This is an unsolicited testimonial about my experience with Rare Violins of New York. I was in the market for a better violin and, having visited various other dealers in and around New York, was referred to them. Even though I am clearly an amateur and wasn’t going to spend an impressive amount of money, the service I got at RV was attentive, friendly and courteous. With their expertise, experience and patient guidance, I was able to select and eventually purchase an excellent old violin within a price I was comfortable with. Buying a violin for someone like myself could have been bewildering and intimidating, but Bruno Price and Ziv Arazi of RVNY was able to turn it into an educational and rewarding experience for me. I strongly recommend others to go to them.
Nan-Yaw Wong
SINGAPORE
Just as a reminder- DS Buck Violins is no longer in operation. I just found out that Mr. Buck was struck by a taxi while crossing a street in NYC last November, and he had passed away.
I have never been to DS Buck Violins, but I met him briefly. Mr. Buck was nice to me, and I will remember his passion for violins.
It's funny that nobody mention Brice de StCyr in Carnegie Hall, but he's a great luthier and a very nice guy.
I think Dove had one of the BEST shops in NYC. He was genuine; you could tell he was in it because he loved it, not because he made heaps of money doing it (and I'm not sure he did make heaps).
Very sad he's gone. He was my favorite NY luthier.
Preston
Actually, it has been posted on v.com under Remembering Dov Buk in Dec. 2005
http://www.violinist.com/discussion/response.cfm?ID=8084
Thanks Gennady. I did a search of Dov Buck's name and it didn't come up.
By the way, isn't the correct spelling
"Dov Buck"?
I knew Dov well. A very sad loss.
The correct spelling is as I spelled it:
Dov Buk (B-U-K).
Isn't his last name spelled Buck? I'm pretty sure that's what his card said. There's a website too (buckviolins.com) that would seem it was spelled Buck.
Preston
I have an old business card from him which reads Dov Buk.
I can't believe that it really happened to him...........He was a great guy.
This isn't NYC, but anyways, try Tarisio auctions... my friends have had good experiences with them, and their price range is wide.
GF,
Agreed. Sometimes life just seems so arbitrary.
P.
Yura Lee wrote "This isn't NYC, but anyways, try Tarisio auctions... my friends have had good experiences with them... "
Actually Tarisio's shop IS in New York City (corner of Broadway & 57th, within sight of Carnegie Hall). Although an auction house, you can arrange to try their inventory (which builds up right before an auction) at a time other than the public pre-auction show dates. See their web site for a lot of detail. Although I didn't end up buying anything from them, I got a very cordial reception last year when I spent several hours trying violins, including a few well beyond my price range. Beare (London) has a small branch shop on a lower floor of the same building with a good inventory, so you can spend quite some time trying instruments without having to go outside!
I meant this isn't NYC, it's on the web... But yes, you are right, I forgot they have a showroom in NYC. It can be stressful when others outbid you, but still, it's a good way to purchase an instrument of your own, I think.
There are so many hypocrites within the violin dealer world, I hope you watch out, and good luck.
Re Dov Buk:
Dov's given name was Buk and operated the business under that name until about 10 years ago, until he decided to change the business name to "Buck" because everyone mispelled it anyway. His tragic death was a horrible loss to the world. He was truly a wonderful man.
Re: Dov
My apologies to Gennady, and thanks to Kenneth for the clarification.
I'm looking to make a trip to NYC (4hours from me) to look for an advanced student instrument in the 3k range.
What are the reputable shops without excess costs to visit for an instrument in my price range ?
How are the places mentioned in this thread?
David Segal Violins
Rare Violin of NY
Machold Rare Violins
Strings and Other Things
Are they equipped to handle professionals or students? Do they carry antiques/modern/luthier/chinese models?
Thanks for an update: The best places to violin shop in NYC
You might call Julie Reed-Yeboah. If she doesn't cover that range she might have a good recommendation.
Also, Yung Chin is a high-end bow guy, but he sometimes has some excellent examples of violins from Jay Haide.
If your 4-hour drive starts in Boston, Carriage House Violins has a fair bit in your range.
Yes I considered JSI/CHV as it is the same distance from my house that NYC is and carries student-y instruments but I have relatives in the NYC area so I figured I'd start there and chceck out Boston if I don't find anything in Manhatten.
Kimberly - please contact me at violinist@rkviolin.com Thanks!
Kimberly, Stammel Strings in Amherst,MA has a huge selection of violins in your price range if it is a closer drive for you.
Jeff, Thanks. I have been to Mr Stammel's store. It is an excellent shop with very personal service and I recommend anyone looking who is in the area to check out the shop. They carry professional violins as well as student ones.
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May 11, 2005 at 04:56 AM · Why does it have to be near Julliard? Anyway that's a dangerous area. I was almost run over by a car in front of the Barnes and Noble there.