What Our Customers Say

See what our customers have said about their CodaBows on our CodaBow page.

RP from Tampa wrote:
"Thank you so much for sending out your newsletter. It is very nicely done and I thoroughly enjoy reading it. You and Anna must have put a lot of time into it. I'll say ‘thank you’ for ALL your customers! God bless."

BS from Gainesville wrote:
"Your newsletter is WONDERFUL! I just have to tell you how informative and pleasantly contagious your enthusiasm is. Thank you!"

A customer writes:
"We are renting our youngest daughter's violin from you and are very pleased with both the instrument and the service you provide. It is time for our middle daughter to move up from her 1/2 size to a 3/4 size. Though we did not purchase her present violin from you, we would like to ask if you would consider looking at this violin to consider a trade-in. We would like to purchase the 3/4 Fritz Kreisler."

A teacher from Jacksonville wrote:
"How heavy do your rental violins run? I've got a student with a rental violin built sturdily enough to withstand being run over by a car! It feels very heavy to me, and it's making her neck very sore. She wants to rent for a few more months before she buys a violin. I think she should find a new rental soon so she doesn't give herself back problems, and I'm trying to figure out what her best option would be."

TK of Fort Lauderdale wrote:
"I got the Coda 'Colours' viola bow today and don't know how I lived without it! I will purchase a Coda violin bow soon as well. I am telling students about your May appearance in Fort Lauderdale. Maybe we can get even more kids started! Thanks again for the great service."

From LD (teacher who is leaving Florida):
"Dear Jan and Anna, I want to thank you for many things. First, thank you for the wonderful service you have provided and continue to provide to my former students. I feel you have allowed each of them to experience a greater love of the violin. It is not easy to find a string shop that offers instruments of such excellent quality. To find one whose service is equally excellent is truly rare and remarkable. Secondly, I want to thank you for the beautiful work you have done on my violin and viola. You have been incredibly generous and I deeply appreciate your kindness and skill. Thirdly, thank you for making my job as a new teacher so much easier. Your guidance will be remembered. I feel very lucky to have known and worked with both of you. I will always think of you with fondness."

A customer whose son M had nicknamed the Stefanini violin they bought from us "Sven", wrote:
"Sven (the only Italian Sven in history!) is playing even better each week. M's teacher continues to rave, not only about Sven but also because M's bow which you gave to us free, is superior to the bow for which he (the teacher) paid $350 recently." (Other nicknames students gave to violins they got from us are "The Hornet", "The Chicken Entrails", "The Little Prince", "The Little Russian", "Prince Igor", and "The Golden Lion". Each one has a story!)

CE (Vancouver BC, Canada) writes:
"Thanks for the newsletter. I can see why your business is doing well since your newsletter is put together so well. God bless you. I am so excited for you about your trip to Russia. Enjoy every moment."

DM (Ft Lauderdale) writes:
"Believe me, after your wonderful visit here it was very clear to me why I had invited you down. R (the 14-year old boy who played for you), said you were the nicest people he had ever met, can you believe that coming from a 14-year old boy!? And A called me to thank me for having you down and added if it hadn't been for me and you she would not now have this gorgeous violin that she is in love with [it is our ‘Hellier’ decorated Strad copy]. She is sooooo happy. Thank you so much for everything, and I look forward to our next correspondence."

KM from Gainesville wrote:
"D is beside himself with joy about the new Klier viola. He can't wait to show it to his teacher today. We can't thank you enough for everything you have done and are doing for him, Jan. You and Anna are so good to us! Have a great day! Love, K."[The teacher was delighted with the viola.]

JM (Orange Park) wrote:
"Thank you for the newsletter. Enjoyed it."

DR (Jacksonville FL) wrote:
"The Salchow rosin is so much better than that nasty stuff I was using."

RA (Monteverde, FL) wrote about a restoration done for T, his daughter:
"My wife and I just want to thank you for the beautiful work you did on my daughter's violin. It turned out so nice. She just loves it. Thank you - 'May your day be filled with music, may your life be filled with song'."

JS (Chattanooga, TN) wrote:
"Thank you for your newsletter, it is the first that I have gotten from you and it is wonderful. [Our] girls are both in need of "better" instruments. I have heard that [Rudoulf] Doetsch instruments should be considered. [Gainesville Violins is an official Doetsch dealer.] I need beautiful rich tone, wonderful ease of playing, and since these instruments are fractional (1/2 violin; 3/4 or 7/8 cello) something that will have a resale potential. Since these are children, a beautiful looking instrument increases the pride of ownership and increases the time spent with the instrument. What do you recommend? I am looking to you since we have no similar source of quality instruments in East Tennessee, and if one exists in Atlanta, I have not found it yet."

BR (Ocala, FL) wrote:
"Thank you for putting me on your e-mail list! And a big thank you for providing the four violins that some of my students recently got from you. Nice instruments, good prices, and superb service. My students and I are glad to have you in Gainesville."

LP (Winter Haven) wrote:
"Just wanted to drop you a line privately and let you know how pleased [my son] C is with his new viola. He is a little intimidated by it yet, though! It is a beautiful instrument.... Thank you for working with C. This has come at a time when he felt like quitting, and has renewed his enjoyment and motivation." (C got a fine 16 1/2-inch "Liuteria Panis Angelicus" viola from Gainesville Violins.)

LW (Tallahassee) wrote:
"You are so generous and kind!!!!! Your gift to a needy student will be so appreciated - there is a star in heaven with your name on it! I will deliver [it to MB] with your compliments right away. What a blessing you are! Thanks for everything! Hope to see you someday soon!"

LAH (Sunrise FL) wrote:
"Thanks so much for all the trouble with the violins. I will certainly enjoy my Doetsch violin."

NG (Tallahassee, FL) wrote:
"I have recently bought a violin from your company. I am very satisfied with the instrument. I am doing a research paper for my English class on 'The Making of Violins,' and since I know your products and how good they are, I was wondering if you might be able to send me some information on how violins are made."

AG (Brooksville, FL) wrote:
"Just wanted to let you know M is performing Saturday and Sunday with the symphony. If you can come let me know and I can see if I can get tickets. It went super on Tuesday. She got a standing ovation. Your violin had a lot to do with it!!!!"

FW wrote:
"We are getting the new Florida Wildflower Foundation established and you indicated interest. I noticed your email address. I purchased a professional violin from you guys! It is a beautiful instrument. A small and wonderful world!"

DB (Tallahassee FL) wrote:
"We have had so many nice compliments on your lovely instrument [viola]."

TK (Fort Lauderdale FL) wrote:
"I got the Coda 'Colours' viola bow today and don't know how I lived without it! I will purchase a Coda violin bow soon as well. I am telling students about your May appearance in Fort Lauderdale. Maybe we can get more kids started! Thanks again for the great service."

MC (Tampa), a very young person, wrote after we had sent a very old (1850's) 1/2-size "Johann Strauss Wien" violin to her, having kept it for her for a year:
"Dear Jan and Anna, I love my new violin. I am looking forward to playing it for you next year. I just saw my picture on your website... I liked it. Your friend, M."

Her mother wrote:
"M and I love the violin. It sounds and looks beautiful... Thank you for holding onto it for so long for us! Now the hard part is going to be keeping M patient until she grows fully into it. I hope we will see you soon. PS: I hope that if N continues to progress as he has been, I'll be needing a nice 1/8 size too in the near future, so if you'd keep us in mind I'd appreciate it."

[Comment: We stick to our customers. We have one of the best collections of antique violins in Florida and we keep adding to it. As stated above, this summer we'll be traveling in Russia. Last year we were in eastern Germany. We have already found the superb "Little Russian" 3/4 Guarneri del Gesu copy for SZ; we'll for sure get something great for N too.]

RS (Gainesville) wrote after her virtuoso son's violin had received its regular free maintenance service and adjustment:
"Jan, Thank you so much. D's violin sounds very good! Enclosed please find a check. I know it's never enough to cover your time and effort spent for D, but you know we deeply appreciate it. Love, R."

CM (Tallahassee) wrote:
"We are very happy with the Bottesini bass .... [A]ll is very well. So well, in fact, we'd like to see if you could quote us a price on two cellos. A generous parent has offered to spend $2,000 to $2,500 on buying instrument(s) for the school. Is this something you would like to handle? I could do the same pre-pay and pick-up in Gainesville arrangement."

JP (Tampa) wrote:
"Thank you so much for bringing my cello with you last Thursday to Tampa. [Jan had gone to listen to Gainesville Violins customers in concert!] I appreciate the repairs that you provided. Thank you again for your generous and hospitable services. Give our regards to Anna. God bless."

TG (a teacher in Fort Lauderdale, FL) wrote:
"I have a new student who I'd like to switch to one of your violins. I want her to rent from you rather than the dreadful rental she has now. I just had a recital for my students. Several of them are playing your violins, and they sounded wonderful! Thank God for the two of you!"

JG, violinist, orchestra director, and presently a violin dealer in South Africa, writes:
"Dear Jan: Wherever I go, above all in Pretoria and Johannesburg, I come across people who refer to you, and also instruments which they obtained through you. You definitely had a great influence in this regard and I am sorry that I never met you ... "

AB, our oldest customer (92), writes:
"Good Morning, dear Anna and Jan. I will bet you thought I was gone for good. Not so!!!!! I hope you are both well and happy. Jan will you send me one of those items you have that go over the chin rest and under the bottom of the violin to provide a bit of collar bone padding. The one I have is just about worn out and so is my collar bone!!! Things are very quiet here. I am volunteering my services to play for people in nursing homes and senior centers over here. Incidentally, Jan, do you still have that young man working with you doing repairs etc? [Referring to apprentice Sammy IJsselmuiden, who is back in South Africa.]

Later he writes:
"Hello Jan, and many, many thanks for the chin/collar bone padding. I know that you will be in touch with Anna, and when you do contact her please tell her that it is my wish that she thoroughly enjoys her visit with her sister in Vancouver. I will take advantage of your newsletter, and I will bet that you are blessed with some good accomplices (! = apprentices) 'in training' that will be a big help to you a bit later. Please take care because I do care, and I send my very best wishes to you. - Arthur."

AM in St Augustine writes:
"Thank you for all the time and effort you put into finding 7/8 size violins for me. I have tried out the three violins that I selected and I like the 1800's 'August Friedrich Glass' violin the best .... Thank you once again for all the time you put into this."

PR of Brooksville writes (03.09.2001):
"My dear Jan and Anna, Please accept my apology for being so impatient. I was not aware of how busy you are. Had I known that you were backed up for two months, I would have waited patiently. Also I was not aware of your master crafsmanship. My violin is now magnificent. It is well worth the wait. Please forgive me and accept me back into your grace, for no one but Jan will ever work on this violin. Thank you so much - PR."

RA of Monteverde, FL, writes about a restoration done for Taylor, his daughter (4.17.2001):
"My wife and I just want to thank you for the beautiful work you did on my daughter's violin. It turned out so nice. Taylor just loves it. Thank you - 'May your day be filled with music, may your life be filled with song'."

LP in Winter Haven writes:
"Jan - Just wanted to drop you a line privately and let you know how pleased C is with his new viola. He is a little intimidated by it yet, tho ("I feel like I don't know how to control it"). It is a beautiful instrument.... Thank you for working with C. This has come at a time when he felt like quitting, and has renewed his enjoyment and motivation." (C got a 16 1/2-inch "Liuteria Panis Angelicus" viola.)

MW (Tallahassee) had an emergency with his viola which "imploded" two days before he had to play before a Jury. He drove through to us, arriving at 10 pm, and slept over after we had talked about the problem. The next day he wrote:
"I got back home at 9:30 am. It was a safe and uneventful trip. Thank you soooooo much for your kind and generous hospitality and help. Your immediate response to my emergency is greatly appreciated. The viola you have loaned me will be most adequate."

Later he wrote some more:
"Thanks so much for the wonderful work on my viola. It sounds wonderful and is much easier to play. Your willingness to accommodate my emergency, your letting me spend the night, and your shipping my viola back the very next day were extraordinary and beyond the call of duty! You are both wonderful and I thank you very much."

MW writes from Tallahassee, FL (3.14.2001):
"It was good to see you and Anna Saturday. I wish I could have spent more time with you. J was very pleased with the work you did on his viola. He was beaming at the concert that night and he said all he wanted to do is play it now because it looks and sounds so good!"

CB, music student at FSU Tallahassee, writes 2/28/01:
"Thank you so much for your kindness to us. I'll bet you know this story already, but I particularly like this version and it reminded me of your work" (and then he quotes in full the well-known long version of "The Touch of the Master's Hand" by Myra Brooks Welch ... "The people cheered, but some of them cried, 'We do not quite understand what changed its worth.' Swift came the reply: 'The touch of a master's hand.'")

Thank you so much for the wonderful bridge replacement on my cello. The new bridge looks marvellous, and the "string height" is perfect. I can't wait to show it to my teacher. Also, I noticed you stained and polished the fingerboard. It looks a LOT better. I really appreciate all you do for me and the rest of my family. Your love for music and zeal for quality is contageous. Keep up the good, no, wonderful work, and thanks a lot! Yours most sincerely, BP (Jacksonville) 3/1/01

"My new violin is beautiful and comfortable to play, because it is so smooth and has a nice, large, sweet sound. The shoulder-rest is also very comfortable and beautiful and I enjoy it very much. It fits my violin perfectly. My mother says I look like a professional violinist. I hope to meet you and play for you some day. Your friend, H v A ." (Young customer from Winter Haven, FL). 11/17/2000

"You saved me! My cello has returned! The repaired gash on the side of it looks great, and it feels smoothed down with the cello. Also, I REALLY like the glossy finish [French polishing] you applied to the cello. It all looks great. The new tailpiece is just fine, by the way, and you don't need to replace it. You did a wonderful job; I know the repair was worth a lot. Thank you for thinking of me and bringing the cello to the airport. I have really enjoyed playing it ever since. Thanks again Mr. Van Rooyen. You are a lifesaver! Your Friend and Fellow Musician, B. P. (Jacksonville Beach)

"Thanks for all the loving care you provide for the TBYO (Tampa Bay Youth Orchestras) students and their instruments." (11/16/2000) Denise Travers, Executive Director Tampa Bay Youth Orchestras, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Centers

"The viola is doing well. I enjoy the instrument very much. Not a day passes without me thinking of you with the viola under my chin. Many, many thanks again. This is something that will still take me far. I shall look back and say, "My friend Jan who has always stood by me, helped me to get where I am. His contribution is something which I shall carry with me for the rest of my life."
- Chris van der Zee, New Zealand.

(Afrikaans translation: Die altviool gaan baie goed. Ek geniet die instrument baie. Daar is nie 'n dag wat verbygaan wat ek nie aan jou dink as ek die altviool onder my ken plaas nie. Ek wil net weer sê dankie. Dit is iets wat my nog ver gaan vat en ek gaan terugkyk en sê: My vriend Jannie van Rooyen wat my nog altyd bygestaan het, het my gehelp om te kom waar ek nou is. Sy aandeel is iets wat ek vir die res van my lewe saam met my gaan dra. - Chris van der Zee, Niew Zeeland)

"I will have some more repertoire ready to play by my next return. If you would allow me the pleasure, I would, as always, love to play those pieces for you. I trust your judgement and critique very much, so playing at your house is always a wonderful learning experience for me. I have decided, almost for sure, that I will play the last two movements of the Wieniawski Concerto No. 1 for the concerto competition...."

- Marcin Arendt, student at Stetson University, Deland, FL, whose violin Jan restored completely and which he services regularly

"Thank you so much for the new bridge and the sound-post adjustment. It sounds and feels like a whole new instrument. You wanted a list of complaints, but all I can come up with are reasons it sounds better. It is easier for my fingers to move around and warmer on the G and D strings. When I played the Bach Preludio from Partita No 3 in E Major in studio class, everyone commented on how great the instrument sounded compared to when they heard me play last, before the bridge and sound-post. Thanks again!
Sincerely, L". (University of Florida).

"Had a chance to see and hear one of your violins at a recital this Christmas by Jeanne's student, Jonathan. It was a beautiful instrument and the sound was wonderful. Can't wait to hear Erin on her new viola." D.B. (1/22/2001)

DB in Tallahassee, about a 15" Panis Angelicus viola: "It is superb! Just received it today around 1 pm - Erin hasn't stopped playing since we got home tonight. Thank you! Husband and I are talking about going ahead and purchasing it immediately. Will let you know when final decision is made. Thanks again - Erin says it feels like Christmas all over again". (1/23/2001)

RW (Illinois) writes re a 3/4-size Little Fritz Kreisler violin: "Thank you for fixing Megan's violin. She was very upset when it was knocked out of her hand at school and was just sure that it was ruined. Megan was thrilled that you were able to fix it so promply and return it to her. It is truly a beautiful instrument."

I would like to share with the good folks of maestronet the wonderful (and disappointing) day I had at Gainesville Violins in, appropriately enough, Gainesville, FL, but let me preface with some background information... http://fingerboard.maestronet.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/006747.html

Your presence at Festival has always been a Godsend for the string players. I am certain Gainesville Musicale would want this to continue.
- DD, organizer.

Gainesville Violins supports Festival by having a booth and a table there for free emergency adjustments and repairs.

The door prizes went well. We do appreciate your coming. Everyone loved your talk and all the wonderful things you brought with you. I look forward to having you come back in the future.
Best wishes - EJ (organizer of a recent Suzuki Workshop day in Jacksonville, FL)

Hello Jan and Anna: Thanks so much for being a part of the workshop on Saturday! It went well. The 1/4 cello seems to fit our daughter well. We appreciate you taking care of that very much. I am looking forward to our house being full of beautiful music.
Thanks, JM (JM was at the above event)

Jan! I am crazy about the CodaBows! And the students are crazy especially about the CodaBow 'Colours'! I want to introduce these bows to everybody. Today FJ treated me to a concert by the Dallas Symphony in the great Meyerson auditorium by FJ, she was so delighted by the two violins that she bought from you. BTW, the case that I want to replace did not come from you. So don't for a moment think that anything I have gotten from you has ever given up the ghost! Everybody is thrilled with your products!
- NS (Suzuki teacher in Dallas TX)

I am very fortunate to have found your wonderful website! I am actually interested in finding out more information about your Bottesini double basses before ordering. I would be likely ordering it with a French bow, to be shipped to the metro-Detroit area. Thank you for your time and understanding.
- L (in Michigan)

Good Morning Jan and Anna: It is Friday morning about 6:00 am and I was led to write you a short note. I was in your shop on Monday Oct 15th and you fixed my old violin within a few hours. I look at it now and it is so nice. I pick it up and turn my music on and begin to play. I am still talking about my visit to your shop. I will be leaving tonight for North Carolina for a week. I thank you for your kindness and you patience. Thank you also for the case and the bow. I am taking it with me along with my other instruments to the mountains. I am looking forward to sitting on the back porch and playing to the birds.
Thanks for all your help. - MB.

I played in church this morning for the first time. It seemed to be a blessing. Several former violin players (in their youth) commented how rich my violin sounded and how much they enjoyed it. That is as much a compliment to you and your beautiful instrument, as it is to me.
Sincerely, CW (customer in Tampa)

C had her lesson tonight. She played beautifully on her new Vivaldi viola. The viola really suits her well and they are all very happy with it.
- NS (Suzuki teacher in Dallas TX)

We visited your website and now know what you look like and a bit more about what you do - very impressive!
D & CM (who sell the UMTHA violin necklaces to Gainesville Violins, from Cape Town, South Africa)