Hi all,

I was wondering if any of you could recommend any good reputable violin shops in or near London? I need a new violin and the shop I currently go to is in Beaconsfield but I'm finding the selection a little limited for nice instruments (just done Gd 8). If anyone could recommend anywhere (a weblink would be fabulous too ) it would be much appreciated - I'm going to have a look at the auctions with my teacher too but I need a back-up plan!

Sardine xxx

Beare's. It's in Soho, or it was the last time I went there.

Violinia

J & A Beare
30 Queen Anne Street, W1G 8HX
020 7307 9666
Appointment only
Beares are a very good place to go if you are looking at spending £10,000 plus, but they don't sell instruments much under that value.

You could try:

J P Guivier
99 Mortimer Street
W1W 7SZ
020 7580 2560
They sell a range of good instruments priced from around £2500 upwards.


The other alternative is:

Ealing Strings
4 Station Parade
Uxbridge Road
Ealing Common
London
W5 3LD
020 8992 5222 or 3993

They have an exhaustive collection of instruments to suit anyone from music college student up to a top soloist. They also sell on commission with instruments being sold through them privately.

Good luck, happy violin hunting!

Amanda

I forgot to mention websites.

www.ealingstrings.info

www.beares.com

Guivier don't have a website.

Don't expect to find any instrument prices listed though. Having tried Beare's for a violin myself recently, they work on the premise that "if you have to ask the price you can't afford it".

Amanda

QUOTE (AmandaL @ Aug 2 2004, 09:34 AM)

You could try: J P Guivier 99 Mortimer Street W1W 7SZ 020 7580 2560 They sell a range of good instruments priced from around £2500 upwards.

I haven't had any recent experience of Guiviers, but my daughter's very good 1/4 size instrument came from there years ago, and friends bought a full size instrument there for their son and said there was no pressure to spend more than they could afford. It's a very old-established firm and I've never heard any criticism of it. Definitely worth a try.

The shop is very easy to get to, just a few minutes' walk from Oxford Circus.