Violins . Fiddles . Violas . Cellos

Handmade Violins

• Young Kim Violins: Concert quality violins made from aged European tone wood most prevalent in the Alps. Each violin is hand crafted by Young Kim from start to finish. Great attention to detail ensures professional quality instruments that are both beautiful in appearance and tone. The base price of these instruments start at $12,000.

• Commissioned Instruments: Specifically requested instruments that are tailored to a player's preference.  Prices vary upon request.

Shop Instruments

• Sohlip Violins: A brand created for mid to high level students/a professional's second instrument that has been adjusted and set up by Young Kim. The price for this type of instrument ranges between $2,000 to $8,000.

• Refurbished Violins: Violins that have been traded or acquired through auctions and have been restored for sale. The price range varies depending on the origin of the instrument and the quality of tone

Repair and Restoration

Preserving the originality and health of violins are fundamental principles that guide my work. Respecting the intention of the original creator of the violin sets the boundary of repairs. Violins can be shipped to me for estimates of repair costs and will be handled expediently.

Tone Adjustments

Most of the time tone adjustments are handled much better through face to face interactions. All the mechanical aspects of the violin are evaluated as a whole as well as individually --- neck angle, string length, bridge, sound post, finger board, string angle and height, to name a few. Then I listen attentively to the player's needs in their own words, not my own set of preferences. Recommendations are made and actual adjustments are executed to the player's satisfaction. A less experienced/informed player can request further suggestions or recommendations at any time.

I believe listening to and understanding each player accurately is vital for successful adjustments. The idea of tone is very subjective and personal, so it's not about imposing my ideas on the players. Helping players to find the tone they are looking for is a combined effort of the player and the luthier.

Re-graduation of Instruments

This is a procedure that should be undertaken by a qualified restorer who has an overall knowledge of acoustics as well as an ethical mindset not to compromise the health of the violin. It involves removal of the top to gain access inside the violin body, fine tuning thickness of plates including the adjustment or replacement of bassbar, and doing whatever necessary in the way of set-up (bridge, sound post, strings, pegs, tail piece, chinrest).

Suppose you have an old violin from a German workshop with a decent varnish and appearance that has been in the family since the 1920's. You even remember seeing your grandfather play this violin as a child. You have been progressing as a violin student and have to upgrade your beginner's violin for a better one. You would love to use your grandpa's violin, but it just doesn't have the tone quality that you need. Chances are this violin can be re-graduated and improved considerably by a competent restorer at a lower cost than buying a new one. You'll also get to keep something that possesses a great deal of sentimental value. I enjoy a sense of satisfaction when I revive and improve a violin which otherwise would have gone to waste.

A word of caution is necessary here. In the past, I have seen numerous examples of similar attempts by unqualified and unethical workmen that end up ruining potentially good usable violins. Overly thinned plates that seem to produce satisfactory tone but deteriorate after some time due to collapsing of arching can permanently destroy an instrument. These are some of the examples of short-lived improvements that could convince even an experienced player over a short period of time.

Re-graduation is a cost-effective way of gaining a decent violin if performed by an experienced restorer.