Sohlip Violins

Sohlip Violins is the name of the violin shop that I started in order to better serve the non-professional violin market for necessary restorations, maintenance, and sale of more affordable instruments under $10,000. Quality of services is of exact same level as everything else I do.

Repair and Restoration

Preserving the original and the health of violins stand at the top of the list of principles that guide me in this. Respecting the intention of creator of violin sets the perimeter which I rarely cross except when a better judgment prevails for the betterment of the violin. Violins can be shipped to me for estimates of repair costs, and can be handled expediently and at a reasonable cost.

Tone Adjustments

This is, most of the time, handled much better through face to face interactions for obvious reasons. 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 expect further suggestions at any time based on my wealth of experience gained through interactions with top-notch players for many years.

I believe listening to and understanding the players accurately are absolutely vital and more than half the battle in many cases. The idea of tone is very subjective and personal so it's not about impressing my ideas on the players. It's all about helping them find the tone they are looking for (desire) and bring it out of the instruments together. It's about finding the ideal balance or sweet spot on any given instrument. Although the constant disturbance of violin's equilibrium in the name of adjustment is detrimental to both violin's well being and the musician's psyche, sensibly thought-out adjustments can be a lifesaver for the players.

Re-graduation of Instruments

This is a procedure that should be undertaken only 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 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 1920's. You even remember seeing your grandfather play this violin as a child. You have been progressing as a violin student to 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 cost less than buying a new one. And you get to keep something that possesses a great deal of sentimental value. I enjoy a sense of satisfaction that I revived and improved upon a violin which otherwise would have gone to waste, perhaps destroyed.

A word of caution is necessary here. In the past, I have seen numerous examples of similar attempt by unqualified and unethical workmen that end up ruining potentially good usable violins. Overly thinned plates that seem to produce satisfactory tone that deteriorates after some time due to collapsing of arching, a so called patented bassbar that is no more than a piece-together contraption managed by a worker who is not capable of fitting a healthy bassbar. These are some of the examples of short-lived improvements that could convince even an experienced player over a short period of time.

It is a very cost-effective way of gaining a decent violin if a restorer who you have a full confidence in carries it out.

More Affordable Instruments

I have a wide variety of instruments both old and new either restored or set up by me up to $8,000. I also take trade-ins toward a purchase of another if necessary. I would like you to compare these violins to others from else where in the same price range.

Not everyone plays like Heifetz, Perlman, or Vengerov nor do they need violins like theirs from the beginning. I know from having a child who has played violin since the early age and is developing into a fine concert artist at the age of nineteen as I write this. You can always start at a reasonable level and upgrade as the skill level improves. There is an instrument that fits your needs at an affordable price. Try and be convinced!

Where I am / Map

11170 Surrey Park Trail
Duluth, GA 30097
(678)526-6038

We are located in Johns Creek area halfway between Duluth and Alpharetta. Northeast of Atlanta.

Click on the map for details