Commissioned Violins and Violas from Fiddleheads Violins

Commissioned Violins and Violas from Fiddleheads Violins

Our Service - Benefits - Commission a Custom Instrument

Unfortunately when a player has a very particular need in an instrument it can be very expensive and a long wait to have one custom-made. Fiddleheads Violins owner Rhiannon Schmitt experienced this problem herself when seeking a 1/2 size high-end violin for her son.

Thus Fiddleheads Violins has paired up with high-end luthiers in order to provide custom-made commissioned instruments for customers with specific needs.

We meet requests from our customers to have instruments tailor-made by our workshop makers Kocheff and Jovani and master, bench makers Petkov, Moneff, Stankov and Stoinov.

Our Service: Specialised Instruments are Possible

Our customers seeking a large-bodied viola with a violin scale neck can have one made easier than ever looking for one already made.

Players who are blown away by the tone and construction of violins of Stankov and Stoinov will stand out with a "crazy back," an instrument made in exceptionally rare "crazy back," ravishing, beautifully-flamed wood.

And gifted young players requiring a professional sound will not be forced into an overpriced antique fractional violin or a cumbersome full-size for lack of better options.

Commissioned violins make it possible for a player to get exactly what she or he needs in an instrument. But usually this customization comes with a hefty price tag and unbearable wait time. Not with Fiddleheads.

Benefits of Commissioning an Instrument from Fiddleheads

Affordable Cost - Short Wait Times - Watch Your "Baby" Take Shape - The Resulting Instruments

Affordable Cost

Unlike many luthiers, who do take on custom work but charge an arm and a leg for the instrument, Fiddleheads' prices on custom instruments are only fractionally higher than the ones we bring in as stock from these makers.

For example, we would only charge $100-$200 more for a Jovani with an altered neck or $400 more for a reversed design for a left-handed player. Stock Jovanis sell for $1990-$2190, so the extra cost is negligable.

As for the "catch" in our pricing, we surely could charge a lot more for the service. But we keep the prices low to earn your business. Besides, we are not dealing with loads of middlemen so the prices are very fair. As well the makers are busy making violins whether they are standard models or commissioned items, so it is not necessary to charge inflated prices for the order. Finally, the makers in Bulgaria ask far less money for their instruments than any North American makers of this grade.

Short Wait Times: Our Customers Receive Priority

We know players who have been promised by other luthiers to have their custom violin completed in 6 months, but the luthiers ended up taking on other work in the meantime. In the end some players have complained of waiting two years to receive their instrument!

Fiddleheads' special order instrument our customers are not forced to wait months and years to get their instrument. Our luthiers put priority into our customers' special order instruments above anything else, working on that one instrument until it is finished. Most of our custom orders are completed in only 8 weeks.

This fast service is possible because we are dealing with makers who only make instruments and are not innundated with typical shop business and repair work. In fact, the more custom orders we have streaming in, the better it is for keeping our makers employed.

Watch Your "Baby" Take Shape

The process of having an instrument commissioned is like waiting for a baby to be born! It is very exciting to make requests in colour varnish, style and wood of the fittings and any other optional details.

What player wouldn't love the option of choosing the appearance of their precious instrument?

Customers ordering instruments from master makers Stankov and Stoinov will enjoy the added excitement receiving updates and sometimes photos documenting the progress on the instrument as is "brought into the world."

The Resulting Instruments

All of our customers who have ordered a custom-made instrument have found the results far beyond expectation. Comments like, "it's more beautiful in person" or "it sounds nicer than I would have ever imagined" afirm that we have exceeded any possible expectations and that our instruments are superb value for the price.

Incidentally, Rhiannon, in her search for a fine violin for her son, ordered a special 1/2 size Jovani Strad model. The violin turned out far better than even she would have ever imagined. As for tone, the tiny 1/2 size has people convinced there is a full size violin hiding inside it! Heads turn and she is asked "where did your son get that incredible sounding violin?"

Visit Customer Testimonials

Commission a Custom Instrument from Fiddleheads

Customers interested in seeking a custom-made instrument are asked to contact us with their requests. Owner Rhiannon Schmitt can inquire on the available makers, options, wait times and costs and get back to the player with a quote.

All special order instruments, being non-standard and not stock, require a non-refundable 50% deposit for work to commence, the balance due upon completion of the instrument.

Please contact us to inquire or to start work on your new "baby." Thank you for taking the time to learn about our custom-made instruments.

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