Sun

Kind, witty, and very generous seller who helped me pick the perfect gift

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] Rhiannon helped me pull off the perfect surprise birthday gift with a lefty fiddle for my husband.

Working with her was like a breath of fresh air - she's kind, witty, and very generous.

Highly recommend this shop to anyone looking for a fiddle/violin. You won't be disappointed!

July 1, 2023

A voice that made me cry

I was so excited to see left hand violins in a quality venue. Hard to come by as I had a "Carlton" from Long and McQuade and when I was ready to up my commitment they had nothing.

The Fiddleheads Sun VN-103L left-handed violin came two days ago can't lay it down.. so much more response...forgiving...it sings to me...a voice..it can make me cry.

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] I must say my experience "very much" exceeded my wildness expectations, from the time I engaged in (expertise guidance) through my situation and custom needs (left handed player) to the choice made and arrival of my AMAZING Violin 103L, I knew well I made the right choice.

How could I go wrong with the support I had been given by "fiddleheads" it felt like they were behind me during the whole process "Great Feeling".

The violin is very responsive... very forgiving... sounds like she sings out to me. Can't wait to hear her 'offering" in a few months of playing. I'm so excited.

Thank You Rhiannon for the "personal nudge" into the right direction. Much Appreciated.

April 11, 2023

My daughter loves it!

We received the [VN-101] violin today and my daughter loves it!

Thank you for the beautiful instrument and the amazing silver bracelet. Appreciate it. :)

February 20, 2023

Outstanding service and quality

I recently bought a violin from you! I really liked it and could tell that it was very good quality!

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] Rhiannon was easy to work with, helpful, and flexible.

She was very good at answering any questions and her customer service was above and beyond. She only charged what was necessary, and she was very friendly!

Rhiannon put lots of time into answering emails and she sold good quality violins!

I definitely recommend; outstanding service and quality!

February 20, 2023

This is the best intermediate violin I have ever played

Summary: This is the best intermediate violin I have ever played.

Well worth the money, and it would be hard to find its equal... anywhere near the price, and most often quite higher.

Recommended for any beginner or intermediate player of any level.

Review: I have only received this violin 45 minutes ago. And I already know I am ready to leave a review.

I will be totally honest, and I will be comparing this to my main violin which is a right handed professional violin antique from the late 1800's which I have never personally found its equal.

I wanted a left handed violin, because I have learned to play the violin like a cello and backwards because I am missing the middle finger on my left hand. And I have developed a skill I am quite happy with. However, I want to play the traditional way as well, up on the shoulder.

About the violin. It is charming looking. Well made. No quibbles about construction.

Immediately upon picking it up, I noticed it was heavy. At least compared to other fine violins which I have made or used. I am also a new luthier. However the weight is common in beginner and intermediate instruments, especially from China.

I will one day be making my own left handed personal violin, but I wanted to learn how to play in a standard way knowing that this violin would not be my lifelong violin, but a tool that I can enjoy to teach me how to play.

And I wanted tone. I need to feel pleased and enjoy making music from it, and not be offended. lol. So I am very picky about tone. I have tried literally hundreds of violins, all of them in the thousands, even to $10,000 range, and I am serious when I said, I found all of them unsatisfactory in general.

So onto the review of the Sun 103 Lefty Violin. When I played the first note, I was actually very surprised. The tone was actually quite nice and rich and full. Unlike almost all the other violins I have tried. Which is frankly miraculous considering this is a China factory violin and I have tried hundreds of supposedly fine handmade violins in some serious violin stores.

With the Sun, the G string had a full sound right out of the box (which by the way the packing was perfect, and immaculate).

I would describe it as deep and full. Not bright, but warm. The G string is the string I care about the most, and in most other violins I find it tinny weak and lacking on most violins I try, and I won't even go further. On this one this was not the case. The other strings were fine as well. Actually pretty similar quality along all strings.

The projection of this violin, to me is not up to snuff, although I am comparing it to my professional violin, which would be satisfactory in a concert hall. However, the interesting thing is even though the SUN doesn't have HUGE projection, it still somehow doesn't sound congested or tinny. Its just a nice warm sound that you can lean into, and for an intermediate violin in this price range, unless you are going to be doing solo work, the projection is fine. I would say it is COMPLETELY fine for orchestra work, and very pleasing for home and small groups and impressing your parents ;) .

I also am not looking for completely projecting fill up the concert hall sound. I want something I can enjoy. And enjoy this violin I CAN. All of the strings have a nice warm full tone. And I mean it when I say it sounds better then most other violins WELL above the price of this one. Normally, when the violin is a bit heavier, and doesn't have a huge projection, the sound is thin and tinny and congested. This is not so at all on this Sun violin. I don't know how they did it, but they did.

So if you are looking for professional open clear projection, this is definitely not the one for you, but you would most likely have to pay much more to get that. However, the projection is fine, and due to the frankly miraculous pleasing tone that this violin is able to get, for an intermediate player, it really doesn't matter, and I would honestly say that any advancing student or any amateur would be very happy with this violin.

It have some VERY little squeakiness a few times on the strings, which I have never experienced before, but it was very minor and with a few adjustments really will easily go away once I get used to this baby.

Overall, I am really pleased with this violin. It is nearing some of the qualities of a professional violin, and by far is the best intermediate violin I have ever seen or played. I'm going to really enjoy coaxing the best sound I can out of it while I work on the skills to build my own.

And as to the award winning owner. Thank you for personally speaking with me on the phone, and assuaging my hesitancy at buying this violin site unseen or heard. I am happy I did. I listened to all the other left handed violins I could purchase, and was dissatisfied with what I could hear. This was the last chance. And I'm happy I took it. :)

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[UPDATE: 4 days later] I enjoy thinking about this violin all the time, so I'm happy to write more about it.

[Regarding my review] I really wanted to help other make an informed decision and help them know what they are getting and not getting.

I can certainly assure you that fiddleheads at this moment is the only store I would recommend anyone to with 100% trust.

It is interesting about the weight. My luthier instinct, (and I literally mean mine, and no-one else's) gives me the impression that if I opened it up and took some material off the top and bottom plates in a controlled way, I could open up the sound some. I have actually done this with several violins, antique (worthless) and kits, and newer violins, where it was just tight closed non vibrat-ey sound... and every time I improved the sound in a very noticeable way.

However... this takes a lot of time... and love of course... but to be totally honest, I have no interest in that with something like this... because in a way, when you appreciate something, you appreciate it for what it is. Not what it isn't.

And when you care about an object, you don't really want to dissect it and find out exactly how it works, you want to just appreciate it and enjoy it and stay out of your own head. And that is the way I feel with this little guy (or gal). ;)

I will also say, the weight is not a turn off to me in anyway. I care about the tone, and it will help me build my muscles. haha.

I haven't [re-graduated the wood] on my other lovely violin as well, because they are so special to me I don't want to ruin the magic. In a way it can take some of the magic out of it by being too science-y with it.

As to the squeakiness. I carefully rosined my bow with very lovely forgiving rosin, and honestly it hasn't squeaked at all since that first 15 minutes. And I've been playing every day.

I really appreciate all Rhiannon's insight from everything she said [about real ebony weighing more than low quality or fake ebony used on other violins] too.

I felt in my review that I had something kind of unique to offer because I was consciously buying a 'downgrade' violin from the one I have now that I play in viol/cello mode. And looking for a violin that didn't offend my ear was difficult.

I even purchased another violin [from another shop], I had intended to be a backup for my main from another reputable store, and after I got it out, and from the first note, I knew I could not play it. It was back in the box 15 minutes later on its way back.

At some point, in the somewhat foreseeable future, my music playing will outgrow the current Sun violin, and I will be inspired and know that I am ready for the next. And at that moment, I will be still incredibly thankful for this violin which helped me get there that I had been and that I am playing now.

And the fact that I have this one, will help me appreciate the next one even more. Which is a beautiful thing. :)

July 4, 2022

Thanks so much Rhiannon for making my violin experience a reality. I look forward to my next violin purchase experience

Well, Thanks so much to fiddleheads opportunity for great product line of violins and supplies.

I am a lefthanded player that recently purchased a lefty violin model Sun VN-103L intermediate violin custom lefthanded version. Wow. What a great instrument.

I am a guitar builder and player of the lefthanded side, so I build mostly lefthanded acoustic flamenco style nylon string instruments.

Am so impressed with the intonation and sound quality of this new violin. I am new to the violin world, but I do know a good sound when I hear it. Basically, being a beginner in this new journey of mine has shown me how much respect I do have to those who play this amazing instrument.

Rhiannon has taken this opportunity to a whole different level by offering so many great choices to lefty's or righthanded violinists. Amazing what she has singlehandedly done. I am so blessed and happy to be part of this new world of hers.

Back to the violin. I have carefully examined the playability and sound quality of each string and found that the low G string is a nice perfectly balanced to the rest of the open notes on this violin.

I can see that a lot off effort has gone into the setup to offer the best results as a beginner, I feel there is some forgiveness for my abilities in this setup and this model can make you shine.

I am so glad I went with a high-quality instrument at the beginning. I am very serious about being able to play well and I can now see that this can be accomplished.

Thanks to the Fiddleheads team I will be in a very capably place to succeed at playing left-handed violin. I must admit without Rhiannon's website and beautiful shopping experience, I would have never been able to complete this journey of playing a true left handed violin.

I totally recommend Fiddleheads to anyone interested in the true violin experience. It has been a true pleasure to deal with them. Thanks again!!!!!

March 11, 2022

The VN-102 is a wonderful instrument

I've been playing all day. It's a really wonderful instrument.

It got here much sooner than expected. Thanks again for all your help with this!

November 10, 2021

First time player

I received my new violin and love it, thank you!

I picked up a cheap electric violin a few years back and have been tuning and doing basic things on it. The sound (unplugged) was not horrible but a little metallic.

Looking forward to learning...thanks again!

October 28, 2021

This violin teacher is impressed

I run a music school in Toronto and have been disappointed by the quality of student violins available for kids at our local store Long and Mcquade.

I decided to look online so this package is for one of my intermediate students. She could not be more excited to receive her new violin :)

I would love to continue purchasing for my students from your website. Thank you for the extras!

[UPDATE: 10 days later] We received the violin, it's fantastic, and my student loves it already! I have another student interested in the same package or similar.

[UPDATE: 1 month later] My partner Leland also [bought] a new [VN-102] violin. He is a touring musician although, violin is not his primary instrument.

He does session work and writes string parts and needs a better quality violin in terms of tone etc. He is thrilled with his violin.

It is even more beautiful looking and sounding as he anticipated!

September 21, 2021

An excellent experience from start to finish

I'm looking forward to spending a great deal of time with this new instrument. It is lovely! I greatly appreciate the service and your efforts to make everything just right for me!

Thank you for your response regarding my concerns about the imperfections on the fiddle finish. Overall, I am very happy with the fiddle and do not think my concerns are worth making an exchange.

I have enjoyed playing it and find the quality of the instrument and the sound a big improvement over my first instrument. I greatly appreciate your offer to 'make things right', but honestly, I don't think any of the glitches were because of anything you did! The post office messed up, the bling was sent (I just didn't look hard enough), and the quality of the violin isn't affected by the [small surface] marks.

So all of this to say, I would like to proceed with the purchase. I guess my next step is to consider a bow upgrade!

Thanks again for your care and support throughout this transaction. I'll definitely send recommendations your way!

[REVIEW: Google, 5 stars] Dealing with Rhiannon has been an excellent experience from start to finish. She was quick to respond to messages, and to make sure there was nothing more that she could do for me to make sure I was happy with my purchase.

My violin arrived extremely well packaged and it's lovely!

March 11, 2021

I would have spent double for a violin like this at another shop

Wow it looks amazing! I've been looking online for a violin for the past few weeks, and have been frustrated because I couldn't find one I liked, the VN 102 is hands down the nicest looking one I've seen that fits my budget! I'm a beginner, but I want to get a violin that I can still use when I am at an intermediate level.

I must have looked at over 50 violin shops during the past few weeks, I wish I found yours earlier.

Other violins I found within this price range look rather cheap, I can tell the VN102 is of very high quality - I had been thinking I'd need to spend at least [double this price] to get a violin that suits my preferences!

You've answered all my questions and concerns in great detail. I'm learning so many interesting things about violin playing/violins everyday!

The more I learn, the more I love this violin.

I'm a pretty anxious person when buying things, adulting is hard! It was so much simpler when I was a kid - my mom just picked out my piano, guitar and clarinet. I'm so excited to start this journey, I've wanted to play a bowed string instrument for a long time.

Thank you so much for all your help! I've emailed many shops and none of them have shown the attention, diligence, and friendliness that you have (some don't even reply). I am glad I did a lot of research, otherwise I would have just purchased from Long and Mcquade instead of a proper violin shop.

March 8, 2021

My wife and I are learning to play violin together

We got the violins - thanks! We are looking forward to learning.

I appreciate your help with this and your offer of future help. It was just what I needed.

I am looking forward to this adventure.

I hope that some of my grandfather's violin skills get passed along. My other grandfather was a chess grandmaster- which is another skill I am trying to learn!

February 14, 2021

Fantastic sound for the size and price point

Loving the violin - fantastic sound for the small size [1/4] and price point!!!!

January 16, 2021

Luthier set up was perfect

This violin is more than I imagined. The construction appears to be nicer than the $750 violin I rented from Long & McQuade. But Rhiannon's violin was better and about half the price. So I took the rental back the right away and got a refund.

I took the violin in to a luthier to check it over. The set up was perfect and did not need any adjustments. The bridge was good. So pleased that everything is as it should be.

Violin is a very hard instrument to play overrall, but I can feel some improvement in the little time I've had with this particular instrument. 2021 is going to be a fun year for me.

January 5, 2021

The violin is beautiful. I love her!

I'm just very excited to begin playing! The violin is beautiful.

I love her! :)

I wish all the success for you and your business it was a pleasure! I will leave my honest review when I get the chance.

Most pleased with your kind service thank you again.

December 6, 2020