testimonial

~ READ WHAT OUR SATISFIED CUSTOMERS WROTE:

Scott Cook, Professor of Violoncello at the University of Milwaukee, WI commenting on the Stringnet Stefano Renzi cello his student was trying on approval:

Please know that I told them they should purchase the instrument after only playing it for a couple of minutes. I like it very much...I'm looking forward to Ross' working with this instrument and the progress he is going to make on such a good sounding cello.

-Scott Cook The University of WI-Milwaukee The String Academy of WI at The University of WI-Milwaukee

Michael L., a return customer who first bought a violin from Stringnet two years ago (see three letters down)

Just purchased one of (Stringnet's) more expensive celli and I'm very satisfied :) It's more beautiful in person than any of Stringnet's website photos. And the sound, it's just as described, 'rich and full. ' As far as Mr. Deutsch himself, he was quite helpful and quick to answer my many questions. Incidently, after having received the cello, I couldn't find the bridge (though it was in the package) and he generously offered to correct the situation. (Note : sound post, bridge, and tailpiece are taken down for safety during shipping.)... an honest person, I'm happy to have done business with him.
Remember me, awhile ago I'd bought a Piretti cello from you? The cello is just great, I absolutely love it, thank-you. My violin teacher played around w/ it, she wanted to buy it from me. Do all cellos sound this good? Honestly I do love it, there's something special that it possesses. One example is when I bow to produce a note, the note develops and takes on character in a strangely wonderful way - I don't have the words to accurately describe what I'm hearing but I think it's why people live and die for classical music.
That's it. Just wanted to say hello and I do visit your site pretty regularly.
Take Care, good luck. Michael L. (Los Angeles)
John F. wrote:
The Gabriellini arrived safely this morning. The violin is very beautiful in wood and sound. I am very happy with the instrument and the choice I made. The case also works well.
I think you have a great string instrument shop and I hope your business grows.
John F. - Seattle, WA

this from a delighted purchaser of a beautiful John Juzek violin

I love it! Thank you so much. It is beautiful! I promise to take good care of it and play her with much happiness.

Elena.Rahona@MOUNTSINAI.ORG

this letter from a recent runner up on an eBay auction who got his wished-for violin when the winner returned the instrument

Michael L. wrote:

Hello Robert !

Well, good news, I'd like to keep the Storioni :) First of all, I wanted to and did put on some new strings, (Infeld Red on the GDA and Pirastro Oliv gut on the E) before I tested it. I have these on all of my violins.

You might want to try Infeld Red on your violins as opposed to Dominants. It's the same company but the Reds are a newer, premium string. They're almost twice as rich as dominants.

Anyway, it took 3 hours for the strings to stretch and stabalize somewhat but once they did, I never heard such magic on an instrument. There are no words to describe the tones this violin produces. It's much much better than any of the 15 $9000 violins I tried out at my retail violin shop last month. I was very close to buying one of those (and trading in my $6000 German violin for credit) but then I saw the Storioni on Ebay luckily.

I'm very happy Robert, thank-you. Just let me know, I'll write a testimonial for you and your great service if you wish for your website.

Michael L.

...this warm letter from a gentleman who surprised his daughter-in-law, LaDonna, with a STRINGNET violin

From: "Gene Pettit" <gpettit@pdq.net>

Subject: The Violin

It occurred to me that I should communicate with you just how pleased I was with our transaction. So you'll know, Patrick is LaDonna's husband and my third son, Glennis is her mother, Jerry is an old prep schoolmate who helped me with the search, and Jonathan and Jeffrey are my other two sons. Thanks Robert!

********************************************************************************************

----- Original Message ----- From: Gene Pettit
To: Patrick Carlson Cc: Jerry STRAUGHN '49 ; Glennis HOLLY Walker
Sent: Tuesday, 21 September, 1999 9:24 PM

Subject: The Violin

That smile was worth every cent!

I met LaDonna on her way home, up in the Houston Heights, at 7:40PM, as soon after work as she could meet me. She had absolutely no idea why I'd called and arranged the meeting. The violin was built around 1825 by a French violin maker named Mougel. The value would be five times or so what we paid for it but for a mechanically sound but ascetically displeasing repair of some 100 or so years ago. It was the first violin/fiddle I had ever handled, and I thought it truly beautiful! Thank goodness she didn't select the one on the far left...That one had a lot of zeros in its price!

The old boy we bought it from is #3 Cellist in the Houston Symphony Orchestra. He sits just behind the first chair cellist, right on the aisle; A bloke named Robert Deutsch. He played all five he'd laid out, as a cellist. LaDonna picked them up and played them as a violinist. I trusted him from the first conversation we had on the telephone. When I insisted LaDonna have a bow, he told us they can cost as much as the fiddle, but he "found" one for us he said was unexpectedly discovered in the case of a used violin he had purchased. And when I asked about a case, he went into his archives and came up with an old, beat up but serviceable case. When she mentioned she might need lessons, he offered to help with an introduction, either with a member of the symphony or one of the many semi-pros (largely Rice University students) in the area.

LaDonna full understands there are strings attached. Strings? Yes! She must be willing to play Waltz Across Texas and/or Faded Love at my every fancy.

...next, a testimonial from a satisfied BULLETIN BOARD seller

Dear Robert,

Stringnet is Great!! I just sold the cello that was posted with you since late May, 2001. Please remove the listing of the 4/4 Uebel Cello for $3,000. from Sister Nancy Linenkugel. It was a great experience--so efficient and broad-reaching. I had originally placed a similar ad in a regional newspaper with a fairly large reach (600,000 pop) and that yielded nothing. I'm convinced that classical instruments have interested persons somewhere in the world, and the internet's breadth and reach is a fantastic way to find each other.

You have a great service and I will spread the word to my musician friends.

Thank you.

Sister Nancy

...and a happy buyer

Dear Stringnet,

I just bought my daughter a beautiful cello from a wonderful person through Stringnet. My daughter had tried several cellos from local stores with no satisfaction. I heard about your site & thought I'd browse. I was surprised to see a listing relatively close to home, for a cello with a price that was close to what we were looking to pay. I was skeptical about hooking-up with someone on the internet. However, within a short couple of emails I was certain that we had to see this cello. The seller was incredibly knowledgeable and kind. She took great care to provide me with any information that I needed to feel comfortable. My daughter knew within moments of putting the bow to string that she had a match. She had been afraid that our price range meant she would need to settle for an inferior instrument. I will never forget the way my daughter's eyes beamed over this cello! Thank you for providing the opportunity for a talented young lady to find the instrument that will help her pursue her dreams.

Terri H.