Zhu 903

I'm from Japan and a total beginner in violin. I visited Rhiannon in person. It was a Saturday but Rhiannon spent half the day with me!

First, I was thinking to buy Zhu 901. Even though I'm a beginner, I could tell Zhu 901 had more projection than other violins in the same price range. But I preferred the 903 and it was not much more money to spend for the improvement in appearance.

I'm so impressed with the work of Ming Jiang Zhu's workshop. It must be a great workshop with the master's supervision. Every piece had perfect antique varnish work which is not too shy and not too obvious. I love the beautiful colour and gradation.

Zhu 903 might be too good for me but I really liked the looks over 901. I will love this violin for life!

UPDATE [2 Years Later]: I just went to the jam night. A lady, who had played fiddle a bit before, came to me and asked. " Is it Viola?" She described the tone of my 903 deep and mellow.  Just wanted to let you know. 

- Hiroomi, Barriere BC

Just to let you know, Susanna had a wonderful Christmas practice last night on a farm (and with a wood stove). Two guitars, 2 violins, a piano and 3 voices, preparing for Sunday evening Christmas program.

I could hear the new [Zhu 903] violin for the first time in the band setting and it was beautiful. The other violinist immediately complimeted Susanna on the new instrument for its clear, full sound. Even when Susanna was standing with her back to me, I could hear the clean sound of her violin coming out above the other instruments.

We are all really happy with the new addition which you helped us with.

- Neels en Dina (with a hug from Susanna), Alberta

Thank You! Everything was safe and sound. What a gorgeous [Voxy Bow and Zhu VN-903] violin outfit! I can't wait for Caitlin to come home from school and see it - I know she will love it. Violin concert at our house tonight!

(Later...) Violin and player are fine. She loves her new [Zhu VN-903] violin and just this last weekend passed on her old one to her little brother. He is so pleased about that - so they're both very happy!

We were extremely pleased as usual with your knowledge and service and will not hesitate to return and recommend you whenever we can.

- Sheena, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

The [Zhu VA-903] Viola arrived today. My daughter is out of town until Saturday night so I can't give you her reaction. We have not told her about it, so it will be a complete surprise.

The color is more orange-ish than I thought it would be, which is very nice. I was expecting quite brown but there is a nice orange cast.

Thumbs up for that.

We took the viola to her teacher to tune it and prepare it properly. She thought the tone and rich sound was wonderful. I'm no sound expert but comparing it to her crappy 14" violin with viola strings, it sounds like a cello.

Thumbs way up for that!

- Wesley, Utah

Sydney loves the [Zhu 903] violin. Her teacher was impressed too and said she will definitely tell students to check your site out if they are looking for a violin. Thanks again,

- Troy, Calgary, AB

The [903] viola is beautiful!  It has a very pleasant voice (especially the C when you need a robust low note - if my teeth ever feel too tight, I will simply lay my jaw against the instrument & play a long, loud C and that will cure the problem! :oB This is a nice deep (thick?) instrument.

I LOVE the low sound of the instrument -- VERY nice.  I can hardly wait for our Gospel group's next practice to see how it sounds with the other instruments in the group. Thanks kindly for your help. Gratefully,

- Paul, MCPO, USCG (Retired)

 

Zhu 905

Shifa played the [1/2 size Zhu 905] violin over the weekend and likes the bigger sound. More than the violin, she enjoyed the gift [of a violin pin] you gave her!

- Riyaz, Ontario

First of all, thank you for shipping 4 violins to my new student.  It has been an interesting experience for us all.   As they probably let you know already, they chose one of the 905 models.   They brought me the other 3 violins yesterday and I have been showing them to some of my other students. 

One of the 903's is very popular - it has a particularly nice warm tone.  Three people were interested in it, although only one is ready to purchase right now.  I told her I would give her your contact information, so she can discuss payment with you. 

Another family is interested in the Ming Jiangs as well.

UPDATE: Thanks for the help with my [other] student - it is a nice 905 they got there.  

- Bethany [Violin Teacher], Toronto, Ontario

I have put a few hours on the violins you sent. I like the Zhu [905] the best. I did try a John Haide violin today, a 2003 model, it was a little mellower but I think the Zhu will come around with more playing.

UPDATE [6 months later]: I'm loving my new fiddle I purchased from you and putting lots of hours on it.

Thanks for giving my songs a listen and also for the advice, everthing helps and I realize nothing but hours of dedicated practice work.

UPDATE [1 year later]: Still loving my Zhu and I think it's sounds better all the time (all the practice probably doesn't hurt either).

- Terry, Maple Creek Saskatchewan

We are keeping the 905 Strad model.  It is really incredible and anyone who plays it does a double take...thanks again.

Once again, thanks for everything. All the best,

- Dan, Burlington, ON

 

Zhu 907

The 907 15" viola is such a lovely instrument, but I am soooo glad we went with the 909 in a 15.5" afterall, since [my daughter] Allison is playing the heck out of it.

She has really improved over the last few months and receives compliments on her instrument all of the time. For the spring semester in the Fairbanks Youth Orchestra she has been placed 1st chair! Her conductor last week told her that she has been playing fabulously and congratulated her on her hard work.

Also, she was wrapping up a lesson and her instructor's next student was there, (a 50ish year old women) and she commented on the lovely sound of Allison's viola. We are very happy. Thank you! :)

- Yvette, Fairbanks, Alaska

I found Fiddleheads when looking up [Zhu online.]  I liked the variety of violas at my price level, I liked that Rhiannon plays viola as well as violin, and I liked the kinds of things I read in the testimonials, so I sent off a message outlining what we were looking for and asking for recommendations. 

Two days later I was treated to a generous couple of pages reviewing the potential best matches for us, and a month later we had a terrific viola – a Tertis style Ming Jiang Zhu model 907.

Over the space of three weeks we tried out every available viola in [Winnepeg], and none sounded or felt right – they were hard to play, harsh sounding, or just hollow-sounding.  The Zhu was different.  Even in its box it was so elegant-looking with its warm brown colour and jujube fittings.

The neck is particularly slender and light so it’s easy to hold up for a long time.  And the sound was great from the start – smooth and warm across all the strings and in higher positions, and responsive with strong and full projection (not just loud)– just what we were looking for! 

My daughter’s teacher was impressed with several of the instruments we had brought for her to hear, and this one was, hands-down, the best of the lot.  For me the next test came when, less than two months later, she was playing a duet with one of the leading violists in the city and to my ear there was no really obvious difference in tonal quality between her new viola and his larger and more valuable instrument. 

Back in orchestra and ensembles this fall, it’s great to hear her lone viola richly filling out the bottom end and support her as she tackles increasingly complex repertoire.  My daughter feels that, over the four months she’s been playing her new viola, the sound has warmed up even more, especially on the C string, the open string notes ring even more, and it resonates more when played or sympathetically when other instruments are played nearby.

I was really impressed by Rhiannon’s warm personal style, and investment in the process, balanced with practical business sense – it really was the next best thing to actually being in the store!  When it’s time to move to a more advanced instrument, we’re sure to be back to Fiddleheads and to the Zhu violas!

- Ala, Winnepeg, Manitoba - Read Complete Review

 

Zhu 909

I bought the Ming Jiang Zhu 909 from Fiddleheads after reading about Zhu's gold medals in violin competitions, and I can't stop playing it.

Rhiannon hand-selected this particular violin for me when I told her the sound I wanted. The violin has such a rich, clear tone and beautiful warmth. It's a huge improvement over the instrument I was previously using. It's also beautiful to look at.

The set-up of the violin is perfect so I didn't have to take it to a local shop to make any adjustments.

I was also pleasantly surprised that Fiddleheads switched out the infamously scratchy E- string from the set of Dominants on the violin with a more suitable Lezner E-string from Goldbrokat. Now that's detail.

Fiddlehead's service felt so personal even though our communication was through email. Through it all, Rhiannon was so kind and accommodating. I felt really cared for. So thanks Rhiannon!

I definitely feel confident recommending Fiddleheads to anyone looking for a violin.

- David, Lake Forest, California

I’m an advancing student and have just acquired a new violin – a Ming Jiang Zhu 909 and I love him. He is a him, and his name is Vinny. He has beautiful projection, is very comfortable to play and I don’t have to push the sound at all.

With the strings I am using (Pirastro Passione) Vinny sounds very warm and mellow, especially on the G string. He is an excellent violin for classical music, and I love playing fiddle with him too. The varnish is beautiful.

Thank you Rhiannon and Mr. Zhu!

- Hanna, Age 13, Williams Lake BC [read her mom's feedback below]

Our teacher loves how this [Zhu VN-909] violin rings and can be heard clearly, even with the most gentle notes; and when impact is called for, it delivers big time.

The sound is far beyond others we’ve tried in this price range, and Rhiannon’s price was excellent! We feel fortunate to have found such a lovely instrument that we could make work budget-wise.

Hanna is advancing quickly and has so much potential with this violin - it will be with her and serve her well for many, many years to come. [She] is very attached already!‘

- Heather, Williams Lake BC [read her daughter's feedback above]

I love my violin. I am playing every day and loving it.

I love the full rich tone [of the Zhu 909] and it is very true up the fingerboard. One piece I am playing has a "gritty" section in it and I am playing it up the G-string with wonderful resonance and vibration which gives me just the sound I am looking for.

My granddaughter Kieran (who has my old violin, thus my need to buy another violin) has played it too and I think she is a little jealous!

UPDATE [2 Years Later]: I still play my violin every day and am going to take my grade 6 in June. The violin still sounds great. Since I have been playing my [non-Zhu] viola more I can really notice the difference in quality between the two instruments. I am finding [the viola] is very inferior to my Zhu 909 violin and now I want a viola to match.

- Felicity, Lindsay, ON

I wish I had bought a Zhu violin from you sooner. The 909 was a good buy. The balance between the strings is quite good. It's a great fiddle, a really nice fiddle and I am glad I purchased it from you. I need to play it in a fair bit more, but it is really opening up and the projection is excellent.

UPDATE [1 Year Later]: That little [909] violin really has opened up. I am very happy with it. I wish more of my students could play violins like this one. It's a gem.

- Tom [Violin Teacher and Private Dealer], Oregon

The [Zhu VN-909] violin arrived! I had to find someone to set up the soundpost and bridge. [The luthier, Christopher Eccleshall] apprenticed as a violin maker with Hills of Bond Street, London. Despite his reservations about Chinese instruments, he had to agree that "Zhu seems to know what he's doing." Praise indeed. I've had a run through my music repertory and am really impressed. The sound is so luscious, mellow and bright at the same time. And the instrument is even lighter than my Italian fiddle, which is another plus. Many thanks for including the free Canadian Fiddlebook - just what I wanted. That hard case is a beauty, too. Thank you for all your help getting me this lovely violin, Rhiannon. I hope I can do it justice. - Nick, Ashburton, England

As posted online by Nick Don't be afraid to look abroad in your search for the "perfect" violin - I found mine at Fiddleheads, in Canada. It's run by a professional violinist, Rhiannon Schmitt, who has set up a truly inspiring website (www.fiddleheads.ca) with a range of quality new and used instruments. Her current selection includes, for example, a bench-made 2006 Andreas Jovani, described as "perfect for a professional musician or advanced student." It's just over £1000, plus carriage. I think I paid around £80 carriage on my Zhu, which was supplied on trial.