When we first began helping clients to choose instruments remotely, we weren't at all sure that it could work well. As musicians ourselves, we had always assumed that nothing could replace spending time together in the shop, gradually getting to know the instruments we love, and allowing preferences to emerge naturally. Like so many other businesses, the pandemic forced us to rethink the way we worked. The strange, unexpected bonus was that it opened up an entirely new way of working that has stayed with us for good!
Several years later, helping musicians to buy violins, violas and cellos online has become an entirely normal part of our week. Our latest London venture has allowed us to meet lots more clients in the south of England, but we feel incredibly lucky to be running the shop in an era where the internet allows us to build relationships with players from all over the world! We're always delighted to get the chance to welcome people to the shop, but it's now by no means the only way to find the perfect instrument.
How does buying an instrument online work?
There's no set pattern to the way we work with clients remotely: some get in touch about a specific instrument, having read our tonal description and watched the video of it being played. At this point, the next step is usually a conversation to make sure that the instrument is exactly as they think, and perhaps some more recordings of specific excerpts or pieces. We sometimes offer some comparison instruments to consider at this point, although not if someone has been in touch because they've always wanted an instrument by a specific maker, as happens quite often!
Others get in touch because they're looking for a new violin, viola or cello but don't know where to begin. In these cases, a useful next step is often to understand more about their current instrument and its strengths, as well as the reasons behind the search for something new. Sometimes people have a very clear idea of the sound they are looking for; often they simply know that they have outgrown their current instrument. Chatting about favourite players, repertoire, and what happens in the player's average month really helps us to get to know someone well enough to narrow down the search and make recommendations of instruments to consider. Many of our international clients make their decision without playing the instrument beforehand, which places a great deal of responsibility on us to describe each instrument as accurately as we possibly can. We spend a huge amount of time playing, comparing and discussing every instrument that comes through the shop before it ever appears on the website, and one of the nicest pieces of feedback we receive is when somebody tells us that the instrument sounds exactly as we said it would.
Video calls have become an invaluable part of the picture. They allow us to demonstrate instruments, answer questions and, perhaps most importantly, begin to build the relationship that has always been such an important part of our work. We have no desire to persuade somebody to buy an instrument that isn't right for them and there would be very little point in glossing over an aspect of an instrument that we suspect might become a disappointment later. We've always believed that happy musicians are the best form of advertising (probably partly because we're too shy to advertise much!), and knowing that someone has found the right instrument is a complete joy for both of us.
There is, of course, no single correct way to choose an instrument online. Once we've worked with someone to narrow down the options, the best way forward depends very much on where the client lives and how they prefer to work. Some people travel to see the instrument(s) in person, some arrange a home trial and others, particularly our international clients, decide to purchase based on our conversations, recordings and videos. One of the pleasures of working in this way has been discovering just how adaptable the process can be. Every musician approaches it slightly differently and we are always happy to tailor it to whatever works best for them.
Whether we first meet over coffee in the shop, in London, or on a video call from the other side of the world, our aim is exactly the same as it has always been: to help you find an instrument that you will enjoy playing for many years to come.