EXCITING DEVELOPMENT: A 4/4 violin newly made by Jan is being "played in" by Daniel Muni and Augi Lye's patented resonator (A+D Labs, Inc). Professional violinists tried it out and were delighted with the results on their own violins!

Significant aspects include: Age and origin of wood, body shape and dimensions, graduation, bass-bar, f-holes, varnish recipes and number and sequence of the different layers, bridge size and tuning, soundpost, tail loop, saddle, adjusted relative tension of G and E strings, and combination of strings.

         Riya's teacher wrote: "Jan, ... I just cannot imagine ever not having Gainesville Violins as it is the best violin shop in the whole world, for everybody from Twinklers to Ernst’s ‘Erlkonig’. You have made my kids what they are, because their instruments do them justice.... You are brilliant and exceptional, and certainly your coming to America had a lot to do with it. Love, Nicolette.” (Nicolette Solomon is Director of and Strings Specialist at the Suzuki Institute of Dallas, TX. Jan's custom violins have been the choice of very gifted and advanced students, all of them winners, at the Institute for many years. Anna and Jan visit there regularly to see their customers, service the instruments and observe the amazing quality of the teaching and playing. The little customers are also frequent visitors at the Violin House and its Russian Room and media center in the Magic Forest in Gainesville FL.)

"HOW TO BUY A VIOLIN": Click here and then scroll down. (You may want to read the entire page.)

RIGHT:

LISA FUJITA in recital in the Russian Room on 9/16/2007.

EMAIL RECEIVED 9/18/2007: "Dear Jan and Anna,  You and Daniel have helped our family with my wife's bow and my daughter's violin.  We couldn't be more pleased and have recommended your shop to Bob and Terri V.  Their 7-yr-old daughter Kira is a true phenomenon who has for years played her quarter-size violin in a Sarasota youth orchestra first violin section filled with accomplished full-sized high-schoolers.  Because of your selection and expertise I think you would be helpful to them.  The family's email is ***.  Best regards - Chuck Tanner, Sarasota." (JAN IS PLANNING A CUSTOM-MADE 1/2-SIZE VIOLIN FOR KIRA.)

EMAIL RECEIVED 9/19/2007 (this customer had bought an old violin on eBay and asked Daniel and Jan to restore it for her daughter): "Dear Jan and Daniel, We received Sara's violin back from you last Wednesday. She was so happy! Thank you all so much for everything.  I know that you folks work on some of the best instruments in the world, but I want you to know how much we appreciate your taking the time to repair and restore this violin. I believe that you have restored it to be the very best it could be for our daughter Sara. Thank you all so very much. Sincerely - Deborah and Sara Diteman."

EMAIL RECEIVED 9/20/2007: "Jan, Thank you so much for servicing Lauren's violin today. Your care and thoroughness was greatly appreciated. It's always a pleasure to visit you at your workshop. All the best, Beverly Vidauretta."

EMAIL RECEIVED 9/20/2007: "Jan, Thank you for the time, attention and wonderful conversations yesterday. Eric is always pleased with the added knowledge he receives when we visit you and Anna. We shall look forward to hearing from you about the violin that you will be making. Eric is excited. I assured him that your intuitive nature, your familiarity with him and your skills will undoubtedly create a definite 'Eric' violin. Thanks again,
Susanne D." (JAN WAS SO ENERGIZED BY THE VISIT AND DISCUSSIONS THAT HE STARTED WORK ON A CUSTOM GUARNERI DEL GESU MODEL FOR ERIC AT 1 am AND CONTINUED UNTIL 4 am, STARTING AGAIN AT 9 am AND CONTINUING UNTIL 6 pm, SERVING OTHER CUSTOMERS IN BETWEEN AND COMPLETING A CUSTOM 10-INCH VIOLA FOR A CUSTOMER IN JACKSONVILLE - THE SIZE OF A 1/8-VIOLIN!)