Classic Bows Violin Shop

I really recommend you to buy an instrument from this store. The owner was VERY supportive and helped me find the right viola. He took me to their practice room and let me play the violas he had in stock, and helped me find the right one. He was very supportive. The customer service was amazing, and the owner himself had the patience to help me find the correct viola. I also really recommend this store, because other than having the orchestral instruments, they have the strings, accessories, music, and the spirit!!! If you are looking for a place to buy a violin, viola, or cello come to Classic Bows… you will be impressed!!!

I took my daughter to this shop to purchase a violin today. Unmatched customer service, guidance and patience from the owners. No pressure whatsoever. Answered all my questions. Greg even played the final two violins for my daughter so she could hear them played by someone else and make a final decision.
I’m so glad there are small shops like this that somehow endure the pressure of online and big box retailers and survive to help make the shopping experience a learning experience for their customers.
Support your local music store. Go shop here.

I had a great experience at Classic Bows! Great Family business and very honest! My 10 year old daughter played violin at school. We bought her a brand new violin and she played it for 4 years and took great care of it! We brought it in on consignment and when it sold and we got ½ our money back! We were trilled! Highly recommend Classic Bows to anyone!

Classic Bows Violin Shop offers a balance of product selection, quality craftsmanship, affordability, and excellent customer service that is unmatched by their competitors (local and far).
Like many musicians, my husband has developed a strong sentimental attachment to his instrument, a violin that he has regularly played for the last twenty years. For at least six years, Greg has been my husband’s go-​to for any and all repairs/​service. When my husband performed in a band, Greg was called upon far more often than a typical violinist. Each and every time, the quality of Greg’s craftsmanship was excellent and it was delivered without an ounce of the attitude commonly found in violin shops.
Since moving to northern California, my husband and I have not been able to locate a violin shop that comes close to Classic Bows. In this time, our appreciation has only grown, as Greg and Lois have gone above and beyond to help us get everything taken care of during short trips to visit friends and family in San Diego.
If you’re looking for a violin shop, look no further than Classic Bows!

I just got a ⁴⁄₄ (full size) violin. the owners were really nice and knowledgeable. the violin looked really nice It was in tune and they let me try it out in the back. The violin was way louder than my old violin which is great! And you can come back and trade it if you need a bigger size! I got the case, violin, bow, and shoulder rest for about $ 300. They even gave a free cloth, tag, and rosin! I recommend this place to people, I would come back again!

Greg and Lois run a wonderful, clean, well organized shop. They are very knowledgeable about all types of stringed instruments and have a large variety of them in stock. You can always count on courteous, attentive service at Classic Bows! Whether you are a beginner or a professional musician, I highly recommend this store!

I go here for all of our Viola and Violin needs. Always helpful and super friendly. 1^st time we came in to have a D string replaced and not only did he put it on, but he also tuned it.
Will not go anywhere else! Thank you for always being GREAT!

Classic Bows has always been professional and friendly. I recently brought my son’s violin in for new strings and a new bridge. I was scared it would cost an arm and a leg, but it was affordable and they finished it within the day.
I’ve also bought a violin from them before and found it to be a great piece. I highly recommend them for your violin needs.

I was a little hesitant to go into the shop because of some negative reviews I had read online. I really needed strings, a new bow, and roslin so I decided to go. I was really happy that I did! I had a really good experience while I was in there. I felt like they went above and beyond to help me repair my violin. They were very courteous and knowledgeable with their field. I need more strings and will go back soon! Thank you!

Classic Bows has a sign of their door that states that they will be closed until May 29, 2014. It also apologizes for any inconvenience. I like this place because it has really cute cards.

My previous review refers to Classic Bows being our «first San Diego stop» on our search. Well, it turns out they were our only stop as telephone calls to others made it clear that would have been too difficult for my school-​aged child to go to these shops as Saturdays are either booked up or the sales reps. want to save their time for bigger sales. We live in North County, the drive on a weekday is murder.
Greg and Lois were deserving of our purchase and future loyalty.
They gave us time to make the decision and brought out three violins to be listened to with their price tags removed as my daughter understands our limited budget, I wanted her to pick what she liked best. Very accommodating!
I’m breaking my 5-​star policy (which is no one really should get 5 unless they perform miracles).

I had a very unnerving experience here recently. I came to see if they purchased used instruments. I am a semi-​professional violist and had an old high school viola it was time to let go of. My mother bought it for me from a respected luthier in Denver in the 90s, and it was a nice little instrument. Most shops don’t want to buy used instruments, especially violas, and especially ones that don’t fit the latest trend in color or size, so I didn’t really have my hopes up but I thought I would try. The instrument had been appraised at $ 5,000, so I am thinking maybe someone will buy it for half that, or even less. I am open.
The initial vibe was weird, from the double locked doors to the bird and the sparse dirty interior, but luthiers are quirky so I let it go. They were kind of treating me like I was going to spray the whole place down with an automatic weapon, but again, luthiers are quirky, so whatever. After briefly checking out my instrument, the owner said that «it looks like there is a faded serial number» in the f-​holes and handed the instrument back to me. Okaayyy… I have had this baby for many years, taken it to many luthiers, and had never heard that before. I didn’t know what it meant, so I kept trying to get clarification, but they just kept repeating that it was «their policy» to not accept instruments with serial numbers and something about «the San Diego police». Huh? They suggested I go to a local pawn shop. For a $ 5000 instrument? They were being so weird and so cryptic that I just said okay and left. I didn’t know what was going on!
Later, at another violin shop, I learned that in some circles it is believed that instruments with a serial number (which no one but this shop can see in my viola) could potentially be stolen from a university or other institutional collection.
So, basically, this store was suggesting that I stole and was trying to resell this viola, without me really understanding at the time that that is what they were doing.
I don’t know much about stolen instruments, but in my 25 year career I have never heard of this being an issue. Even if that was a concern, there are certainly better ways of dealing with it. It would have been better if they just said «we don’t think we can make any money on this instrument — try somewhere else.»
In the classical music world you can deal with some pretty nasty people. I have had my share of cruel conductors, mean stand partners, and snooty violinists. But I have never felt so aggrieved as I did in this experience. Yes, I took it personally. Music is personal. Instruments are personal. Needless to say this store will never get my business.
I ended up selling my viola on consignment with The Violin Shop in Sorrento Valley, and they were lovely and normal. For all future services and supplies I will be going there.

I came in with my daughter and granddaughter to purchase an instrument and I strongly believe that we got an outstanding deal. Saved over $ 100 vs a couple other music stores and got a much better instrument (under $ 600 for one with flamed maple sides and back). Great case to go with the instrument and it was a joy to hear my granddaughter practicing at home.
The technical advice given previously was a key factor in choosing that particular instrument over the 3 other places we visited. I even pointed out a discrepancy to another salesperson from what I learned from Greg.
I passed it on to several of my friends about buying an instrument from them.

Glad they exist for emergencies but you should know you’re paying a 50% markup over Shar prices for most things.

They had everything I needed! From professional rosin to «Don’t fret» finger placement stickers. If you play or want to learn the violin, come here for all the supplies you need!

They don’t give prices over the phone, which is annoying and suspicious. Why should I waste my time going over there just to find they’re going to rip me off? I asked why they won’t give prices over the phone and they said «it’s just our policy». I guess they’re that desperate to get people in the door, but I find it repellant.

I brought in my violin to get it restrung. Since everything else was in working condition, he was able to do it right then and there, and it only took about 10 minutes. I also needed to re-​hair my bow; the owner suggested that buying a new one would be more cost-​effective. don’t know if this was truly the case or if he was just lazy and overcharges for re-​hairing. Since I’ve only used up 1 rosin in my entire life and the one I currently have is still pretty new, I wasn’t super ecstatic that the bow came with a free rosin.
They had a very limited selection on music. I also didn’t like how their bird screeched while the owner tested out my violin.

Great shop. The only repair shop dedicated to violins.
I was amazed at the traffic thru his shop while there!
Really knows his business.
Not the cheapest, but I guess you get what you pay for!

I had a magnificent experience with Classic Bows.
I brought in a violin that needed restringing and had a bent bridge that needed to be replaced. My bow needed to be re-​haired and I needed another few necessities as well. Plus a case. My existing case underwent the unfortunate event of cat urination, so the outside smells horrific, even 5 years later after many washings with bleach!
Upon arriving, I was greeted (behind a gate) by their dog — presumably the dog in their company logo. The dog was very respectful and quiet during the remaining time I spent there.
After explaining to Greg, the owner, what all i needed and needed done with the violin, he gave me an estimate, which was reasonable, and I gave him the violin for repairs. I was quoted $ 40 for a new bridge, which, as it turns out, did not need to be replaced, and he was able to fix it for less money — which made me happy.
The bow, however, he looked at and immediately noted the curvature was lessening and that re-​hairing the bow would cost as much as getting a low-​line new bow. I opted to get a more expensive bow to replace it, but I had several choices, which are always nice. They ranged from $ 65 up, including one carbon fiber bow at around $ 110. Obviously, he has more expensive bows, these were just the few in my price range. He gave me 4 to choose from.
He had several cases, but my violin was a little too big for most of them. I settled for one that was less pricey and more lightweight.
The day after I left the violin with Classic Bows, I got a phone call that it was done. That was quick!
Oh — and there is easy-​to-​find on-​street parking nearby.
Note: I had read reviews from other Unilocalers regarding Classic Bows. I decided upon this place because they were highly recommended by the music teacher at one of the schools in North County. Since we didn’t need gross work done with the violin, the comments regarding their inability to do extreme work didn’t bother me. I was mainly there just for minor repair and work on the bow.
They were moderately priced, and I would refer others back to Classic Bows. Overall, I was happy with the cost of all items, happy with the customer service between Greg and Lois, happy with the options I was provided, and happy with the turn-​around.
I don’t just blindly give out five-​star reviews, Classic Bows definitely earned it.

I just had an excellent experience with Classic Bows Violin Shop on Adams Avenue.
I have a very old violin that is a family heirloom. Unfortunately it was severely damaged and marginally repaired many years ago. A nationally revered appraiser told me some years ago that although very old and previously valuable, it would not be worth it to repair. With that knowledge I went to Classic Bows who impressively, rather than trying to talk me into an expensive and ill-​advised repair, in detail told me exactly the same thing.
I decided to have them repair it for display only. They told me it would be two weeks and $ 80. The very next day they called and said it had been refurbished and ready for pick up. When I did pick it up I found they had done a beautiful job! What’s more, they said it was easier to repair than they thought so they reduced the repair bill to only $ 65.
That kind of personable, old world customer service is really rare… so they really deserve my 5 stars!