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Whether you're a young musician at the beginning of your career or a mature professional performer, the prospect of purchasing an instrument of very high quality can be formidable. Understandably so. Your decision will have far-reaching personal and professional consequences. It will require careful judgment, an awareness of the ever-changing instrument market, and meticulous aesthetic sensitivity. And it will probably entail a significant financial investment.
In short, a great deal is at stake.
At Reuning & Son Violins we believe that selecting and purchasing a fine violin, viola, or 'cello needn't be a stressful experience for you. Our goal is to take the risk, the uncertainty, and the anxiety out of the process-- and, indeed, to help make it an enjoyable venture.
Perhaps you're thinking of acquiring your first professional-quality instrument and would feel more secure with reliable guidance. Or perhaps you'd like to add an exceptional instrument to your collection and could use help locating what you want. In either case, we hope you'll give us an opportunity to assist you with your search.
We take great pride in the reputation we've established over the years as a congenial group of people who have exacting professional standards, a profound scholarly interest in stringed instruments, and a keen understanding of the needs of serious musicians. We look forward to offering you a selection of investment-quality instruments and, ultimately, to placing exactly the right violin, viola, 'cello, or bow into your hands.
We hope you'll find our shop to be a friendly, relaxed place where old-world standards for craftsmanship and service go hand in hand with a contemporary understanding of the needs of serious musicians.
Our goal has been to create a congenial environment in which you can examine fine instruments without feeling hurried. We look forward to offering you reliable, expert guidance as you go about the pleasant task of selecting an exceptional violin, viola, or 'cello.
Learning enough about stringed instruments to evaluate them with
confidence-- acquiring the expertise to make an informed assessment of
their playability, their aesthetic excellence, and their investment value--
is a lifetime endeavor. Unless you can afford to take significant risks
when you purchase an instrument, it's wise to seek the counsel of an
established dealer who's both knowledgeable and trustworthy.
Ideally, when you select a dealer to represent your interests, you enter into a lasting relationship that will become increasingly valuable to you as the years go by. A reputable dealer will have a continuing interest in you and your instrument. Your visits, telephone calls, and letters will always be appreciated. When your instrument needs repairs, you will feel that you're returning it to someone who knows its history and appreciates its uniqueness. And if you decide to sell it, your dealer will welcome it back into the shop.
The best dealers understand that they-- and their customers-- are custodians of the finest products of the instrument maker's art. They feel a responsibility to history and to posterity. Their respect for fine violins and other stringed instruments plays a large part in their restoration work, and they consistently endeavor to place their instruments with musicians who will also cherish them, enjoy them, and help preserve them for the delight of future generations.
What we've just described is our notion of business as usual at Reuning & Son Violins. When we offer to help you acquire a fine instrument, we're also offering to give you priority service, throughout your career, whenever you need the kind of assistance we can provide. We realize that's an unusual commitment. But it's no more than you should expect from a comprehensive shop.
We have an outstanding collection in our shop, and we also have access to many other fine instruments from throughout the United States and Europe.
Our policy is to offer only instruments that meet our own very exacting standards. Your satisfaction is our first priority, and we hope to work with you until we've placed exactly the right instrument into your hands.
We'll give you ample time to try out any instruments you're considering.
We want you to be absolutely sure of your selection-- after all, it's the beginning of what we hope will be your lifelong relationship with Reuning & Son.
We're also well known for our fine selection of instruments for children,
and we look forward to helping you choose the right small-sized violin or
'cello for the young musician in your family.
Over the years our selectivity and insistence on quality have established the size of our shop: We will offer only those instruments that meet our own very high standards. An international firm, we regularly acquire instruments in Europe, where we have long-standing access to some of that continent's most important-- and most exclusive-- collections. Because of the estimable professional contacts we've established over the years, in the United States and abroad, we're consistently able to offer our customers an impressive variety of instruments, in exemplary condition. In addition, our frequent attendance at European auctions and our continual communication with colleagues help us ensure that our instruments are reasonably and fairly priced.
When you call us or visit our shop, you'll receive thoughtful, individual
attention. We'll talk with you until we understand exactly what you're
seeking. And then we'll suggest-- or begin our search for-- instruments for
you to examine. It may take a little time, but whenever we discover an
instrument that might meet your specifications, we'll let you know
immediately.
Depending on your wishes, we'll show you examples of the work of renowned masters and noteworthy instruments from lesser-known but excellent schools. (Often the equals of more expensive instruments, violins and other instruments from lesser-known schools frequently represent very good values.)
Before we invite you to examine any instruments, we'll do whatever is necessary to ensure that they're properly restored and set up-- which means you'll be able to compare the tonal qualities of instruments that are all in prime playing condition. We'll assure you of their investment value and structural soundness, and we'll share what we know about their histories. And then we'll give you time to attend to the more subjective criteria: how each instrument feels in your hands, how it sounds when you play it, and how you respond to it emotionally.
As you might expect, we routinely let responsible parties throughout the United States examine instruments for a reasonable approval period.
In sum, if you decide to purchase one of our instruments, we expect you to be fully confident that you're making exactly the right choice.
When you take possession of your newly acquired instrument, we want you to
understand that no matter how long you own it, we'll still feel responsible
for it. In some respects, we'll always think of it as one of our
instruments. If you're ever unhappy with it, or if you ever decide you'd
like to exchange it for something even finer, we hope you'll bring it back
to us.
We honor the tradition of the world's master shops, striving in all our restoration efforts to maintain each maker's style and conceptual originality. As stewards of a centuries-old heritage, we take great satisfaction in bringing instruments back to life, preserving them for posterity, and offering them-- in superb condition-- to musicians who will enjoy and care for them.
At Reuning & Son we consider varnish restoration one of the most critical steps of the restoration process-- and certainly the most demanding.
Varnish affects the sound and the quality of an instrument. Consequently, we go to great lengths to retain original varnish, removing it only if absolutely necessary. Also, to preserve the original textures of instruments, we scrupulously avoid overvarnishing and overpolishing.
We use our skills to match new materials to original materials and to achieve natural-looking varnish restorations.
Finally, we hope you'll think of our shop as a valuable source of information. Even if you don't plan to purchase an instrument, please visit us in Boston or call with your questions.
Reuning & Son Violins
The Electric Carriage House
321 Columbus Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02116-5114
Telephone: 617 262-1300 Fax: 617 262-4645
email creuning@aol.com