David T. Stone Violins

I purchased my first violin on the Facebook Marketplace, not knowing if I was going to stay interested. After playing for 6 months, I realized this was something I loved and wanted to purchase a quality instrument that I could use for several years. I went to many shops around Seattle (I was surprised to see so many options!) and from the moment I walked in the door (and went up the stairs) at David Stone Violins, I knew I was in the right place. The door is a little hard to find, I walked by it twice before I saw it. Look for the bicycle shop and you'll see it. All of the staff members, and the dog in the shop, were incredibly friendly and David walked me through the basics of selecting a new violin, including form, chin rest fit, and the best way to test them. As others have said, he was knowledgeable and obviously passionate about his work. After telling him my price range, he brought me about 8 different violins and left me to it. He called it the Stevie Wonder method. Instead of looking at the maker, the country of origin, or the price, I was able to listen the violins blindly, picking the ones that made me feel something. The whole process was a fun, wonderful and unique experience, unlike any other shop in the area. I felt cared about as a customer, not just another person buying something, which is something you cannot put a price on. I cannot wait to go back in a few years for my next one. I would HIGHLY recommend this studio to anyone looking for string instruments in the Seattle area!