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June 2025 by Stella Liu
A very nice place to buy string instruments! They allow trial of violin for 1 week at no cost. The gentleman that helped us named Phillip is very professional and patient. He reviewed the process with us thoroughly. Several studios on site to tune and repair the instruments. They also sell bows and cases.
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April 2025 by Ryan Germann
I had the pleasure of working with Tom Holdener while looking for a cello. Tom was very kind and helpful throughout the whole process. Being just an amateur player, I thought I might feel a bit out of place trying nicer instruments, but this was not the case at all. Tom was extremely patient and easy to work with. He is also a tremendous cellist and has a keen ear for evaluating the wide variety of cellos available in the shop. At no point did I feel pressured or unduly influenced towards one cello or another. Tom was very neutral and left me feeling comfortable with the decision I ended up making.
The store is worth the trip if you're in the Boston area, or if you're considering traveling from out of town. I originally was planning on going to New York to try instruments, but after visiting here I no longer feel the need. They have a wide selection of instruments in different price ranges from a variety of makers. If nothing strikes you on one visit, it seems that they get new instruments in often so it's worth going back again.
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April 2025 by L Pagan
I have nothing but good things to say about Carriage House and John Guarino. First of all I had been looking for a Rudoulf Doetsch 7/8 for two months. Everywhere I turned they were out of stock. One place had one and after I paid it turned out that they didn't have it in stock. Anyway, I was close to giving up and had even talked to businesses that would let me know if they were going to get them and they never answered back. Recently, I went looking again, and saw that carriage house had one in 3/4 size. I had never seen it up there so I emailed the sales dept and within minutes got a reply that they did have a 7/8. John, immediately asked for my address to send it out. I think he was going to send it as a trial but I told him I wanted to buy it and since I already had a case waiting he sent it in a violin case they use when a violin goes out for trial. It had a prepaid return label for me to send it back.They packed it so meticulously that nothing would have been able to compromise the instrument. John, answered all my questions within minutes of sending emails or texts and now that I have the violin, I am not dissappointed, it was well worth the effort. I had one more question about strings just recently and John, being the gentleman that he is answered right away even though the deal had been done and sealed. Thanks again John, you rock.
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August 2024 by Eve Childers
Awesome place
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July 2024 by Michael McConnell
Our family recently purchased our third step-up violin from Carriage House. I cannot speak highly enough about Dr. Rush and the rest of the team, and I really appreciate how helpful he was to our daughter. Even at her young age, Dr. Rush treated her like an informed player that is intelligent and knowledgeable about what she wants in an instrument. She trusts him, and that goes a long way toward building a relationship for years to come. We also highly respect the luthiers at Carriage House. Before walking out the door this afternoon they looked over the new (to her) instrument from 1880. The luthiers spent an extra hour making sure that it was in the best possible shape for her to play. We travel 4500 miles to visit Carriage House every couple years, and it's well worth the trip!
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March 2024 by Steve Ansell
Robert Mays is wonderful
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August 2023 by M B.
I have been a loyal customer of Johnson/Carriage House for decades. I purchased my instrument and bow there and have been coming every year for a bow rehair, problem free. However, today I was rudely turned away and told to come back in a few days or go somewhere else. The man working the desk downstairs was very dismissive and condescending. Apparantly you can't drop your bow off anymore to get rehaired, you have to have an appointment. Ok, that's great, but you couldn't make an exception, this one time, for a loyal customer who drove a long way?! I certainly do not expect preferential treatment, but I was so taken aback by the rudeness and the outright refusal. I'm a professional violinist working in the Boston area and get asked all the time where I get my work done and where I go and I've always recommended Johnson/Carriage House...NEVER AGAIN. I will be taking my business and recommendations elsewhere.
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July 2023 by D Lind
We worked with Phil to buy a Viola. It is rare to have an opportunity to have access to an expert with such professionalism and compassion. Phil guided us through this journey to ownership and made us very happy! Great experience!
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September 2022 by Daniel Lind
We worked with Phil to buy a Viola. It is rare to have an opportunity to have access to an expert with such professionalism and compassion. Phil guided us through this journey to ownership and made us very happy! Great experience!
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June 2022 by Josh S
Called to get a high end 100 year old violin repaired. They are only repairing instruments purposes in their shop. But they offered to rent me an instrument or sell me something cheaper. How helpful….
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December 2021 by Jacob Mehlhouse
Great shop with a large selection of instruments and bows in an amazing building overlooking a beautiful river. Very friendly staff and truly talented luthiers.
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November 2021 by Crystal Johnson
I am really frustrated with my experience trying to rent a Cello here. I live out of state and was looking for a higher quality cello rental, their master rental sounded like a good option.I needed the Cello by the 11/17 so I called Johnson Strings on 11/6 to see how long shipping would take and if it would be possible to get in time. I spoke with a girl who assured me the time frame to receive it would only be 4 days from when I placed the rental order.I placed the order, called in the next day to make sure it it would be on time. The guy who answered told me that the girl had misinformed me and that it is usually 4 days to prepare and 4 days to ship. I explained I needed it by the 17th and asked if this was still possible. He said he would leave a note as soon as he saw the order in the system to bring it to the front of the line for preparation so that it would be on time.I was suspicious that I had received two different answers and that he hadn't even seen the order in the system yet so I called again the next day. A different guy answered and told me that it would not be on time and that they could not push the instrument preparation to the front of the line unless I paid several hundred more dollars for expedited shipping. I explained what I had been told by two other employees and he said sorry for the misinformation but it is what it is.I ended up having to scramble to find something else locally and cancelled this rental. This was an extremely unprofessional and irritating experience. I was planning on buying the 5k+ Cello after the rental period as long as it had a decent sound. Their unprofessional and indifferent employees have caused Johnson string instruments and Carriage house to permanently lose a customer.
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October 2021 by JuRang KIM Baek
I am a doctoral student in violin performance, and recently purchased my dream violin here at Carriage House Violins. I spent almost whole summer to search my dream violin in different cities, but finally found this violin, which has bright but deep sound and well balanced handsome modern violin. Yoonhee was there for help and she has done so wonderful jobs through all these processes. First, when I was at the shop, she observed what kind of sound I am looking for while I was going through few violins they set up, and then brought this dream violin to me. She knew I would love it, and I really love it so much!! It was literally perfect fit for me. Also, they were so gracious with instrument trial periods, and shipping process was so easy as well compare to other shops. I am over the moon! Thank you, Yoonhee and Carriage House Violin for this amazing experience, and for making my dream come true! ?
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October 2021 by Timothy Paek
I recently purchased a bow from Carriage House and I could not be more happier. Thanks to my longtime friend, cellist, and sales associate, Tom Holdener, I was able to find an upgrade that was a great personal fit for a very reasonable price. I went back about 4-5 times in the last year, and every time there was a different selection of bows to try out. Never have I ever seen so much traffic come through a violin shop.
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September 2021 by Timothy P.
I recently purchased a bow from Carriage House and I could not be more happier. Thanks to my longtime friend, cellist, and sales associate, Tom Holdener, I was able to find an upgrade that was a great personal fit for a very reasonable price. I went back about 4-5 times in the last year, and every time there was a different selection of bows to try out. Never have I ever seen so much traffic come through a violin shop.
