CHAPEL ALLERTON STRINGED INSTRUMENTS
LEEDS AND BEVERLEY
Contact Jan on Leeds (0113) 2620738 or by e-mail jan{@}chapel-allerton.org.uk (you'll need remove the curly brackets for this e-mail address to function)
or contact Pete on Beverley (01482) 888654.
We can provide instruments just as they are received from the suppliers, with only minimal set-up work (and will be pleased to give prices for this if required).
However, as trained luthiers we have the skills and experience to provide a better service, and we prefer to ensure that instruments are set up to a standard commensurate with their quality. We normally therefore carry out significant set-up and improvement work prior to sale, as we believe this will give players at all levels the chance to optimise their performance capabilities. For this reason, the prices we display may sometimes exceed the manufacturer's recommended retail price.
With the exception of the Primavera 50 double basses which are of laminate construction, all the new orchestral stringed instruments we offer are carved from solid wood, being the traditional pine or spruce for the top ("table" or "belly") and maple or sycamore for the sides ("ribs"), back and the neck and scroll block.
The price tables accessible via the links on this page give sample prices for instruments and outfits. Unless "basic set-up" is stated (which is normally limited to bridge height adustment and tuning-up), then the instrument will be "workshop fitted" by Jan or Pete. Such work typically includes jobs which in our experience are seldom satisfactorily achieved at the factory or by many suppliers:
- accurately fitting the pegs
- shooting (ie planing), smoothing and polishing the fingerboard
- shaping the top nut - for ease of playing and to prevent string failure
- refining the bridge, or cutting a new bridge as necessary to improve the tonal qualities and playability
- correctly fitting the soundpost to refine the tone
- reaming the endpin hole as necessary to ensure the correct fitting of the endpin or spike
- replacing the strings supplied with a new set of higher quality
We are very pleased to fit strings of the customer's choice for which an appropriate price adjustment would be made, but to facilitate comparison Dominant strings have been included in the displayed prices on all the intermediate and higher quality violins, violas and violoncellos, and Jargar strings for the double basses. On the higher quality instruments, customers should consider specifying still higher quality strings, for which we shall be pleased to make recommendations.