Today there are many great bow makers all over France and not just in Paris but in other major cities as well as more rural areas. For the last few years, we have offered the fine bows of Jacques and Monique Poullot. Recently, we became their exclusive U.S. agents. We are very proud to be able to offer their violin, viola and cello bows.

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If you ask most string musicians what kind of instrument they would really like to have, almost all would tell you that they would like to have an Italian violin, viola, or cello (preferably at least 200 years old). Most musicians believe that the old Italian violins have a special quality of sound that other instruments just don't have. There is a perception that an Italian violin has that special something that gives the musician that extra edge and confidence.

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Over the past few years, we have developed relationships with some of the best contemporary Italian makers. We now have an extensive selection of outstanding violins and cellos from a number of top makers. Mr. Ifshin has just returned from Europe with four exceptional cellos which he personally selected after visiting with the makers.

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In the past, Ifshin Violins as well as most other major violin shops  have been happy to offer our extensive expertise and experience to do  insurance appraisals, not just for those who have purchased instruments  and bows from them. Today, we still provide appraisals for those  instruments and bows purchased from our shop, but at this time we have  reduced the number of written insurance appraisals on any instruments or  bows not purchased from our shop. Many other violin shops and experts  have made the same decision.  We regret having to do this, but there are  a number of important reasons for it.

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Almost every day we get calls, e-mails and visits from folks perhaps  just like you who have an old violin that has a paper label inside with a  famous name like Stradivarius, Guarnerius, Amati, Stainer and others.  Usually, these violins have been in the family, sometimes for  generations. The instrument may have been found in a thrift store or at a  garage sale. Often, when they look inside the violin, they spot the  little paper label and get excited.

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We all want the best value we can get for our hard-earned money especially in our current economy. While shopping for value is usually a good thing, cheap is often just cheap. Because of our demand for lower and lower prices, we are awash in low grade products of all kinds made to sell for a rock-bottom price. But what good is the bargain, if it is only going to fall apart within a few days or weeks? This is especially true with string instruments.

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Jay Haide (pronounced Hi-duh) is the brand name of a line of violins, violas, cellos, and basses, and the product of a longtime collaboration between Jay Ifshin and his shop foreman Haide Lin.

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