Hearing is Believing
Violins, Violas, Cellos, Acoustic String Basses and Bows from Zaret & Sons Violins
Peter Zaret & Sons Violin shop offers an extensive selection of violins, violas, cellos, basses, and bows ranging from the most affordable student instruments to those valued in the six figures. Dr. Zaret is known worldwide for his innovative Patented Bass Bar and has been dedicated to improving and enhancing string tone for over twenty years.
Our inventory gives us the opportunity to accommodate every type of string musician, from the beginning violinist to the members of the Cleveland Orchestra. Dr. Zaret travels domestically and internationally to find instruments and bows of the highest quality.
Note: We carry hard to find 7/8 sizes of violins and cellos.
At Peter Zaret & Sons Violins, we assess every instrument and bow that we represent to confirm that it meets our standards. You can be confident that if you purchase a string instrument or bow from us, we will stand behind it. We frequently take instruments in trade for a reasonable value.
Dr. Zaret has researched many innovative techniques to improve string tone while still holding true to time honored methods.
Dr. Zaret has Bachelors and Masters degrees from Juilliard and a Ph.D. in Violin Performance. He also has over twenty years of concertmaster experience with the Virginia Symphony and the Virginia Opera. His unique style, concert experience, and teaching background provides him with an in-depth understanding of a string musicians needs.
Recent Customer Emails/Letters
An email from May 10, 2010: "...I wanted to let you know how great my bass has been sounding.!"
An email from April 22, 2010: "...but I thought you would especially enjoy the note the judge wrote at the bottom of the judging sheet: "Nice sounding cello!"
An email from April 3, 2010: "...I am thrilled with the work you did recently on my violin. It is so much more responsive and sounds better than ever!"
An email from February 22, 2010: "I've done two solos so far and both times received positive comments from other musicians...All have said that the tone is deeper and richer than my previous violin..."
An email from February 19, 2010: "After playing a solo at my orchestra concert last, I went back and listened to the recording and I was very impressed by my sound! ..."
An email from February 16, 2010: "Peter, thank you so much for retro-fitting my violin and viola..."
A letter from December 19, 2009: "...thank you for everything you have done for me and my violin..."
*Read more letters and emails from happy customers on our Emails and Letters page.
Improving the Sound of String Instruments
In addition to offering an excellent traditional inventory, Peter Zaret & Sons offers numerous ways to enhance the tone and playability of any string instrument. Dr. Zaret has extensively researched the violin family of instruments and has achieved very favorable results using methods that combine traditional violin making expertise with his innovative Patented Bass Bar and tonal system. Dr. Zaret’s Patented Bass Bar was a stepping stone which prompted him to continue his research on other parts of the violin including the bridge, soundpost and portions of the violin that are often overlooked.
From our Patented Bass Bar page: "Every string instrument has a bass bar — the wood piece inside that enhances the quality of sound and impacts the volume. Dr. Zaret has developed a new design for the bass bar which allows precise and effective adjustment to achieve the most desirable qualities of sound in all instruments."
Our website has many samples of our instrument and bow inventory for your review. We have many types of instruments with and without Dr. Zaret's Patented Bass Bar. We have instruments fitted with a combination of a traditional bass bar and Dr. Zaret’s Tonal System. We also carry many traditional European instruments.
We are happy to discuss our inventory with you in person, by phone, or by email, and we can provide you with up to 3 instruments and 3 bows for a one week trial period (see our Customer Service page). We also have a very popular high value rental program for student string players so that starting out can be affordable.
Peter Zaret & Sons carries many accessories including rosin, strings, mutes, shoulder rests (see our Sponge Shoulder Rests), chin rests, metronomes, tuners, humidifiers, music stands and more. Accessories can be shipped upon request. We carry a wide selection of cases, which are discounted up to 30%. Some of our cases come free with the purchase of string instrument and bow.
Websites You Might Be Interested In
Performing Groups
Cleveland Orchestra: www.clevelandorchestra.com
Cleveland Pops Orchestra: www.clevelandpops.com
Apollo's Fire/The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra: www.apollosfire.org
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra: www.clevelandorch.com/html/Education/Youthorchestra.asp
Opera Cleveland: www.operacleveland.org
Akron symphony Orchestra: www.akronsymphony.org
Toledo Symphony Orchestra: www.toledosymphony.com
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra: www.pittsburghsymphony.org
Canton Symphony Orchestra: www.cantonsymphony.org
Erie Philharmonic Orchestra: www.eriephil.org
Music Schools
Cleveland Institute of Music: www.cim.edu
Oberlin Conservatory www.oberlin.edu
Baldwin Wallace College www.bw.edu
Bowling Green State University: www.bgsu.edu/colleges/music
Exploring Non-Classical String Music
Strings Central: www.stringscentral.com
"This is the world's first and only database dedicated to connecting string players and educators with non-classical compositions, arrangements, recordings and videos .... Composers, arrangers, recording artists, educators: register your music!"
HIGHLANDS OF OHIO Folk & Celtic Music Society: www.highlandsofohio.com
"Melanie Seaman and Fate Christian decided to try an experiment and host several live music events in the north central Ohio area. The events were very well received and there was considerable encouragement to continue having live Celtic and folk music concerts. . . So, they became monthly events and sometimes several a month and using a variety of venues. Local performers from Ohio, from all parts of the U.S. . ."
Fiddler Magazine: www.fiddle.com
"Fiddler Magazine was begun in the spring of 1994. Our aim is to provide an informative, educational, and entertaining resource for fiddlers, accompanists, and appreciative listeners."
Fiddle Fork: www.fiddlefork.com
"Fiddlefork is a website designed to allow fiddle players from anywhere in the world to contribute articles, information, files and exchange their knowledge on fiddling to other fiddle players..."
