Testimonials from Our Happy Customers!
V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd. offers excellent customer service, and we pride ourselves on our community outreach. Through donations to various organizations and individuals we are able to spread our love of music. It is truly a joy to serve the community and to help others learn more about our favourite instruments!
Feel free to read our testimonials below from customers and others we have helped along the way. For more information about our services or our donations, please contact us.
Quality Repair Work
"I have just been so thrilled with V.A. Fine Strings. Great service and great to deal with. Very professional. Just really appreciate their integrity. They do quality repair work and have a very fine selection to serve you.
These people are great."
- Erica S.
Great Customer Service
"The customer service I have experienced at VAHill has always been great!
Thankful for places that make that a priority! Thank you!"
- C.W.
A Real Pleasure
"It was a real pleasure to meet you and your customer service was one of the better experiences I’ve had in this city yet. That is not an easy thing for me to say since my business with my husband is all about customer service. So thank you and well done to you and your staff."
- Lydia
Quality Instruments
"I just spent the past 3 weeks in Winnipeg. Rented a "good quality" cello from [different shop]. Was appalled by it & the selling price of $2,000- OMG! It was almost unplayable! All this to say how much I appreciate the quality of your instruments."
- Liz T.
Thorough Service
"My first couple visits have been outstanding! Thorough service, knowledgeable staff who helped me in this new venture. Special thanks to Morgan, nice work!"
- Luticia F.
Excellent Service
"I have been a customer of V. A. Hill Fine Strings for more than a decade. I have always received excellent service. I have sent many students to them to rent or purchase violins and I have never heard a word of complaint about Hills, ever. Hills has done restoration work on my violin. I purchased my daughter's violin from Hills, and they have provided free maintenance on this violin since that time.
I would recommend Hills to anyone without reservation."
- Catherine R.
Exceptional, Patient & Knowledgeable Staff
"I was referred to V.A. Hill Fine Strings by my violin teacher when I began my lessons. I rented my first violin with them and ended up purchasing a lovely instrument from them recently. I was pleasantly surprised to find a business that still understands good customer service in this day and age. The owner and staff are exceptional - patient, knowledgeable and most of all, seem to honestly care about whether the instrument is the right one for the customer. The prices are very competitive but not the lowest and there's a good reason for that - there's no point saving a few bucks at the big box music stores if playing the instrument will hurt and injure you because the fit isn't right. Fortunately, Vickie is simply a wizard when it comes to adjusting how an instrument will fit!
I have no hesitation about recommending them and they're definitely my first stop when I need help
with my violin."
- Katherine T.
Very Impressed
"A couple of weeks ago I brought in an old violin for an oral consultation on its possible worth. I was so impressed with your friendliness and professional judgment. It meant so much to me that you took sufficient time to discuss the strengths & weaknesses of the instrument.
I will highly recommend you, your staff and store."
- Marilyn S.
Friendly & Helpful
"We rented from VA Hills for a couple of years with excellent service and pricing. Always friendly and helpful staff. When we came in with requests to change the bridge, strings, bow etc. we were always helped quickly and efficiently. I have been in store numerous times and always greeted warmly. I went in today with a cheap violin we are borrowing to have strings replaced. Even though the violin is cheap and not from their store they took care of my needs with friendly professional service.
I will always return to VA Hills for any violin service and purchases."
- Tara B.
Fine Strings, Fine Service
"Excellent experience today! Kristof was extremely helpful and patient as we worked through a range of cellos and bows to find a match for our daughter. He was thorough with her, comparing one to the next, going back and checking again. The store was busy yet he stuck with us (plenty of staff on hand) to the end... successful purchase. Fine strings, fine service! Thank you."
- Jeremy and Rebecca C.
Skilled & Professional
"I have just purchased my second double bass (carved) and carbon graphite bow from V. A. Hill Fine Strings. I have had very positive results and great response and success from my new instrument. My first luthier closed shop a couple of years ago, then I decided to try Hill's. They are skilled, professional and care about any questions or taboos dealing with violins. I would like to thank them and let any musicians know if they are interested in buying to drop in or give them a call as they will steer them in the right direction. Many thanks."
- Michael C. (2012)
Fine Job
"I would like to thank Hill’s Fine Strings for doing a fine job on repairing my double bass. My spruce top had a crack along the grain and when I heard about their methods I was skeptical because they were going against tradition. Therefore my research in these areas led me to contact Upton Bass in Connecticut, in my opinion Upton makes the best basses in the world and caters to the best players in the world. They also have numerous world-class awards. After a lengthy conversation (about 1/2 hour) with Eric at Upton, my concerns were all answered as I learned Hill’s uses similar methods as Upton. Consequently, my skepticism about the potential method of repair was erased... sometimes breaking tradition is a good thing. My bass plays as good as ever, and I want to thank Morgan at Hill’s for a great job. Thanks."
- Michael C. (2013)
Thank You for Your Continued Support
"On behalf of everyone at the CPO, I thank you so very much for your continued support."
- CPO (Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra)
Absolutely Perfect
"I want you to know how much we appreciate you lending this (violin case) from your own collection. It was absolutely perfect for our party and we had a lot of fun playing it up. Thank you for your kindness!"
- Susan
Appreciate Your Generosity
"Thank you for giving me a scholarship for my grade 7 violin exam.
I love the violin, and I really appreciate your generosity."
- Madeleine N.
Very Grateful
"I would like to thank you for the scholarship of $80 for achieving the highest mark in my violin exams in June 2012. I am very grateful for the scholarship and hope I will achieve the same goal this year. Thank you again."
- Emily B.
Really Appreciate It
"Thank you for the scholarship that I received for the honours recital. I really appreciate it! I love playing violin, and it’s people like you that make it possible, so thank you so much!"
- Jeanel L.
Our Sincere Appreciation
"We offer our sincere appreciation to V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd. for their gift in support of our students."
- ARMTA (Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association)
Thank You So Much
"You loaned your beautiful cello for me to use this weekend at Eastside. Thank you so much. It is a wonderful cello and has such sweet and rich tone, and it is so responsive to my touch. I hope to get a chance to meet you and thank you personally someday."
- Dr. Tim S., Worship Without Borders
Thank You for Your Contribution
"On behalf of the students, staff and Music Parents Association of Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School, we would like to thank you for your generous donation. Your contribution helped make our annual “Moonlight Knights” dinner, dance, and silent auction a huge success!"
- Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School
Thank You for Your Generous Donation
"Thank you so much for your generous donation to Morningside Music Bridge. This international program is truly one of the great things in Calgary for young musicians.
Your donation helps ensure that we can provide it on a scholarship basis."
- Mount Royal University Conservatory
Thank You So Much
"Thank you so much for your generous support of the Amici String Program. Your donation helps us to continue enriching the musical lives of Calgary children. We appreciate your help."
- Amici String Program
Thank You for Your Generous Support
"Whitehorse Concerts would like to thank you for the financial support provided to the Yukon Youth Initiative Program. This program enables young music students to attend live performances, which both teach and motivate students in their music education. Your generous support truly helps educate Yukon music students."
- Esther Austring, President
Helpful Finding an Instrument
"Thank you so much for all the time and effort you spent on my behalf finding me such a lovely instrument. I'm especially grateful for all of your wise counsel. These days it is truly rare and of inestimable value to have people whose honesty and integrity you can rely upon.
Thank you for being such people. I appreciate your help so much."
- KC
Thank You for the Amazing Gifts
"We at The Seed were blown away by the amazing gifts (bow rehair, violin case, and violin) you provided for our friend Natalie. Natalie was devastated by the loss of her violin and she has been showing off her ear-to-ear smile consistently since she received your wonderful gift! And she sounds great! Thank you again!"
- The Mustard Seed Street Ministry
Thank You for the Extremely Generous Gift
"Thank you very much for your extremely generous gift. I appreciate it a lot. I have gotten most of my violins from your shop and have been happy with all of them. I appreciate your friendliness. I love coming to the shop because I am allowed to try all the different violins and because of all of the cool gadgets.
Once again, thank you!"
- Monica F., Age 12