Scott CAO Violins

One of my very talented 5 years old boy needed a 1/4 violin. So when I was in a Chicago violin shop last summer I happened to fall in love with a Scott Cao:s violin. I brought it home for him and we love the little violin! It has such powerful yet sweet sound It is fantastic for such small violin. Now I am asked to get a 1/2 violin I am hoping to get one the same.

The young employee there is rude and abrupt. In terms of bow hair change, I got bow hair changed twice, both times had some issues afterward.

We were referred here by my son's violin teacher. They have an excellent selection of smaller scale instruments for rent and the monthly rental rates are very reasonable. The quality is pretty good, especially for the price, and the service has been good as well.

For someone whose kid picked up violin as the music instrument as part of school curriculum and has no idea about violins, i would expect the person in this shop to have spend some time guiding us. they did not have any starter violins under 660 which is a bummer. i went to kamimoto and they have a 6 month rental that could be used towards a purchase which is a great option for someone in our situation.

I received the following email from yelp regarding an old review I wrote, and wanted to provide some further details regarding my experience should it be helpful to other customers "We're reaching out to let you know that our moderators removed your review of Scott Cao Violins because it wasn't clear that your review described your firsthand experience as a customer of the business." Original review: I did not find this business to be trustworthy after obtaining second opinions from competitors Updated comments: -There are many musicians in my family, and we have purchased many instruments from this business, starting from 1/8 size.

So we have been repeat customers over many years -I took one of these instruments to the store as nobody in my family used it anymore, and asked if they ever bought back instruments -They quoted a price that was about 1/10 of what we paid for it -I showed the same instrument to other stores in the area, and eventually had it sold at a similar price of what we paid (due to inflation over years) -The discrepancy in their valuation compared to what I felt was the true value of the instrument was concerning to me.

A generous interpretation would be that the person who was there that day did not know much about instruments or how to value them. A less charitable interpretation would be that the person believed that customers' relative lack of experience meant they could put business interests ahead of reputation and trust. If anyone finds themselves in a similar situation, I highly recommend getting a second opinion.

Was surprised that a shop named "Scott Cao violins" didn't actually have any of Scott Cao's own instruments in stock! A good place to go probably if you want beginner or fractional instruments. But don't expect to meet Scott Cao here!

Sun 5/30/2021 2:12 PM Several years ago, I purchased a Scott Cao STV 850, a ready made violin, made in China, but finished in the United States. I liked it so much that I decided to upgrade to an STV 1500. Scott Cao not only sells ready made violins, the store also takes custom orders for violins to be made in the United States (Morgan Hills, California).

I had a custom violin made, copying the design of the Hellier by Stradivari. The store obtained a template of the Hellier with exact specifications and they made me a copy ( minus the fancy inlaid and scroll works on the side). The wood they picked was beautiful and the workmanship superb. The sound quality is outstanding. It's exactly what I wanted and the bonus is that due to the quality of the wood used, the violin is extremely light. I would highly recommend Scott Cao if you ever want a custom violin that is made in the USA.

World Renowned. Scott is renowned around the world as a luthier. Very few people in the world have his skills and very few luthiers have earned the excellent reputation that he has. Thousands of highly skilled, professional string instrument players across the globe own and perform with Scott's instruments. Many of the biggest names own, play and recommend Scott's instruments. Scott has received many of the highest awards for his luthier skills. His violins are sold around the world by many of the most respected outlets. These are facts, easily verifiable in minutes via the internet.

I took my cello here for repairs after having a terrible experience at nearby Fine Fretted Strings (see my review). I explained my situation to the very friendly staff and asked if they could do the repairs on my cello - the fingerboard and bridge both needed to be repaired. Scott Cao fixed my cello up good as new and rehaired my bow. Both are in excellent working order.

They charged me a fraction of what I was quoted at Fine Fretted Strings. They also were very diligent about wearing masks and requiring customers to wear them in an effort to keep everyone safe during the pandemic. I would recommend them to anyone who needs their instruments repaired or if you are simply looking to rent or purchase an instrument.

Our teacher recommended this place. This is a small shop which specialize in making their own violins. Selections for violin of particular size are usually limited at any given time but their violins are of excellent quality. Service is friendly and professional. My son rented a violin when he started and we purchased two violins thereafter in three years. They also allow trade-in of old violins. We are happy with all violins rented / purchased from this shop and never had a problem with quality.

This is the best violin shop in Cali, their prices are fair and they repair everything to perfection. I brought in a cracked violin (because I dropped it) and when I was given it back it was like the crack didn't even happen and it even played better than before. I would recommend this to anyone who plays or need to rent a violin!

I really enjoyed my experience here, they have a variety of strings instruments ranging in many prices depending on how much you are willing to spend. Overall the quality is above and beyond what you would expect. If you are looking for a place that has it all for string instruments this should be your stop.

Kind helpful and fit for all budgets. They will take your needs seriously and treat you well. Slight language barrier so be patient.

Not helpful whatsoever! The women behind the counter couldn't care less what I needed!

I almost never give reviews but, there is a huge difference between beginner violins and Scott Caos phenomenal signature series violins. I have owned my signature series violin for 9 years and I am still in love. I have people trying to buy my fine violin all the time. I have had several professional Violinist prefer my instrument over their $100,000+. I hope this review helps the right person.

Great help with violin selection and reasonable rental rates for their violins. They rent violins and up to 6 months rental can be applied as credits to the purchase of a violin from the store. Since they make their own instruments, their know the nitty gritty details and is totally willing to help enlighten total newbies like me.

Horrible product and terrible services! Bought a violin and a bow on Jan 2nd, 2018. My son has used it very lightly at school, total for about 10 times. Last week the bow tip came off while he was playing in class. The person at the store immediately said they cannot do anything even before I open the violin case to show her the bow. No one could clearly explain to me, including the owner Scott Cao, what their 6 months of warranty covers. The owner even admitted they have a lot of problems of the bow tip during the talk. They must have horrible quality by saying that. Will never go there again!

I do not usually write reviews, but there's such a mix on this shop that I thought it was worth giving my 2 cents. My kids: Both my daughters (6 & 9 years old) decided that they want to play violin. Actually, the older child decided (joined orchestra too) and the younger wanted to be included. Nonetheless, both our kid's instructors Scott's shop for hardwood violin rentals.

We showed up at the Scott Cao Violin Shop half an hour before closing. Scott was not there, but the staff was. We waited about 5 minutes while they rang up the customer before us. While we waited, our kids wandered through the instrument making portion of the shop. The luthiers working on instruments were super nice and didn't shoo them out. Our kids had lots of questions and they were patient answering them.

When our turn came, they picked out five or six Violins of the right size and type (we wanted hardwood as I mentioned above). The staff played all the instruments for us and our daughters each chose the one they liked the most. Our older daughter is not the most decisive child, so she took a while to pick, asking over and over for this or that violin to be played again.

The woman who was helping us thought this was actually a good thing. She said parents usually pick for their kids and she liked that our daughter was choosing for herself. We rented our Violins, got accessories like shoulder pads and left. In all, they stayed a good half hour after closing without hurrying us along. This was generally very nice. Me: I came back a week later when Scott was in to have him look at a 200+ year old violin that I wanted to consider restoring.

He took a look at it as well as three bows I had. He concluded that the bows were worth doing the restoring work, the violin was not. The restoration would have been about half the total value of the instrument. We discussed what needed to be done and why which lead to a generally interesting discussion on violin making. Really nice guy and super knowledgeable.

I have recently decided to purchase a violin from Scott. I have a violin that one of his luthiers made under his supervision that I'm enjoying until Scott completes my instrument. One other note-- since I see reviews commenting on the use of Mandarin in the shop. When I was there, everyone was speaking Mandarin, Hong Kong Cantonese or English.

My kids got to practice speaking Mandarin and my wife got to ask all her questions in Mandarin. Came back to the shop with my teacher last week and we ended up spending an hour discussing with Scott. Met his wife.

Customer service is very poor, although the violin has good quality. After the rental unit was returned, I was still charged for the rental fee. The accounting software they use must be with poor quality. They do not even offer some credit for the violin case when I gave them the purchased case during the size upgrade.they do not think on their customer's behalf at all. Quite disappointed.

Very bad customer experience here. My daughter just started the violin, so I came to the store for rental a month ago. Since I am very new and have no knowledge for the violin, I would like the store give me the recommendation first. My friends have already told me which model she got. So I have something in mind as well. The lady served me and recommended a old violin for rent, and I quickly decide to rent this one and thought this is model I want.

Before I left, I asked what's the model it is. It is another one. Not the exact model I want. Well, it is highly possible my daughter will continue violin, so renting the same model shall make more sense. So I want to exchange to the model I want. You know what, the lady said NO, because she showed me that violin before I have already decided. Wow, this is first time I met a people who serve customer like this.

You must think she served me a long time! Well, it is only 15 minutes or less! From the time I talk to her till I am done the paper work. I refused to rent this model and walked out. But later I called in to reserve a new one, new model for rent and pick it up from store. I was trying to release unpleasant and think she must has something unpleasant happening at that day.

Today I came to store to buy accessories, she was there. You know what she say "I will ask some other people to serve you" and she told to another staff that I was unhappy with her last time. Well, hardly to see store staff have such attitude. You are violin teacher, but also need training as a store staff! For her service, I would give one star, but balance with what I got, Two. This is first time I write a public review, you know how disappointed I am. I am wasting my time for this.

Very cool that this business has survived throughout the years. Having children who were in the arts Scott Cao fills a very necessary niche. They have an excellent selections of instruments as well as a qualified repair service and rental program.

I had to wait a bit as it was a very busy time for them but they let me try as many cellos as I wanted until I found the one I liked to rent. I have no complaints whatsoever. Their rent to buy program is very reasonable.

I bought my first legit cello from him back around 1999. It's kept up so well over the years that to this day if my house was on fire and I could only save one possession of mine, it would be that cello.

My experience here was pleasant enough. A front desk associate was kind enough to introduce me to the beginner violins for rental. I thought it was fairly priced at $20 dollars a month. I rented it for 3 months to make sure I would actually like learning the violin, and to my surprise, when I returned the violin, they allowed me to use the money I spent on the rental as credit towards a brand new student violin. Also, they allow trade-ins of previous violins your purchased from them towards purchase of a better model violin.

I went to this shop thinking they would know what they were talking about. I was in need of a pure gut violin string. I asked the man who "helped" me if they carried gut strings. His response was "Nobody uses those anymore, there is new technology now." Ummm, sir, if nobody uses pure gut string anymore, why would I be asking if you had them? There are many players out there who play on gut.

Every hear of baroque violin? Ever hear of Pirastro Chorda strings? Not the best, but will do when there is an emergency. So, there are people who want the "old" technology. You may want to look into it a little. Don't assume that "nobody uses them anymore" to the face of the customer who just asked for them. I will not be back.

Amazing service. I cracked my tailpiece trying to get a string with a slightly too fat wrapped end through. I call Cao's shop, and Allen Au, who works with Scott, said he'd call me back in 15 minutes, wanted to check that he had what I needed in stock, and then he went to the trouble to research the cheapest way to overnight the part, saving me 20 bucks!

He went to a lot of trouble for someone with just a student model. Even Cao's student model plays better than far more expensive "step-up" and "pro" violas. Warm, complex sound, very responsive. If you are considering an instrument, you will be surprised by the quality here from top of the line to the bottom! P.S., Allen, I'm not a woman (I just checked), but I used my cat Rowena's Facebook page to give you guys a thumbs up, lol.

Very disappointing. I purchased a student bow and it warped one month later. There was no warrantee and the store refused to at least offer credit towards the purchase of a more expensive bow. I will never buy from this place again. Horrible customer service.

These people are knowledgeable have a huge selection, customize violins and repair, string and have some other instruments as well and have tutoring lessons as well. Lots of cool little baby violins as well. It's like a small museum in Campbell and it's been here for a long time!

I'm surprised that this place hasn't gotten a review yet since Scott Cao's student instruments are certainly worth every buck. I've been to this place a total of 3 times. The first time I came I didn't really like this shop. I went in to buy a replacement cello bow after my last one snapped after an accident. The person at the counter was a guy and he wasn't very nice--it wasn't Scott himself and was probably his apprentice or something.

After 8 years, I walked back into his shop to help a student buy her starting instrument. The cello was worth every buck since the sound quality was so much better compared to other cellos in the price range. Two weeks ago I went back to Scott Cao's to buy an intermediate range violin for myself to practice on. I'm sure this one will last me for a while.

The rundown: Come here if you are looking for a decent beginning instrument that will last you for a long time. The beginning instruments are worth every buck for the sound quality you get. If you aren't convinced--drive around town and try all the shops out.