Providing the best in violin family instruments, music instruction, instrument rentals, repairs, sheet music, instruction books, and customer service. Our friendly staff and experienced faculty are here to serve you. Academy provides private lessons and performances for violin, viola, cello, string bass, piano and harp. AMAC Festivals give our violin, viola, cello and bass students opportunities to perform in public. We carry the entire line of violin family stringed instruments from Satori Strings and variety brands.
Services
When Edmund Wu founded AMAC violins in 1993, the string instruments available to students were expensive and of inferior quality, a situation Edmund knew had to be rectified. His idea was simple enough: import the best string instruments possible at reasonable and affordable prices. A professional concert violinist in his native China, Edmund had come to know a number of fine Chinese instrument builders.
Reviews (9)
Tamara Chen
Dec 12, 2021
Bernie Lin
May 11, 2021
James E.
Jul 07, 2019
Went to go get a violin restrung and was stunned to find out this shop moved from a commercial building to a residential house. When I arrived, the owner was giving a lesson so he asked his daughter to do the restring. Apparently she was busy napping before she was tasked with the resting. This obviously showed as she appeared to be annoyed. Reasonable price but could do without the attitude. Not too sure if I would want to deal with this home business again unless I was desperate.
Adam K.
Mar 26, 2018
An enigmatic mom and pop stringer instrument shop with lessons and luthier services. Wonderful attitudes of the owners who seem to truly want to provide a service to the community of young musicians. They take time to inspire the children and don't ever seem pressed for time. This isn't the place I'd take an expensive instrument - the receipt keeping once you leave the instrument leaves some sense of anxiety - they have carbon copy notes but make no mention of the instrument identity, and the wait time for having the work done is unpredictable as are returned calls and office hours.
The luthier work is not always optimal. I had a fingerboard that required regluing and fitting more than once. For the second time, they skimped on the bow rehairing and I was left with a semi-taut bow that wouldn't fully loosen in typical humidity. This is usually not an issue except I own a bow that noticeably improves with appropriate testing of the wood.
The luthier work is not always optimal. I had a fingerboard that required regluing and fitting more than once. For the second time, they skimped on the bow rehairing and I was left with a semi-taut bow that wouldn't fully loosen in typical humidity. This is usually not an issue except I own a bow that noticeably improves with appropriate testing of the wood.
Patrick M.
Oct 30, 2016
We love this place. We really appreciate the attention and patience. They are way more helpful than you would expect and insist that you come by any time if you need help tuning your violin. Weekends and night.s. They encourage the kids and really take he time to talk about the instrument beyond just teaching how to play. This has been a positive experience that has helped my kids enjoy playing.
Rey R.
Aug 02, 2016
I love this store. I have been buying violins and violas for my two sons for years from this place. They always give excellent service and always with wonderful grace and kindness. This is the type of family owned business that I love to support. Today, in fact, shows what a special place this store is. My son is about to play in a concert and he tells me that his bow needs replacement.
He tells me at 7:00 at night! What am I to do? I thought the only place that can help me is the Violin Center. I jump in the car and I drive with my son to Arcadia. I knock on the door and even though they were closed! They agreed to help me. I'm so grateful to them.
He tells me at 7:00 at night! What am I to do? I thought the only place that can help me is the Violin Center. I jump in the car and I drive with my son to Arcadia. I knock on the door and even though they were closed! They agreed to help me. I'm so grateful to them.
Neida Luevanos
Nov 19, 2015
I had to get a violin its strings, chin-rest, bow etc. They told us that it would be ready pretty soon. That was true it was a night that we took it and the next day in the morning they called to tell us it was ready. When I got there it was perfect. Good as NEW! The fix was very affordable. I totally recommend this place for anyone that is trying to get a very good string instrument! Good Luck!
Mark M.
Aug 01, 2008
Wow, I'm surprised to see AMAC is on here. With a review, no less! The owner, Edmund Wu, is actually a personal friend of mine and, well, I helped him get an eBay retail business going back in the mid '90s (as well as sundry other violin-related ventures he had brewing in his mind at the time). In return, he arranged to have instruments built for me in China.
While they *do* maintain a quasi-storefront, this is basically a violin academy that holds periodic recitals as well. They also do A LOT of wholesale-to-the-trade activity. You couldn't tell by looking at the place from the street, but the back half of the building is a warehouse! Since you're probably not a wholesaler, let me tell you a bit about their normal-people services. There's a small violin shop.
You can buy recordings, accessories, sheet music, and any violin-family instrument in any size. There is also a limited selection of antique instruments. They also have some very high-grade Chinese violins that give some of the better old Italians a run for their money. They have cheap stuff too. The whole gamut, basically. Most repairs are sent out.
I don't know what else to say. The teachers, of whom Edmund is one, are very qualified. Ask for Edmund, because he's the only one who speaks English well enough to carry out any meaningful business. They're closed on Mondays. They also have a small boutique shop in a reconverted bungalow down in Old Town Fullerton, on the west side of Harbor Blvd., north of Chapman.
While they *do* maintain a quasi-storefront, this is basically a violin academy that holds periodic recitals as well. They also do A LOT of wholesale-to-the-trade activity. You couldn't tell by looking at the place from the street, but the back half of the building is a warehouse! Since you're probably not a wholesaler, let me tell you a bit about their normal-people services. There's a small violin shop.
You can buy recordings, accessories, sheet music, and any violin-family instrument in any size. There is also a limited selection of antique instruments. They also have some very high-grade Chinese violins that give some of the better old Italians a run for their money. They have cheap stuff too. The whole gamut, basically. Most repairs are sent out.
I don't know what else to say. The teachers, of whom Edmund is one, are very qualified. Ask for Edmund, because he's the only one who speaks English well enough to carry out any meaningful business. They're closed on Mondays. They also have a small boutique shop in a reconverted bungalow down in Old Town Fullerton, on the west side of Harbor Blvd., north of Chapman.
Ian M.
Jun 12, 2008
This place is sort of strange but is very nice looking. When I went in, a receptionist who spoke only Chinese (I'm pretty sure it was Cantonese, because my limited, limited Mandarin didn't really work, but I might have just been mispronouncing things). After communication via paper (my knowledge of Kanji allowed me to write things to her on the paper, to which she would write things back), I had some things figured out, but not too much. I'm guessing this place doesn't get too many non-Chinese customers.
It was fun for me to try out different language skills! After a few minutes, the English-speaking man came out of the back and was extremely nice. My dad and I picked up the viola case and music stand we had ordered, which were both in excellent condition. We then proceeded to buy a chin rest. Overall, the experience was quite nice. It's a small place, but the interior was impeccably maintained. I would come here again.
It was fun for me to try out different language skills! After a few minutes, the English-speaking man came out of the back and was extremely nice. My dad and I picked up the viola case and music stand we had ordered, which were both in excellent condition. We then proceeded to buy a chin rest. Overall, the experience was quite nice. It's a small place, but the interior was impeccably maintained. I would come here again.
