Satori Strings has provided service to instrument shop dealers and music teachers since 1993.
We are a local business based in the city of Arcadia, California and affiliated with AMAC Violins.
Satori Strings was founded by local violin teacher Edmund Wu, son of Wenfan Wu, conductor and president of the Guangdong Province Radio Symphony Orchestra (1958-1965). Edmund founded Satori Strings due to a growing number of his students being unable to find quality instruments at a reasonable price.
He connected with qualified violin workshops from both China and the U.S., and provided information on the needs of budding violinists and has since continued a business of providing collaboratively crafted instruments for American violinists, both student and professional alike.
Our instruments are handcrafted with proper materials and inspected by hand to ensure quality. Throughout the mid 90s to early 2000s, we have done wholesale for various instrument shops and music teachers all across the United States.
We continue to serve as a provider of quality stringed instruments.
What Makes a Good Violin?
A good instrument does not hinder a musician’s ability to produce an excellent sound or their endeavors in improving their skills. For violins, a sign of good quality is an instrument that is balanced, not excessively heavy, and has a very clear, resonant sound.
It will be worth paying attention to these qualities as a good violin will get better with age and the improvement of the violinist. A poor one with none of these traits will never get fine.
Satori Strings keeps special attention on maintaining the standard of distributing high quality instruments that meet the criteria of a good instrument. Inspection of the materials and level of craftsmanship ensures that the shape and sound of the instrument is at its best for that instrument model’s price point.
Other Traits to Look Out For
Much of what the previous section pertains to is the quality of the main body of the violin. This section lists other things Satori Strings look out for and what may help you save time and money when picking out an instrument.
Poor Fittings
Violins and other similar instruments require a set of parts to make it functional and comfortable to play. These are a few problems poor fittings may cause:
- Sound post too tight – will lead to a split top later
- Poorly located/ fitted brass bar – will lead to poor sound problems
- Improper bridge height and cutting – too much tension on strings
- Improper bridge placement – throws off the string angle
- Tuning pegs too sticky or loose – obstructs tuning
- Wrong tailpiece gut length – unnecessarily shorten strings
Poor Craftsmanship
Quality materials and quality craftsmanship are joint requirements for an excellent instrument. These are a few signs of poor craftsmanship that may compromise an otherwise great instrument:
- Too much or too little glue throughout – parts may come loose
- Poorly fitted neck – at risk of detaching from body