I ordered rosin from the 26th of February, and the website said there would be a 3 week delivery wait. After three weeks, the rosin still didn't arrive. April 6th came, and it FINALLY arrived. IT TOOK AROUND 7 WEEKS. Turned out they packaged CELLO ROSIN. I WAITED 7 WEEKS, FOR 2 PACKS OF ALL WEATHER BASS ROSIN FOR $70, AND I GOT CELLO ROSIN. Needless I am very upset and disappointed in Kolstein. My friend told me they were reliable in the past, but they have completely failed me. Might be because of their legal issues with their lost equipment. read more

Left an instrument on consignment. Now they "don't have it or know where it is". Apparently selling instruments on consignment without paying the owners. Don't do business with them as they are going out of business , just got evicted from Manhattan store. Florida store closed. Owner nowhere to be found. Fraud and larceny....... read more

It's not surprising that there are few reviews. Kolstein's loyal customers are real people with real lives. They have incredible instruments, with great setups, and perhaps the legendary expertise and integrity in the string musical instrument business and recoginzed for their specialty, THE Upright Bass shop in America. They have a huge collection of the most prestigious and wonderful basses in the country and perhaps the world. Over the years they have accumulated vast collections of vintage basses and have done top quality restorations of the pedigree instruments they sell. Their repair shop is unequaled in handing repairs, and they do tonal work on instruments, including re-tuning and graduating tops. They also service the student market with quality rentals and lower end instruments. The thing is, the student gets a quality instrument with a top quality setup, strings, and that is very important and valuable. A real specialty, Barrie has a number of bows started out of these Permanbuco bow started by his father, and finished by Barrie. These represent incredible opportunities to get a bow of a lifetime. No one has ever been sorry they did business with Kolstein Music. read more

Honest gentleman not looking to make the quick buck. Would rather have a beginner such as my self seek professional guidance first before making the plunge and buying an instrument. This kind of honesty is rather hard to find in today's world. Will definitely return if my quest is meant to be. read more

Kolstein Music - Kolstein Violin Shop - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Baldwin, New York

My son and I have known Barrie Kolstein for more than twenty years, having first stopped in to the shop to look at the cellos when my son was in junior high. When Sean began to excel on the school cello, I decided it was time to buy him an instrument of his own. Barrie spent much time with him, helping him to decide which instrument would serve him well. We bought a cello from the Mittenwald area of Germany, made in the early 1900s. Sean proudly and successfully played this beautiful instrument through high school and college and treasures it still, as an adult. When my father inherited the violin and viola that his own musician father had played in the 1930s and 40s, we brought them to Barrie for an appraisal and possible restoration. However, my father (who is elderly) was remiss in picking up the instruments and they remained at Kolstein's for over two years. I, in the meantime, moved to North Carolina and would gently remind my dad to call, which he finally did this spring. To our surprise, Barrie told us that all of the instruments had been seriously damaged when the shop flooded during Hurricane Sandy. He recounted that he has spent the last three years restoring ALL the instruments in the store, including my father's. The totally amazing part of this story is that Barrie did this all out of the goodness of his heart, and didn't charge us a cent for the restorations!!! The cases and bows were destroyed by water damage and had been thrown out, but Barrie replaced them, again for no money!!!! I can't begin to tell you the gratitude my family has toward Barrie and his business. I have never, and I mean never, met a person in business who gives of himself and his talents so unselfishly. He clearly has devoted himself to the making, repairing and selling of fine instruments to keep the live music scene alive. I couldn't recommend him more highly! read more

Amazing repair services! I am not familiar with the instruments they sell, so I cannot comment on that. The customer service is 5 star, you are treated like family the first time you walk in! One of the best, right here on LI! read more

Simply the best! First of all, their instruments are superb - but it's their customer service that makes them great. I would recommend Kolstein and Son to everyone! read more