I came here recently to get my bow rehaired. I arrived around 10am on a Tuesday and the store was busy. Based on my interaction with the staff on a different day, Tuesday morning is the busiest. I mentioned that I needed my bow rehaired, so they called David down to consult. David asked if I was going anywhere soon with the bow, I assume to ensure that it's adjusted for both climates. He then asked when I needed it back. I didn't need it back for a week, but he said it would be ready in a few days. Amazing! David does the bow rehair in-house. The other luthiers that I visited in the past outsource the bow rehair and it takes a week at best to get it back. I received a call from David on Thursday asking if there was anything else that needed to be done on the bow. I mentioned that the stick has a bit of rosin dust on it and he said he usually cleans it and that the bow should be ready on Friday. I dropped by on Friday and it was ready. The bow was rehaired and the stick was clean. Bow rehairs cost $77 + tax and I thought the price was well worth the service. I also browsed through their selection of violin cases since I'm in the market. Their sales staff was very friendly and knowledgeable of the various options. I appreciated that they asked about my budget first. Unfortunately, I didn't find one that had all of the features that I was looking for in a violin case. But I appreciated that they helped out this indecisive shopper even when they were busy. read more

The Sound Post - Bow rehair - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

When I inherited a collection of stringed instruments I invited about 1/2 dozen experts to see the collection intending to sell all. The owner of the Sound Post came to my home to see the collection. I made a nice lamb dinner for him as I did for all the others. He was interested in some of the instruments and offered to ship containers (without my requesting them) so he could better study them. When I saw that his estimates were consistently lower than other dealers, I sold the instruments elsewhere. There was one antique Czech cello ( a Lantner) he had not seen. I inquired whether or not to ship it to him. He wanted to see it, and I shipped it off in one of the containers he had sent. Cost of shipping was not discussed. Ultimately, he was not interested in the Lantner cello and refused to return it until I paid him over $225 for shipping costs. He even threatened to charge storage fees for the instrument if I did not pay. I sent a check for the requested amount. When the cello arrived, it had been stripped off all unattached parts ( foot, bridge, strings, pegs, etc.). When I got in touch to ask for the parts, he said he would look for them. Several emails later he mentioned seeing a bag of parts in the storage room but was uncertain that they were mine. Ultimately, he has not responded to my emails and I still do not have the parts of the cello originally shipped. As to the collection, all the other antique instruments were sold to reputable dealers and musicians for higher prices than had been offered by the Sound Post. This was by far the most unpleasant experience I have ever had in dealing with a business. read more

This shop stuck me as very disorganized and either dishonest or greedy. Called the shop looking to purchase an instrument they had online. The first person who answered could not help me. The second, gave me information very different that what was clearly posted online -- specifically, a price range jump from under $5000 to "7000, 8000, or 9000 dollars I'm not sure yet." When asked about the discrepancy, the only explanation was that lots of people were interested and that the price categorization was a mistake. I was never called back about the whereabouts of this instrument. Very fishy. The instrument is neither labeled nor full size. No one should be paying 7, 8, or 9 thousand for a small instrument with no identity. I looked elsewhere and instead purchased a gorgeous 1774 German instrument for a fraction of their price. P.s. The instrument is still listed on the site, miscategorized, and this was months ago. read more

Now that I use Yelp, I thought I'd leave a review to recount an unforgettable experience I had at The Sound Post. I came here to set a sound post that had fallen out of my violin after I took it with me overseas. The place is nice and quaint. I went upstairs to see their luthier, and the guy was like sour milk personified. He spent more time complaining about how my violin was a crappy Czech knock-off than properly setting the sound post for me. The thing is, I had asked for a repair, not an appraisal. I paid $15 here to get it set, and after he set the sound post, the violin lost the rich-sounding bass that it had before. Maybe the luthier was miserable because he sucks at his job? I mean, that would make anyone miserable, right? Yeah. I was disappointed to say the least. So I had to go to another violin shop a little further east that set the sound post for free AND they did an incredible job. My "crappy Czech knock-off" sounds wonderful again. I go to that shop now, but I'll always remember my first time at The Sound Post, where they ironically couldn't properly set one! My ordinary violin sensibilities and I won't be back. The luthier here does like giving unsolicited appraisals, though. LOL! read more

I just have recently discovered this store, and I just have to say that it is just so phenomenal. The service was decent - no more, no less than what I'd expect. You have to ring the bell in order to gain entry for some reason, but it shouldn't pose a problem. The best part of this store is: the pricing. The prices for strings related products match, or are lower than al other big-name retailers like Long McQuade and Remenyi House of Music. I think they also have a 10% price match with any of the other major Canadian retailer, so price-wise, this place is awesome. -1 star because they have low stock on certain items, and the store is just a little cramped for my liking. read more

very skilled at what they do but at times very harsh in their words perhaps because they are perfectionists-not sure. we should not be brought to tears when an instrument we purchased there is brought in for repair. you can say the same thing kindly. But they are excellent and reliable. just don some armour because it is spotty in terms of actual verbal communications even with long standing clients. Haven't been back in over a year now since we were unnecessarily reduced to tears (yes even the mother not just the child). It was very mean. But they are good at what they do. so be it. read more

Great store. The staff are friendly, professional and extremely helpful. The store is a little small and cramped but at the same time gives a feel "like home". They are very willing to let you take home their violin/bows at no cost to try them out before purchasing. I do feel pricing is a little high, but that might only be because im on a budget. But, they do price match competitors read more

I live in Northern Ontario, Timmins, to be precise and relish my trips to Toronto. I let everyone at the Sound Post know I am coming, through phone calls and emails. I let them know my needs plus the date I will be arriving and when I will be picking my violin and bow up. Never a problem. I give details on what I need done. When I show up at the end of my Toronto visit to pick up and pay , everything is good to go! I play 2nd violin in the Timmins Symphony Orchestra and because I have had such wonderful service and experiences, I have been responsible for sending many of my colleagues their way. NO complaints. Keep up the good work Alistaire and staff. Always a joy. Cheers! Gail read more

If you live in the States, do not order strings from these folks unless you have a good bit of time to kill. I actually had to contact the Ottawa store to get any response from Toronto shop in the first place. In all, I waited 11 days, and they still had not shipped strings they claimed to have in stock. I contacted someone named "Alistair" several times, to no avail. He kept promising to send them out that day or the next day, no such luck. Waited from Feb. 26 until March 8, and as of this morning they still haven't shipped. My guess is if you walk in the store and they have what you need in stock, you are probably okay. Trying to get a good deal online? Go ahead and pay the 4 extra dollars elsewhere! You'll be glad you kept moving. Yes, I did ask them to cancel it after a week had gone by and they hadn't shipped, assuming they didn't really have them in stock, but when Alistair responded they did have them and he could send them immediately (!), I said, okay, IF you can send them on Monday, go ahead It's Tuesday and he admits they still haven't sent them. read more

Extremely poor rental department. Staff member Sophie was full of broken promises on returning my calls and preparing an instrument for a rental contract. Took a week to find out they will get back to me the following week, only excuse being "they've been busy"... not good enough. I went elsewhere. read more

This is the place to go in Toronto to get a high quality violin, viola or cello. Also an excellent selection of music books and whatever they do not have in stock, they will happily order. Even the most obscure of published work. Love it here. read more