I have been working with the Buraks for almost a decade. They have always produced quality work and provided excellent customer service. I worked with Nicholas a few weeks ago because my cello was in dire need of repairs. I got my bridge, soundpost, and strings replaced, as well as a seam repair, for a very fair price. Nick was communicative the whole process. Edward (my cello) came back as good as new. My previous cello was made by their luthier, and it is still in excellent condition. I am very fond of that instrument. I trust Wayne Burak and Associates with my repairs, upkeep, and everything else associated with my instruments. I highly recommend them to anyone. read more

I was extremely impressed by my experience. It's my experience that if a violin shop doesn't ask questions about your level of playing, your preference in tone, your budget and so forth, it's not worth a visit. Burak asked all the right questions, brought violins specifically for the preferences I shared. I had his undivided attention for an hour while we went through an impressive number of violins...at least a dozen. He didn't pressure me. He gave me honesty and the freedom to pick an instrument that I enjoyed. He discounted a new case and even offered a free rehair for my bow. Amazing service. A kind man. Tremendous selection. He remembers your name; he makes sure he has your best interest in the center of the sale. I live quite some distance from their shop, but they have a very happy customer. read more

Wayne Burak & Associates, Inc - This is my new violin and case. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Arlington, Texas

Dallas doesn't have many luthiers qualified to service instruments of a high quality. It was nice to find one!

I am a retiree who decided to take up the cello. After about a year of lessons I decided to upgrade my instrument (which was a Cecilio model 300 via Amazon for $350). I looked online and with individual local sellers, etc. My instructor advised Burak and Associates before I made a decision. So I called Nicholas Burak and made an appointment to stop by. Last Sat I went to they shop in Arlington and Nicholas spent two hours with me going over the various options and tirelessly answering all my myriad questions. It was a great experience. I ended up purchasing an entry level cello which was an order of magnitude above my Cecilio instrument. It was truly amazing the difference in sound and playability. I can recommend Nicholas and Burak Associates without hesitation or fear of contradiction. Couldn't be happier although somewhat poorer. You do get what you pay for. read more

This is my fourth year playing violin and my first upgrade. I'm so glad we came here. They were recommended by two orchestra directors and a close friend. We got a high quality, handmade violin for a great price at the beginning of the summer. Now, I play everyday and love the sound of my violin. While there, I also got great tips on how to play better. They're really nice and honestly want to make it easy for you to find a great instrument. read more

Wayne Burak & Associates, Inc - My new violin, case, and bow. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Arlington, Texas

I've been playing violin for three years and using a student rental instrument from Affordable Beginner Strings to learn, but I inherited a viola from my beloved grandmother that had been sitting in its case probably since the 1940s or longer. I figured I was at least competent enough to play a better quality instrument now so it is time to switch to viola and start playing my grandmother's. After getting a recommendation that Wayne Burak's was the local shop to use for quality instrument restoration, I saved up until I had the budget to get the viola restored. Although it was in good shape overall and is a good quality instrument, it needed a lot of work. I picked it up yesterday and played it a little bit in the shop...O.M.F.G. I had never played a viola in my life, only a violin, but the sound quality between what I can do on this viola vs. my rental violin is just night and day. The sound is AMAZING. I was practically in tears, the good kind. I really wish my grandmother were still alive to hear me play, sadly she passed away almost 20 years ago. It looks beautiful as well but the sound is the most important part. But anyway, Nick Burak (Wayne's son I presume) does amazing work, and is a super nice guy to work with. I felt like the price, while of course not cheap, was reasonable for the work that was done and I needed all new everything (case, bow, strings, shoulder rest) on top of the restoration work itself. They are definitely known around town for being quality and they have a bit of a queue, so please remember that quality work takes time. It was about 3 weeks for me to get my instrument back, most of that time was simply just that there were others ahead of me in line. It absolutely was worth the wait. We live very close to ABS and not so close to WB so for my destructicon teenage son's rental it's probably more convenient to stick with ABS (since I frequently need to bring it by for minor things like a new string or what have you) but I'd absolutely drive the distance to take my own beloved instrument over to Wayne & Nick anytime it needs anything. read more

Great workmanship great advice. Very honest. Was referred by two separate people and both immediately said Burak and now I know why. Very happy with them, brought in a violin. read more

I've been told about this shop by my directors for a while, and I finally decided to visit and purchase a violin. Best experience in my life. Nick was very patient and encouraging in choosing a violin, and we took the time to go through around a dozen violins. After picking the one I wanted, we went through the shorter process of finding a bow, which I am very satisfied with. The violin I chose is magnificent and performs better than anything I have ever played; it has a wonderful tone and I look forward to using it through high school and college. Nick was so kind as to even provide discounts for us to help lift the heavy price of the violin, even providing rosin. The process took about one and a half to two hours, and the experience was nice. I didn't feel rushed and Nick was very insightful and provided excellent service. I will definitely recommend this place to my friends, as well as perhaps enjoy coming back in the future for my children. read more

Best customer service - RE-hair my daughter's violin bow in a few hours! Love this place!

I have played violin for about 12 years, but have been away from music for around 7 years and am now trying to get back into it. I came here after being told by an orchestra member at my college that Mr. Burak was "the man" and I can't help but agree with his assessment. Not only was he friendly, as was his assistant (and son) Nicholas, but knowledgable as well. After making an appointment (they operate by appointment only, I think to give personal service to everyone) my wife and I brought in my instrument that I have owned since I began playing, passed down to me by my step-father. I was looking into how much it would be to get the instrument back up to a functional level, or if this would even be worth the cost. Mr. Burak did not ask any questions about the instrument at first, but after looking at it for maybe 5 seconds and turning it over in his hands, pronounced it to be A. German, B. From the 60's, and C. A very basic student level instrument. All three of which were dead on. (It was a Karl Hofner violin from 1962) And I had never been fully satisfied with the instrument during my final 3 - 4 years of active practice, so the idea that it is a student level instrument was easily accepted. After an interesting and informative discussion about the make and structure of the violin Nicholas took me and my wife upstairs to the studio where I was shown an assortment of instruments. Both Nicholas and I played several of the violins, and I was wildly impressed by the sound. Basically I was in love. I then asked the question I was dreading. "How much?" When Nicholas responded I think my jaw hit the floor. You have AMAZING sounding violins like this, several under 1 grand?! I told Nicholas thank you and that the wife and I would discuss for a few days, see if we wanted to make the investment. He then surprised me by giving me the carbon fiber bow I had been playing with ( That I mentioned I was in love with ) and told me that I could use it for a few weeks and that if I didnt end up buying the instrument, that he'd give me a good price on the bow. Fast forward 4 days, I make another appointment this morning, I go in, and I buy the violin I had been most impressed with. After tax, I barely squeaked above 1k, and the sound rivals that of some friends 3 and 5k instruments. I cannot recommend this shop highly enough. They care about the personal touch and they really go above and beyond for their customers. read more

Very fortunate to have found this place when looking for a new violin for our 14 year old daughter. She have been playing for 3 years and was ready to move up from her beginner violin. We googled for a violin shop around Arlington and came up with Wayne Burak & Associates. From the first time we stepped into their office all the way to their showroom and towards the end when we purchased the violin, we were treated like first class customers. We liked the fact that we get the chance to talk and get to know Wayne first hand, his knowledge on violins and cellos are extensive. Never once were we pressured to buy the most expensive violin we can afford, rather Wayne and his son Nicholas took their time to let our daughter try several of their violins that are within our price range. The whole time our daughter was ecstatic to be there, enjoying different violins with professional input from Wayne and Nich. We came out with a brand new violin for our daughter and we were completely satisfied, not just for the awesome total purchase experience, but also knowing that we had the best deal in getting the best quality violin anywhere. read more

Wayne Burak & Associates, Inc - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Arlington, Texas

Awesome customer service skills. He's very knowledgeable and helpful with supplying you with the best instrument for you and your needs. Additionally, they're flexible and patient read more

As a professional cellist who tours regularly, it's hard to find local instrument shops that will provide you with a quality instrument (not to mention service with a smile). Nick Burak and his father Wayne went above and beyond in providing me with an exceptional instrument. Their gracious professionalism makes every interaction a true joy. Highly recommended! read more

I read reviews all across the metroplex and this place truly had the best reputation, and they know it (yet they stay super humble!). I walked in one day at about quarter til close to have my electric violin checked out, and these guys immediately took a look at it. They spent weeks trying to figure out what was wrong, had multiple hands and eyes examine it, the best of the best. They came to the conclusion that it was probably the pick-up that was damaged since everything else was still intact. They were genuine and up-front with me from the beginning, and I could tell they tried their hardest to fix my instrument with all the tools and knowledge they possessed. I wasn't charged a single penny for all the time and energy spent. My violin may have stumped them, but I will definitely be a returning customer! These guys are the real deal. read more

I met Nick Burak at a conference a few weeks ago and talked with him about doing some work on my instrument. I recently took my cello in for a new bridge (my old one was warping and the A-string had really dug in. After taking a look in the set up, Nick also determined some other needs for optimizing my instrument, including a new soundpost. He did an amazing job! I got my cello back better than it's ever been. Projection, sustain, and resonance like I've not had from my instrument before. They also graciously provided a good loaner cello while mine was in the shop. Nick and his father, Wayne, made me feel like a welcomed friend. Their professionalism and dedication to excellence is second to none. Nick displayed great pride in making my cello the best it can be. read more

My son is a fairly advanced cellist for the short 2.5 years of studying the instrument. He enjoys trying different cellos, and at the recent TMEA Convention in San Antonio, he had the opportunity to test a variety of great cellos ranging from $30,000-$50,000. We happened upon the booth of Wayne Burak & Associates where Nicholas Burak showed my son the Strad model, their top workbench model. My son was immediately drawn to the magnificent sound; I was pleased by the great price and value ($16,000). Nicholas was a consummate professional and very patient with our many questions & requests. We end up buying it. A month after we purchased the cello, we drove to Arlington from San Antonio for adjustments/enhancements. After 4 hours of consultation with Wayne and trying different options (e.g., tailpiece, pegs), we realize the cello was perfect as is. My son & I learned so much from meeting with Wayne - he's super knowledgeable, kind & eager to share his knowledge about how to get the best sounding cello AND bow. We were also excited to find a couple of great bows that match this particular cello (again, at a great price)! He let us take the bows home to try & ship back what we don't want. My son said he was inspired by Mr. Burak. I am grateful to have met this wonderful family - we highly recommend them for their great service, tremendous knowledge, excellent instruments, and great value. Thank you, Burak & Associates!! read more

We went to Wayne Burak on the advice of our son's teacher. Wow, what an experience! Wayne and his son Nick are first class folks, extremely knowledgable and service oriented, and will provide you an unforgettable experience in welcoming a new violin into your family. My son is just 10 so I am glad we will have many years of interacting with Wayne for everything the violin and bow needs in the future, whether it be re-hairing or new strings or a little tweak here and there because Wayne actually develops a relationship with your violin to make sure it's well cared for and providing great sounds for years to come. The time he spends with your student and the fatherly tips he gives, even writing down the names of all the great violinists you should be listening to, is just above and beyond service. He'll even give your kid a pep talk as they grow in their playing. He and his son are both people persons, passionate about what they do. Arlington, and now Plano, are fortunate to have them in the community, and Wayne is blessed to have his son working with him just as passionately in this business. Blessings to the Burak family. read more