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September 2023 by Francisco G.
I met Mario after going to eight renowned violin shops around southern CA. Mario has traveled the world, and attended a variety of violin showrooms. He has been to Italy many times and tested many well known luthier’ violins around the world.My daughter, a classical violinist, explained to him the sound she was looking for, and Mario went out and called a few of his contacts. Mario had many violins to choose from some older and some new models from well known luthiers.My daughter tested the violin and fell in love with her new Topa violin.It was thanks to Mario expertise, attention to detail, and passion for the violin that contributed to finding the one and special violin.
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September 2023 by Google user
I met Mario after going to eight renowned violin shops around southern CA. Mario has traveled the world, and attended a variety of violin showrooms. He has been to Italy many times and tested many well known luthier’ violins around the world. My daughter, a classical violinist, explained to him the sound she was looking for, and Mario went out and called a few of his contacts. Mario had many violins to choose from some older and some new models from well known luthiers. My daughter tested the violin and fell in love with her new Topa violin. It was thanks to Mario expertise, attention to detail, and passion for the violin that contributed to finding the one and special violin.
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September 2021 by April cervantes
Mario was super friendly and knowledgeable on all his products,defenilty a place to get all your violin needs. I purchased two violin bows while I was there but due to me having to travel he sent them out quickly!?
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August 2021 by Lesley Hernandez
Alpha strings is the best shop to purchase a violin! I am Mariachi and have spent months looking for a violin upgrade. I visited Mario’s shop and was amazed by his customer service! He listens to the client’s needs and wants. Violins have many tones, and he knows his violin extremely well that he starts to suggest some based on your preferences and of course price. It took about three violins before I fell in love with "the one!" (At other shops, I have tried more than five and was never impressed.) I have had my violin now for over a month, and I am so happy with it! He even taught me a few tips and tricks during my visit! If you are looking for a violin, definitely stop by Mario’s shop; you will not regret it!
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July 2021 by Julie Liu
Went there to get f post adjusted and changed a bridge. Mario did a great job and was super friendly and helpful. If you want a stress free place to buy an instrument or need a tune up, I highly recommend Mario. He has student violins as well as high end ones. If he doesn't, he can get them for you.
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July 2021 by Richie Silva
So knowledgeable, helpful, and has SÚPER GOOD PRICES! As a music teacher it’s hard to go into a music store because most of the times I know more than the clerk, but this store was PHENOMENAL! So well informed and ready to help any level of player.
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July 2021 by Mariachi Acero
Mario’s shop is our go to place for all our musical needs. Very professional and courteous. If there is a product he doesn’t have he will order it for you and it arrives very quick! We will continue to take our business to Alpha Strings!
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July 2021 by Leslie Aguila
Second time I come here to buy my violin/other supplies and he does not disappoint! Very patient and knowledgeable about his instruments, don’t hesitate to shop here for all types of prices he has on his instruments.
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July 2021 by AliMarie
Plain & simple… it’s the best! Thank you Mario for always being my go to when I need anything and everything!!!
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July 2021 by Ulysses Rodriguez
Most convenient prices! Thank you :)
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March 2021 by Jonathan Q
If you're considering to buy a high quality violin, you definitely should consider coming to this shop. Mario (the owner) will not only offer you violins that respect your budget, but he will also take the time to make sure that you are completely happy with your instrument before making the purchase.Surrounded by warehouses and other small businesses, Alpha Strings is like this hole-in-the-wall violin shop that you go to in order to get all your musical equipment at competitive prices be it a new violin or just a Dampit humidifier.In addition to offering a great selection of instruments - from student violins, to Ming-Jiang Zhu and Wojciech Topa violins – Mario also brings a large sense of sincerity when working with you. Advertising himself as a violinist first and businessperson second, he strongly encourages you to not only trial his violins but also violins outside of his shop. In this regard, he is more than happy to give his recommendation on a violin that best fits your need - perhaps even if the violin is not from his shop.It is definitely a pleasure working with Mario as he brings in so much honesty and authenticity into the discussion; you can tell that he ultimately wants you to succeed in your musical goals. You don't have to take my word for it though; get in contact with him should you need a new violin and see for yourself that there really are honest businesspeople out there (or in this case, inside a small suite filled with violins).P.S. As of March 2021, Alpha Strings is allowing people to visit via appointment only due to COVID-19. Definitely e-mail/text before coming in person!
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March 2021 by Jonathan Q.
If you're considering to buy a high quality violin, you definitely should consider coming to this shop. Mario (the owner) will not only offer you violins that respect your budget, but he will also take the time to make sure that you are completely happy with your instrument before making the purchase. Surrounded by warehouses and other small businesses, Alpha Strings is like this hole-in-the-wall violin shop that you go to in order to get all your musical equipment at competitive prices be it a new violin or just a Dampit humidifier. In addition to offering a great selection of instruments - from student violins, to Ming-Jiang Zhu and Wojciech Topa violins - Mario also brings a large sense of sincerity when working with you. Advertising himself as a violinist first and businessperson second, he strongly encourages you to not only trial his violins but also violins outside of his shop. In this regard, he is more than happy to give his recommendation on a violin that best fits your need - perhaps even if the violin is not from his shop. It is definitely a pleasure working with Mario as he brings in so much honesty and authenticity into the discussion; you can tell that he ultimately wants you to succeed in your musical goals. You don't have to take my word for it though; get in contact with him should you need a new violin and see for yourself that there really are honest businesspeople out there (or in this case, inside a small suite filled with violins). As for me, I came home with a Ming Jiang Zhu violin along with a Codabow bow and a Gewa case. During my trial week and even after making the purchase, Mario would reach out and ask how I'm feeling about the violin/bow; now THAT'S customer service. P.S. As of March 2021, Alpha Strings is allowing people to visit via appointment only due to COVID-19. Definitely e-mail/text before coming in person!
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January 2021 by Jennifer Smith
I've been in the market for a new violin, and as a beginner I wasn't sure how to start. Thank goodness I picked Alpha Strings!! Mario was so patient, so helpful, and very nice funny and sweet..he explained the differences in different violins, and demonstrated three of them for me, inside and outside so I could get exactly what I was looking for in a violin. His prices beat anyone I had found online, and I will definitely be a repeat customer..highly recommend, you'll be well taken care of and not taken, at Alpha Strings :)
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April 2020 by Hahn H.
I'm a beginner violinist who had improved enough that my rental violin was not inspiring me to practice as much as I wanted. No matter how smoothly I played, it sounded dull. I decided I wanted to invest in a better violin that could last me a lifetime or at least would hold its value should I ever decide on a different violin. I found Alpha Strings online when I was looking at the Ming Jiang Zhu's. The website seemed a bit sparse and the sale price seemed to be too good to be true, so I hesitated for a couple of days. But then I saw a YouTube video where his friend demoed the MJZ G909's. Playing them through my good speakers, I immediately fell in love with one of the violins. So I e-mailed him without high hopes given the quarantine had shut everything down. But he got back to me within an hour and we chatted on the phone. He gave me all the details about the exact violin I was interested in, and patiently answered all of my questions. At the end of the conversation, I was very satisfied with what I was purchasing (investing). He shipped it immediately the same day and I received the violin in 2 days up in the Pacific NW. The violin was well packed and protected in bubble wrap around all the most sensitive places. He said it would come in a dart box so I was expecting just a wooden box, but surprisingly it actually came a simple, but quite usable nylon violin case. It also came with a certificate of authenticity. All in all, it was exactly how Mario described. Okay the website needs a little polishing, but I'll take fair pricing and great customer service over slick marketing. There's a certain online retailer named after a South American rainforest that sells MJZ violins through some seller that Google does not recognize. I'm not going to trust an unidentifiable seller to ship a fragile expensive item like this. All in all, Alpha Strings is a great business, and Mario provides excellent service. Gem of a business and I hope he picks up more visibility online. PS. On top of running an honest business, Mario also apparently runs/organizes a non-profit called Violins Not Violence that gets youngsters involved with learning to play the violin by occasionally giving them one! This alone tells you a lot about Mario's character. If you're in the market for a violin, check out Alpha Strings. You won't be disappointed!
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February 2020 by David S.
Mario was very flexible and provided a great instrument at a reasonable price. Totally recommend purchasing here! Love my 909!
