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John Sipe Violins Testimonials “I’d been looking for a violin for years. I wasn’t completely satisfied with the
newer instruments, and in most cases, could not afford the old ones. After 5 minutes on John Sipe’s violin I
knew I had to buy it. This instrument
is a dream come true. All the sound
and looks of a fine, old Italian instrument, at a price one can afford. It projects beautifully in theaters and in
concert halls. This violin also records like a dream…so even and rich, and so
easy to play. Many of my colleagues
have asked about the instrument, based on the sound or the beautiful
finish. When I tell them it was
completed in 2002 they are very surprised.
When I tell them the price…well, I can see the jealousy. I realize
that looking for a new violin is extremely personal; tastes vary
greatly. However, John Sipe’s
instruments are worth trying for anyone looking for something great. I’ll have this violin forever--even when I
can afford the Strad…” Jonathan Dinklage Professional Violinist, New York, 2004 “I like to play a lot of bravura pieces of the violin
literature. So, I spend a lot of the time
playing pieces of composers like Paganini, Wienaski, and Sarasate just to
name a few. When I play, I play
hard. Also, I noticed that when I
play these composers’ pieces on inferior instruments, they just couldn’t
handle the pressure. Or if they could,
there was always a problem… poor tone quality, no projection, unevenness when
crossing strings, higher position break downs (usually happens around the 4th
position), etc. But once I got a Sipe
violin in my hands, all that changed. I find his instruments to be of the highest order. The tone of his violins is of a solo
quality, which is dark, rich, and deep on the lower strings while the E
string rings with sparkling brilliance. His instruments are made strong. You can play them on any string in any
position and as hard as you want.
They will not break down!!!
Now, I really enjoy playing those virtuoso pieces because I have an
instrument that will stay with me.
It’s very exciting! Also, John
Sipe’s instruments have great sound projection or carrying power. I have taken my instrument and other
violins of his to high churches to test their sound projection, and I am
always amazed at how an instrument so small can fill such facilities. And if you are an artist with the bow,
John’s violins possess a wonderful tonal palette of colors that will help you
create incredible musical masterpieces that will leave tears in your
eyes. You will not want to put it
down!!! I know, I’ve been there.” Jonathan Sullivan Teacher and Performer, Charlotte NC, 2005 “I have had the privilege to play on a John
Sipe violin since 1986. The violin
has a wonderfully deep, warm sound on all four strings, although with very
individual timbre and blend perfectly well together. The violin has a beautiful red color, like
a burgundy wine, and the flaming of the wood is very pleasing to the
eye. It is one of John’s earlier
violins before he started making violins that have a more antique
appearance. It is the John Adams of
the Presidential Series. (John Sipe
made a series of violins named after each of the presidents, starting with
George Washington and stopping with George Bush, senior.) Through an inheritance, I became the owner
of a Nicolas Amati from 1650, which I donated to the Smithsonian Institute in
1998. I had the opportunity to play
both violins, the Nicolas Amati and the John Sipe for several years; I
preferred the John Sipe because of the bigger sound. John and I are good friends, and currently
I am playing on some of his newer violins, and also on a very gorgeous
sounding viola. John has made a few
cellos (I don’t have one). He also
studied bow making in England from Malcolm Taylor, formally of W.E. Hill
& Sons. John made 45 bows before
he became allergic to the pernambuco wood and had to stop.” Menno Pennink Retired Neurosurgeon and Violin Player,
Fayetteville, NC, 2005 “Recently I witnessed a member of the famed Philadelphia
Orchestra audition a Sipe violin by audaciously digging in with unforgiving
pressure all over the fingerboard, purposely trying to make it break down,
while secretly comparing it to a friend’s Strad. He later confessed that the Strad did not break down or choke
and neither would the Sipe…a concert violin in every respect.” Leroy T. Sellers Professional Violinist and Teacher, NC, 2004 “I am a
professional violinist in NYC where I perform regularly at Lincoln Center and
Carnegie Hall with groups such as American Symphony, Orchestra of St. Luke’s
and EOS Orchestra. In addition, I
perform on Broadway for "The Producer’s” and "Beauty and the
Beast" and have recorded with several pop stars in the studios of NYC
and as well for television. I am a graduate of Eastman, Royal College of
Music and SUNY Stony Brook. It has
been my pleasure to be one of Mr. Sipe’s representative here in NYC. I have
shown and sold his violins to my colleagues for the last 2 years. His violins always impress them and have
been played in the NYC studios as well as in the concert halls. These violins are consistently even and
have a depth of tone quality, which carries well in a big hall.” Patricia Davis Professional Violinist, NYC, 2004 “Back
in 1999, at my request, John Sipe sent me a Guarneri model violin for my
consideration. Although the
instrument was relatively new, the beauty, the power and clear projection of
the sound through the Tivoli Theatre in Chattanooga simply amazed me, so I
bought it immediately. I never
imagined that a modern violin would be so incredibly good. Within a year, I fell in love with another
Guarneri model – a beautiful copy of the famous “Plowden”, that John had made
in 1997. I took immediate possession
of that instrument as well as for the same reason: the great quality of its
sound. Since then, I virtually
stopped playing my Italian instrument.
These two wonderful violins are my constant companions in all my
concerts with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Orchestra and recitals.” Jack Cobos Professional Violinist, Educator, TN, 2004 “I have earned my masters degree from
the Peabody conservatory and I have been playing Mr. Sipe’s violins for more
than five years. I really enjoy
playing my Sipe because of the varied tone colors it can produce and the
carrying power that it has in large halls.” Joanna Mulfinger Lebo Principal Second, Greenville Symphony, Greenville SC, 2004 “As a
concert violinist, Professor of Violin and Orchestra Conductor at Columbus
State University, I needed a violin as a back-up to a very fine Italian
instrument that I had been playing for years during my concert tours
throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and South America. About three or four years ago, I came
across a Guarneri model violin that John Sipe had made in 1999. The instrument was brand new, but I was
extremely impressed with the quality, projection and Italian characteristics
of its sound. The violin developed
into a magnificent instrument and has been my favorite ever since.” Pat Cobos Professional Violinist, Professor, Columbus
GA, 2004 “I have
played a Sipe violin for ten years.
This wonderful instrument has been a joy to play as a solo instrument,
projecting beautifully in the several halls in which I have played. It also blends as a chamber instrument,
which is my favorite genre. The
violins sound is clear and projecting, rich in the low register, with
upper-registration capabilities from sweet to strong and bright. I premiered a new violin concerto in 1998
and couldn’t have been happier with how easily the violin played and how well
it projected over the orchestra. It
has served me well as a recording instrument and has received high praise
from recording engineers and producers.
My Sipe violin allows me to explore the rich timbres and nuances of
the music I perform, and I am still just scratching the surface of what this
violin can do.” Dianne Pinner Professional Violinist, Educator,
Greenville SC, 2004 “For the last year, I have had the pleasure of playing a
Guaneri ‘Del Gesu’ model violin crafted by Mr. John Sipe. It possesses a high quality and a clear
beautiful tone, which is rich and full.
I am a professional concert violinist, born in Bulgaria, studied in
Moscow with David Oistrach and now play almost every weekend in churches all
around the world as well as many other events. Mr. Sipe is a very skillful violin maker and all of his violins
are highly recommended.” Dr. Margaret Nickol Concert Violinist, Houston TX, 2004 “In the
last few years, I have been looking for a great contemporary violin. I knew of a maker I was interested in and
of a fine violinist who owned one. I
called her to get some information about possibly acquiring one. Several weeks later she called and said,
‘I have some good news and some bad news…my violin has just been reappraised
for$40,000.00. The good news is I
just played a violin by a North Carolina maker named John Sipe and it is
every bit as good as mine-- it is absolutely beautiful, and not anywhere near
the price of mine. I couldn’t put it
down.’ I wasted no time connecting
with Mr. Sipe. He brought me two
violins, and after seeing and playing them, I loved them both. I wanted to buy the two of them, but
settled on one, finally. I have been
fortunate enough to play a number of Cremonese instruments--Testore,
Guadagnini, a few Strads and other fine Italians. I say, without question, my Sipe is in that class. The label says ‘created in the manner of
the Cremonese masters’…that is the truth.
It looks like that and it sounds like that. I intend to own more of this man’s instruments. I will also say that the violin has
blossomed amazingly in the year that I have played it. It seems to get better all the time…and I
love looking at it! A word about the maker—he is a fine
person, a real craftsman and artist.
From the business side, he is a pleasure to work with and is as good
as his word—in short, what a treasure!
John and his beautiful instruments have my unreserved recommendation.” Paul Statsky Professional Violinist, Educator, Asheville
NC, 2004 “All my life has been involved with violins, violin makers,
violinists and violin students. When
serious students or colleagues desire a fine violin, it is my pleasure to direct
them to John Sipe. Every violin he
makes is with a special purpose and that is, ‘What must be done to this wood
to make this a great instrument’. He
does not waste his time repeating over and over copies of a past
instrument. Each instrument has its
own inimitable personality that he carefully searches for as he eagerly carves
its form and shape. John has his own
ability to perform and can tell immediately how to gage his work and what is
needed to bring out the quality of tone he is looking for and the ideal sound
for each particular instrument. When
I pick up his instruments, I know before I hear its tone that it is a great
instrument of genuine worth. The
workmanship is so healthy and beautiful.
You can see the hand of an experienced master workman. I love the rich clear sound on the ‘G’
string and its continuation and evenness as all the strings are related and
send the same character of resonance.
John Sipe is obsessed with creating the best possible violin from his
collection of old and seasoned woods.
He prays that our Lord will show him what to do to make each instrument
the best he can possibly produce.” Joan Mulfinger Professional Violinist, Teacher and
Christian Education, Greenville SC, 2004 “My name is Rong-Yan Tang. I am in the
first violin section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. After playing on many loaned old
instruments, I decided to own a violin myself. I was fortunate to have the violin made by Mr. Sipe. It had a very clean and refined tone at
first. I felt that I had to play
lightly to find the best quality from the instrument, because it was easier
to play a singing voice than a powerful sound. It is rare to find a modern instrument that has this quality of
softness. Most of the new ones I
tried were good with bright and loud sound, but were not sensitive to
subtleties. I am naturally good with
projective sound, but I was hoping to find more variety and depth with color
at the same time. After I played on Mr. Sipe's violin for a half year, to my
surprise, the violin had not only the color but also the power I needed. I think that it is a flexible instrument
that will fit into different personalities. I also liked how the violin looks.
Many of my colleagues in CSO asked if it was an old instrument,
because it looked like one. Mr. Sipe
did a great job copying it from a Guarneri.
It has the detail of an old instrument, such as the antique color, the
elegant shape, and even the cracks and dents look almost real. It is beautiful to look at. I have enjoyed playing on this instrument for more than 2 years now
and I believe that it will continue to improve. Like all the great instruments, not only do they come from
wonderful makers, they are also played by many dedicated musicians year after
year and become priceless works of art.” Rong-Yan Tang Professional Violinist, Chicago Symphony, Chicago
IL, 2004 |
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