Design - Advice - Service - Set Up - Repairs - Accessories
Sonic Violins was established in 2004 by myself - Richard Roberts (Circa 1962)
I started playing, as many do, at school ( Aged 8 ¼ ). In an attempt to opt out of the ‘boring’ orchestra at the school variety concert I foolishly volunteered to play some bluegrass instead, ( Aged 13 ); this required amplification.
Having purchased a clip on acoustic guitar bug from my local guitar shop and borrowed a friend’s guitar amp, complete with dodgy jack socket, I inflicted a squawky rendition of Orange Blossom Special on the incumbent parents. Therein started two decades of searching for a decent way to play loud acoustic dynamic fiddle.
I developed this system over many years, driven by my own dissatisfaction of commercially available electric violins. As well as playing fiddle for over 40 years I had also spent 27 years working as a design and development engineer for a multinational company so I had both the experience and the resources to address all areas of the design, from the sound quality and reliability through to the supply chain and costs.
I set out to deliver the most cost effective, no compromise solution to budding players who were struggling to resolve the issues of live amplified performance. This I did with the Sonic Attack. Very soon I was meeting with some seriously good players, many of whom were my own fiddle heroes, and supplying them with instruments which meant offering higher grade violins … enter the Sonic Classic, which today is the best-selling model; and the Sonic Heritage which is a truly stunning instrument in every respect. From there, Five String Violins and Octave Violins followed to satisfy the wide ranging needs of my expanding customer base. The range now also includes Viola, Cello, Bass and Mandolin.
As well as the instruments, as important as they are, I strive to offer the best support I can to my customers. I have built up a great support network around my business from violin and bow makers, to technicians and engineers. Combined with my suppliers, and not least the help and advice I receive from my extensive customer base, I can find answers and solutions to most questions and scenarios. This support extends seven days a week, even when I'm out performing myself! 07974 772 470
To be continued...
Well here we are in 2023 … I never did continue this biog
For twenty years I roamed the UK summer festivals and overwintered in my workshop here in Dorset, meeting up with pretty much every fiddle player on the scene over those years, many of whom became customers, and some very good friends. I had a blast.
There’s no need to explain the hiatus that 2020/2021 brought to our industry in two devastating formats. I ticked along, frustrated at not playing, started up a bench making business to keep myself busy; but did at least have the time to help my mum through ill health. Mum passed away and my dad moved in with me - he’s still going strong at 91.
So when time came to re-start the business toward the end of 2021, looking at all the new business “hinderances” and the universal cost increases I took the decision, as I approached the grand old age of threescore, to “Retire” - which was always my target year when working as an engineer, but never considered it to be relevant once I started Sonic Violins. I will quickly say that I am still very much here to support all my wonderful customers wherever I can.
I’m now back to where this journey started - learning to play the violin once more - now with more time, a new band along side Black Sheep and other musical projects.
Thanks to everyone I have met, chatted, shared tunes, beers and good times - from fellow traders, festival organisers and suppliers, but most of all to the wonderful community that be “fiddlers”
See you in the Pub…
Cheers
Titch xXx