Encore Orchestral Strings — Local services in Fishers

I couldn’t be happier or more satisfied with my experience at Encore Orchestral Strings. I was shopping for a Shen Bass for my 18-year-old son and I called several dealers in Indiana. I spoke with John Rihani and was so impressed with his knowledge and helpfulness that I decided to make the 90-minute drive to his store. Upon entering Encore I was immediately struck by the warm and comfortable ambiance of the main showroom and studio. I was also impressed with the quality of the inventory on display. I told John what we were looking for and my budget. John selected several basses of various brands, models, and types for my son to demo, all the while providing specific information and insight on each instrument. My son found a bass that truly excited him. The instrument was a step-up from what I thought I could afford but to my surprise fit within my budget. I purchased the bass and left the store with a sense that I had gotten much more of an instrument and value than I every thought possible.

Six weeks have passed since my visit to Encore Orchestral Strings and the purchase of the Shen Bass. My son is still very pleased and excited with the instrument and I’ve noticed his practice time has increased. Since my visit, I’ve contacted John on several occasions with a variety of questions and he has promptly replied to all my inquiries. On one occasion I contacted John about a pickup for the bass. The price he gave me was significantly better than any other source I had found.

I Highly recommend Encore Orchestral Strings and John Rihani. My experience with Encore and John was professional, personal, and extremely satisfying. I will gladly drive the 90 miles again to visit Encore and...

My experience at Encore Orchestral Strings was superb. John and Regina are professional, knowledgeable, kind, and genuinely care about helping their customers. The staff at Encore Strings wants to find the right instrument and/or bow for the player, not the most expensive. As a cellist with a passionate interest in the art of instrument fabrication, John (the manager of Encore) was an excellent resource when I was shopping for my new cello. He has developed relationships with outstanding modern instrument makers, and he sold me a beautiful cello that I am confident will last me for my entire career as a professional musician. The makers John has befriended are unrivaled in their price range, and he has even developed partnerships with commercial instrument manufacturers. (Encore Orchestral Strings owns two of the first commercially-produced five-string cellos, a product that was previously nonexistent, which they commissioned from one of their suppliers.) Having the recommendation of a family member, my current teacher, and a friend who is a professional cellist, I felt very comfortable trusting John's advice and guidance. Regina, an Orchestral Strings Specialist at Encore, was a very helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly resource who not only helped me get the best price for my new instrument, but also helped me find the accessories and parts to make my new cello sound its absolute best. I cannot recommend Encore Orchestral Strings enough to any string player, student, intermediate, and professional-level players alike. You will experience unrivaled service and expertise, pricing, and quality...

We've been customers of Encore Orchestral Strings for six years. We rented two violas, and then purchased two more as we upgraded our daughter's instrument. Encore's level of professionalism has always been exceptional, and John Rihani, his staff, and the service department are extremely knowledgeable, very responsive, and a pleasure to work with.

When we've acquired an instrument, John has given us plenty of his time to advise us on the various factors to consider when making such a significant purchase, without making us feel the least bit pressured. Our daughter has always been able to take a viola home to play for 2-3 weeks to get a feel for the instrument, and allow her private teacher to offer her professional opinion. It has assured we end up with the right instrument at the right time.

Finally, Encore's very reasonable pricing should not be mistaken for sacrificing quality. When our daughter dropped her bow and broke off the tip, Encore completed a flawless spline head repair and rehaired it for a quarter of the price quoted by one of the top stringed instrument shops in the city. The bow plays as well as it did before the mishap, and the craftsmanship of the repair assures it will continue to do so.

We will always return to Encore Orchestral Strings to have our daughter's viola serviced, or to take the next step up as she continues to progress as a musician. I recommend them...