Amac Violins

Wow, Im surprised to see there are reviews about AMAC here on Unilocal.Its been a long time since I went through those doors, but here I will write about my experience when I had lessons, which was a few years ago.
I have been playing violin for about 9 years now and had violin lessons for about 5 years. I was only in 4^th grade when I started. Even though I live about 30 minutes away, my mother would take me here to get the best lessons that I could get. I vaguely remember the cost for lessons, about $ 60 per class at the time. I do not know what the rates are now. My teacher was Edmund Wu, who is also the owner of AMAC. He is an amazing teacher, thought me well, and very patient when I played notes wrong, or didn’t know how to get through one part of the song. He chose great music for me to play, just a little bit challenging for me, but that only helped me grow as a violinist. There were annual recitals upstairs, and sometimes in another (bigger) venue. Unfortunately I stopped going to lessons when I went to high school, although I did continue with school orchestra.
The place is very nice looking, it was made to look like an old antique looking place. They have a nice selection of cheaper violins, and nicer ones as well. Some violas, and cellos, but a little less. Definitely a place to check out for your musical needs. There are violin, viola, cello, and piano teachers as well.

Wow, I’m surprised to see AMAC is on here. With a review, no less!
The owner, Edmund Wu, is actually a personal friend of mine and, well, I helped him get an eBay retail business going back in the mid ‘90s (as well as sundry other violin-​related ventures he had brewing in his mind at the time). In return, he arranged to have instruments built for me in China.
While they *do* maintain a quasi-​storefront, this is basically a violin academy that holds periodic recitals as well.
They also do A LOT of wholesale-​to-​the-​trade activity. You couldn’t tell by looking at the place from the street, but the back half of the building is a warehouse!
Since you’re probably not a wholesaler, let me tell you a bit about their normal-​people services.
There’s a small violin shop. You can buy recordings, accessories, sheet music, and any violin-​family instrument in any size. There is also a limited selection of antique instruments. They also have some very high-​grade Chinese violins that give some of the better old Italians a run for their money. They have cheap stuff too. The whole gamut, basically. Most repairs are sent out. I don’t know what else to say.
The teachers, of whom Edmund is one, are very qualified.
Ask for Edmund, because he’s the only one who speaks English well enough to carry out any meaningful business. They’re closed on Mondays.
They also have a small boutique shop in a reconverted bungalow down in Old Town Fullerton, on the west side of Harbor Blvd., north of Chapman.

This place is sort of strange but is very nice looking.
When I went in, a receptionist who spoke only Chinese (I’m pretty sure it was Cantonese, because my limited, limited Mandarin didn’t really work, but I might have just been mispronouncing things). After communication via paper (my knowledge of Kanji allowed me to write things to her on the paper, to which she would write things back), I had some things figured out, but not too much. I’m guessing this place doesn’t get too many non-​Chinese customers. It was fun for me to try out different language skills!
After a few minutes, the English-​speaking man came out of the back and was extremely nice. My dad and I picked up the viola case and music stand we had ordered, which were both in excellent condition. We then proceeded to buy a chin rest.
Overall, the experience was quite nice. It’s a small place, but the interior was impeccably maintained. I would come here again.