“I purchased a viola bow from Paul and have had several instrument repairs done. The bow handles beautifully, producing a warm, rounded sound, and the repairs were excellent. Paul is friendly, professional, and highly flexible, with timely work and fair pricing. Highly recommended!”
— Sonia L.
“I have entrusted Paul Shields with repair work to my cello and also instruments of my students. Without exception, I have been greatly impressed with Paul’s precise, neat work. He treats each task with integrity and attention to detail, regardless of the size of the project. I would not hesitate in recommending his services to any string player. We are fortunate to have a nearby luthier of his calibre.”
— Erica Collis Oates, String teacher and performer
“I’ve been a customer of Paul’s for several years now. In that time he has maintained my bows and also provided much advice on instrument care. Initially I was referred to him by a fellow string player and was immediately impressed with the work he did to repair my French bow at that time. As well as being a master bow maker, Paul is a very approachable and likeable person who takes particular care to understand his customers’ personal needs and preferences as well as ensuring timely completion of work. I cannot speak too highly of his skill and attention to detail, and have no hesitation in referring others to him.”
— Virginia De Groot
“Paul performed a full service and refurbishment on my violin and rehaired my bow. He also worked with me to adjust the string spacing at the nut, the bridge shape, and the sound post position to my specific needs as a player. Paul was very open and respectful of my input and requests, while offering his expertise to get the best out of the violin. Paul’s work was excellent and everything looks, feels, and plays so much better now.
— David Dickson
“As a repeat customer, I can highly recommend Paul’s workmanship and professional service. We had bows re-haired, maintenance and repairs done on an antique violin and a cello. Both times we were impressed with his attention to detail. He was forthcoming and helpful in his recommendations and completed the jobs on time. I would be happy to use his services in the future.”
— Sandra A.
“Both Paul and Evelyn are very welcoming and wonderful to deal with. I had great confidence in leaving my lovely old 1896 Jean-Baptiste Colynn violin with Paul for repair and improvement. Paul’s knowledge of stringed instruments and bows is amazing, and his workshop is amazing too. When I returned to collect my violin, Paul patiently explained the work he had done which included replacing the nut and changing the string height, adjusting the soundpost, and gluing a small crack in the top (making it entirely disappear!), and fitting a new set of strings that better suited my violin and helped bring out its best tone.
I also had violin lessons with Evelyn while my regular teacher was unavailable for an extended period of time, and found her to be an excellent and encouraging teacher. I felt very comfortable with her, lessons were fun, and there was a good balance between working on my technique and different musical genres including traditional Celtic and classical.
Paul and Evelyn are both highly skilled and experienced professionals and I highly recommend them both.”
— Joanne Mitchelson
“From the moment I met Paul, I could tell that he really knew his craft and I knew that my 100 year old instrument was in very good hands. I was not disappointed! With a lot of work and skill, my violin was completely transformed by Paul. His craftsmanship and care brought my instrument back to life: the tone is richer, warmer, and more vibrant than I ever imagined it could be. You can feel how much pride and passion he puts into every detail. Thanks to his masterful reconditioning, my violin now feels and sounds truly special, and I enjoy playing it more than ever.”
— Sharon Daly
“Paul has re-haired three of my bows and replaced the leather and tip on one, with all work being of the highest quality. These rehairs have changed my bows from being quite ordinary to being highly responsive and an absolute pleasure to play with. Paul is the perfect balance of professional and personable. He has strong expertise but conveys it in a manner that customers can easily understand. It is a privilege to have a luthier of his calibre in Tasmania’s north and I will continue to highly recommend him to others.”
— Jan Deeth
Shields Bows & Strings 