Ruschil London · By appointment
Private violin trials in London
Compare fine antique and contemporary violins with maker Antoni Ruschil at his Finsbury Park workshop.
Explore instruments from £15,000 to £70,000 in a private appointment, with time to play your own repertoire and compare how each violin feels under the bow.
Request a private trialBefore you book
Planning your visit
Do I need to choose a violin first?
It’s fine to start with a budget and an idea of the sound or response you want. If you have a particular violin in mind, include it in your enquiry so we can confirm availability before your visit.
What should I bring?
Your own bow and a few passages you play regularly. If you can bring your current violin, it gives you a familiar reference for sound, response and playing feel.
Can I bring someone to listen?
If you’d like to bring a teacher, colleague or friend to listen while you play, mention it when you request your appointment.
What if I’m travelling to London?
Include your travel dates and the violins you’d like to try. The workshop is beside Finsbury Park station. See directions and parking information.
Request a private trial
Send us a short note with your budget, any violins you’d like to try and two or three dates that suit you. We’ll be in touch to confirm the appointment and which instruments will be available.
Send a trial enquiryVisit the workshop
Ruschil London
3–4 Wells Terrace, Finsbury Park
London N4 3JU
By appointment, Monday to Friday.
Next to Finsbury Park station.
From the collection
Three violins to explore
The collection spans contemporary making in London and France and the Italian tradition of Mantua. Explore each instrument’s photographs and details before you visit, or ask Antoni to help you put together a shortlist.
The Aquilo
Antoni Ruschil · London, 2026 · £18,000
A contemporary violin made by Antoni in the London workshop, with a warm, intimate sound and an even response.
Explore the Aquilo
Frédéric Chaudière
Montpellier, 1999 · £20,000
A contemporary French violin built on a Guarneri del Gesù model by the Montpellier maker.
Explore the Chaudière violin
Gaetano Gadda
Mantua, c. 1923 · £70,000
An antique Italian violin from Mantua by a pupil of Stefano Scarampella.
Explore the Gadda violinThe appointment
What to expect at your trial
A violin can feel quite different in a quiet phrase, a fast passage or a sustained line high on the E string. Playing several instruments in the same room gives you a direct comparison. Antoni can help you assess the differences in tone, response and feel.
Before you visit
Tell us about your current violin, your repertoire and what you would like to change. Share your budget and any instruments on the site you’d particularly like to play.
Play side by side
Bring your own bow, your current violin if practical, and have a few familiar passages in mind. Try the same passages on each instrument to compare articulation, balance across the strings and ease of playing.
Discuss what you hear
Talk through the instruments that stood out. Ask Antoni about their making, condition and setup, and what to consider if you’re deciding between two violins.
