About Us

Knoxville Fine Violins is fast becoming Tennessee's leading source for rental, sales, repair, and making of bowed string instruments. We carry an exceptional selection of new and antique instruments and bows as well as strings, cases, and accessories.

One of our goals at Knoxville Fine Violins is to encourage and cultivate the passion and enjoyment of music in all players regardless of skill level, age, or music preference. Through the quality of our services, the relationships developed with our customers, and an uncompromising attention to well made, well priced instruments, we believe we can empower the community of players in Knoxville, East Tennessee, and the surrounding areas to grow, enjoy, and preserve the music they love. ​

Whether you are just starting out, a professional soloist, or an amateur musician, we know you will leave Knoxville Fine Violins sounding your best. We are dedicated to caring for our customers and their instruments, and our professional training enables us to perform complex restorations on fine instruments as well as the routine maintenance each instrument needs to sound it's best.

J.W. Rule began his passion for instrument making as an organ builder with his father. This eventually led to his enrollment in the Violin Making School of America where he was the first to graduate having completed both the making and restoration programs offered at the school. He then went on to become the restorer, repairman, and shop foreman of the Little Rock Violin Shop where he continued to complete detailed, full scale restorations and repairs.

Dedicated to making instruments in the finest traditional manner and restoring with integrity, Rule has attended several of the highly renowned Oberlin restoration workshops as well as visiting and working with several shops around the country in an effort to gain as much knowledge and skill as possible.

In July of 2020 Rule and his wife, together with their three children moved back to East Tennessee where he was raised and opened Knoxville Fine Violins. Together, Rule and his wife, Lauren, own and operate the shop. Rule continues to sharpen his skills repairing and restoring, sewing those skills into his making.

Did You See Us On the News?

We had the pleasure of being a featured business by the Knoxville News Sentinel.
See The Article