The Violin Connection of Southern Africa

The Violin Connection of Southern Africa www.violins.co.za Its client base reaches far across South Africa’s borders to Canada, Europe, the USA, and the Middle and Far East.

The Violin Connection of Southern Africa represents the leading dealership in fine violins and related instruments in South Africa, and serves as an effective platform for both buyers and sellers of top-end fine instruments. Although operating mainly within the Southern African context, this dealership also maintains close ties with leading experts abroad, notably in London, Paris, Cremona and New

York. Every effort is made to reach fair and reasonable assessments of instruments and to work as closely as possible to international norms and price structures. This dealership, founded in 2000, reflects the activities of Johan Grobbelaar, who as dealer, both in South Africa and abroad, form its foundation. Through the past 12 years this dealership has grown into important presence in the South African violin world, having assisted some of South Africa’s foremost musicians in obtaining their instruments, and also assisting older retiring musicians in getting their instruments into the hands of a younger generation of players. Johan Grobbelaar is also known as John du Plessis, as a consequence of holding two nationalities in two different names. He is a naturalized French citizen, but has also retained his South African citizenship. His personal page is in the name of John du Plessis.

Emma Price is a third year cello student at the Julliard School in New York. She and her parents visited me in Salt Rock...
09/06/2026

Emma Price is a third year cello student at the Julliard School in New York. She and her parents visited me in Salt Rock today, all the way from Bulawayo, to try some cellos.
She is an outstanding cellist with incredible technique. Here she is playing a 2022 instrument by the Hungarian maker, Tivadar Mohácsi, but Emma particularly liked a Hungarian copy of the 'Gore-Booth' Strad.
See it here: https://www.violins.co.za/sale/1328StradGorBth.asp

Today Magdaleen Arangies visited me all the way from Bunbury in Australia to try some violins and violas, and bows. She ...
27/05/2026

Today Magdaleen Arangies visited me all the way from Bunbury in Australia to try some violins and violas, and bows. She bought a superb c 1880 French violin and a very small German viola, along with three bows.

Europe produced some outstanding and accessible instruments during the late 1800s into the early 1900s, in studios in Mi...
16/05/2026

Europe produced some outstanding and accessible instruments during the late 1800s into the early 1900s, in studios in Mirecourt, Mittenwald, Markneukirchen and many other such centres. Today commonly referred to as "good old French and German trade" these instruments are much in demand by students and professionals alike.
This dealership currently has several such violins and violas available.
http://www.violins.co.za/index.asp

This viola won the Gold Medal at the 1954 Exposition de Liège in Belgium. Made by the important Dutch violinmaker, J J v...
15/05/2026

This viola won the Gold Medal at the 1954 Exposition de Liège in Belgium. Made by the important Dutch violinmaker, J J van de Geest (1899-1974), it has a back length of 43.4 cm.
It has by far the best tone I ever heard on any viola.
It is available through this dealership, which is owned by Johan Grobbelaar. See it here: https://www.violins.co.za/sale/0997VdGeest.asp

This exceptionally beautiful cello is now available. Its outstanding tonal properties and workmanship can only be descri...
14/05/2026

This exceptionally beautiful cello is now available. Its outstanding tonal properties and workmanship can only be described in superlatives. It's a copy of the 1701 'Servais' Stradivari and is essentially a solo instrument suitable for high-end performance.
Made in Budapest in 2020 it does credit to the long Hungarian tradition of fine instrument building.
This photo by Johan Grobbelaar is of the actual instrument. See it here:
https://www.violins.co.za/sale/1329StradServais.asp

This beautiful 2005 Brian Lisus was on the bench yesterday for a new sound post and setup review. Lisus, a Newark gradua...
14/05/2026

This beautiful 2005 Brian Lisus was on the bench yesterday for a new sound post and setup review.
Lisus, a Newark graduate, moved from the Western Cape to the US and now operates from California.
This violin is extremely well-toned and is essentially a concert instrument.
Not for sale! Sorry.
https://www.violins.co.za/index.asp

The Crown Jewels. I just arrived in Johannesburg to see cellists who enquired after concert quality instruments.  Each o...
02/05/2026

The Crown Jewels.
I just arrived in Johannesburg to see cellists who enquired after concert quality instruments.
Each of these cellos is suitable for concerto performance
Included here is a 2022 instrument by Tivadar Mohácsi, an outstanding copy of the 'Gore-Booth' Strad, and a modern copy of the 'Servais' Strad - one of the best-toned cellos I've ever encountered.
They're available through this dealership, owned by Johan Grobbelaar.
https://www.violins.co.za/sale/1308Mohacsi.asp

Monday. One of two done today.
27/04/2026

Monday.
One of two done today.

Morning light in Salt Rock.
26/04/2026

Morning light in Salt Rock.

The photography of instruments I show in my updates is my own work and is of the actual instruments I have with me. It a...
25/04/2026

The photography of instruments I show in my updates is my own work and is of the actual instruments I have with me.
It appears that some folks thought that these are catalogue photos from online catalogues.
NO. MY WORK. All these instruments are with me and available through my dealership.
I lived in Paris for 10 years where I worked (among other things) as a professional photographer. I also played professionally as violinist and was Manager of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, until I started this dealership 26 years ago.
- Johan Grobbelaar
(See this violin here:
https://www.violins.co.za/sale/1320Strad.asp)

Address

P O Box 14
Ballitoville
4420

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