You are a true master of your work and I trust you completely with the care and maintenance of my instrument. The acoustic work you did to improve the clarity and sound of my viola and the adjustments you made to make the instrument feel smaller, were all so expertly done. I can't thank you enough. I recommend you highly, and constantly, to colleagues and students!

This is a letter for all of your customers. I have been a collector and musician for more than forty years.

During that time, I have met many makers and repairers of instruments. But i have never received service and detailed craftsmanship better than yours. Your instruments are superb, and your acoustical work is of the highest order… As you know, you have restored many important violins for me, and people all over the world, including dealers and artists alike, have been extremely impressed with the remarkable restorations you have done.

Thank you Larry, for all that you have done for my collection and for the violin world, in general.

I am writing to offer my sincere gratitude for all of the fine work you have done on my cello and bow, and to thank you for getting my fine French instrument sounding its very best. With the work you’ve done, my instrument has never sounded better!

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to have my instrument adjusted and repaired in the finest shops throughout United States, and I’ve never seen finer work or better results than what you have produced in your shop. Your attention to detail, your expertise, knowledge and experience, and your care for my needs as a I want you to know how fortunate my colleagues in Arianna Quartet and I feel that we have you in St. Louis! You always keep us sounding our very best!

Also, I want to thank you for the care and attention you offer to our students. Your willingness to help fit them with instruments and bows that work for them and offer them the very best investment value is truly appreciated. You care for each student as if they were your own! Thank you for being such an important resource and asset to the string playing community in St. Louis!

I look forward to your work on my cello and bow for many years to come!

Mr. Parfenov came from Russia about 25 years ago. It is exciting to tell you about his amazing talent! He learned music and restoration skill in Russia, in Moscow Conservatory. He also served David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich, and other great performers in the First Class. His humble and kind attitude never tells us that he is a great shot, but actually he is a true big artist. With his outstanding experience, he can tell all the details of problems inside or outside of string instruments. When you play one note on each of the strings, so total only four notes, he will grab the violin out of your hand, go into his room, come back in three minutes, and give it back to you with amazingly improved sound!!

Many gifted artists end up to be the powerful money- men... Mr. Parfenov is very wise for his business, however, his most important work is to honor his school, his teachers, his experience to those great artists, love to his family, and friendship to his clients. This is why I recognize him as "The True Artist".

If you are under his care, you must be honored that he is fixing your instrument. Nobody else, but Larry! Please trust his ears, eyes, and craftsmanship. He can hear something we can't hear, he can see something we can't find, and his craftsmanship is no comparison to others. I wish him happy healthy long life!

Dear Larry, Thank you so much for all of the wonderful work you’ve done on my instruments. Every instrument I brought in to you for work has been improved beyond my expectations.

Recently, I purchased a beautiful modern Italian violin and it has made me into an even better player. I can play things with ease on this violin and be much more expressive with half the work! It is the most wonderful violin I have ever owned and has the “Parfenov Sound”! After receiving this excellent violin you turned my old violin into another “Italian Parfenov Sound.” You create miracles! I have never enjoyed playing more. Thank you also for improving every violin, viola, cello in the Laclede Quartet! Thanks to your fine work we all sound better. St. Louis is very fortunate to have you!

How can I ever find the words to express my gratitude for the miracle you performed on my violin? I have been playing on this Vuillaume for about seven years. It has been a constant companion in all my travels. Indeed, a partner in success and in failure. However, it was difficult to play and slow in response. I always had the feeling that a great deal of its voice had yet to be explored. Many renowned luthiers had looked at it and did their best to unlock the beautiful sound that was trapped inside of the fiddle. Sadly, their efforts met with little success.

I must confess that my hands trembled when I left my instrument with you. What if it came back even attributes I wish to find in a great fiddle. It has power, response and a rich, varied tonal palette. I am certain that it is very close to its full acoustic potential. Bravo for your extraordinary work! Just one question, do you also perform adjustments on violinists? Frankly, I wouldn’t mind getting a bit closer to my own musical potential as well!

I'm proud to say that I was Larry's first customer when he arrived in St. Louis several years ago. From those early days until the present, he has been a top class professional, possessing an uncanny knowledge of all things concerning string instruments. Not only does he maintain a violin shop that showcases wonderful instruments, but his repair work and acoustic adjustments are just simply unbelievable. Larry knows how to find and bring out the absolute best from each instrument placed under his care. He seems to know its heart and soul, transforming ordinary sound into something that one may not have possible. Many times, I have seen him take a heavily damaged instrument and fix it so well, that the original damage can't be noticed. I offer Larry and First String Violin Shop my highest recommendation!!