Work In Progress

This is the second viola of a commission from a viola teacher in Hong Kong, who is building a collection of fine instruments to loan to his pupils. It's my usual cornerless design, which I have made many times over the years and which has helped a fair few fledgling viola players on their way. I've chosen well-seasoned wood for this viola; broad-grained spruce for the front. It has a lovely texture and cuts well, so I think be successful acoustically. The back is a good piece of figured … [Read more...]

This is a model I have returned to intermittently through my career. It's the smallest cello I make and perfect for players with small hands. Before Stradivari came on the scene and standardised the size of the modern cello in the early 18th century, cellos were made in two sizes; a smaller, more soloistic model and a larger instrument, more suited to playing the bass lines. Andrea Guarneri made a number of lovely cellos of the smaller size, using poplar for the back which added to the … [Read more...]

I'm pleased to revisit this viola, having already made this model as a commission earlier in the year. I was happy with the rich, warm sound it made and so were some of the players who saw it. One of these players has been hiring my small violas for several years, and is now ready to commit to her forever instrument. She's a talented young viola player, currently studying at the Junior RNCM. This model is based on an early English viola which I measured up when I was a violin making student, … [Read more...]

New year, new viola... This is one of my own designs of viola, which I've made regularly over the last twenty years. it's been a very successful model, delivering an excellent quality of sound with a small and manageable size and light weight, perfect for young and not-so young players! This one will join my rental scheme, and is destined for a talented young player in Cornwall. I've started by making the back and front. The front is from some lovely quality spruce. This has a special … [Read more...]

This viola is a commission from a student at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. She has the original Betts viola on loan from the Benslow Loan Scheme and it suits her physically very well, so we decided just to make a viola based on that, rather than one of my usual models. John Betts was one of the foremost English makers of his time, working in London. He is especially known for his violas; which were a speciality in general of English makers at that time. It's a lovely … [Read more...]

This is one of the standard models I make for rental; it's the perfect size for teenagers before they are ready for their forever viola. I'm making this one for my rental scheme, and it is already destined for a young player who has been happily using one of my 14 1/4 inch cornerless violas for the last two years. I've chosen some unusual maple for the back with several knots in the lower bouts; it will look really distinctive on the finished instrument. The front is from a nice piece of … [Read more...]

I'm pleased to have the chance to revisit one of my favourite violin models, one of the last instruments from the Stradivari workshop, in fact probably made by Antonio's son Francesco. This is the fourth time I've made it; the model always delivers a rich and powerful instrument with a lovely warm G string. This is a commission from a player in London. She had seen my work at one of the Makers' Days organised by the British Violin Making Association, more years ago than either of us cared to … [Read more...]

I've been busy making these small violas for some time. This one is for my rental scheme, for a player who will soon be moving up from one of my smaller violas. This one is the same size as a full size violin, great for young players or for violinists who want an instrument that they can easily transfer to. I've started by making the back and front. The two-piece back is from a nice light piece of maple that I bought in France some years ago. The front is also jointed from two pieces, good … [Read more...]

I have been intrigued by this early Stradivari viola for some while; it's a rarity in his output, the only one made to this model, and unusually with a poplar back. I've heard it played by Antoine Tamestit on recording and been blown away by the expressiveness of the sound. During last year's lockdown I was without orders so I had a chance to try making my version of it, and was pleased with the result; the sound had an instant fizz of responsiveness and a rich depth. It found a home almost as … [Read more...]

A little while ago I had an interesting call from Stella, a viola player and teacher from Switzerland. Alongside her teaching practice she's working on a dissertation, which has set her thinking more and more about the quality of her pupils' instruments.   She wondered if I had ever made a viola the same size as a half size violin, and if I would be up for making one for her, that her pupils could use, so that they had the experience of a good quality instrument. I'm always up for a … [Read more...]