modern violin maker
These days, much of my work is made to commission, and I also sometimes have instruments available from stock, as well as occasionally earlier instruments on resale. Find out more about current work at work in progress.
Please contact me if you’re interested in a resale instrument or rental; there may be something coming available soon.
My instruments at the moment are mostly made to commission, though from time to time I offer earlier instruments for resale. If you’d like to know if anything suitable is coming up, please get in touch.
15 1/4 inch (38.7cm) viola based on Meares/Hardie
This was a great project which I made totally for fun, a highly decorated small viola. It actually sounds fantastic, richer, darker and deeper than you would ever expect from both its small body length and narrowness. The full story of making it is here. It’s for sale at £9000. If you’d like to try it, please contact me.
15 inch (38cm) two-cornered viola 2016
I made this viola for a talented young player who has now moved on to different musical fields. I used maple for the back that I’d been saving for years, which is particularly light in weight, and it made a really-good sounding instrument that I was particularly pleased with. I’m now offering it for sale at £6000 or for rental at £60 per month.
If you are interested in the possibility of hiring an instrument and don’t see what you want below, please do contact me, as it’s possible that a suitable instrument may come up in the near future as hire periods come to an end.
For details of how the rental scheme works, visit this page of my site.
16 inch (40.5cm) viola 1982
I made this viola early in my career, and repurchased it when its original owner wished to sell it, as it’s a convenient size. It’s proved a useful viola which has been hired by several players in recent years, including an undergraduate student at the Royal Northern College of Music who used it for her final recital. The sound is even, warm and powerful. It’s available for rental at £60 per month.
1980 violin
This was my final exam piece as a student at the Newark School of Violin Making. I recently bought it back from the player who had owned and loved it for around 30 years, since her parents bought it for her in her teens. The sound is even, powerful and clear. It’s available to rent at £40 per month.
13 1/4 inch viola 2016
This is a lovely sounding little viola, easy to play and responsive. It feels just the same as a three-quarter size violin and so is perfect for a young viola player. It was used from new by a pupil at Chetham’s School of Music, who has now outgrown it and moved to the next size up. It’s available to rent at £32 per month. You can see and hear it on this video.
14 1/4 inch (36.2cm) viola 2014
This viola is the equivalent of a full-size violin. Unusually, the back is from poplar which helps lend it a warm and soulful sound. It’s first rental was to a student from Chetham’s School of Music, who has now moved to renting one of my 15 inch violas. This one is available to rent at £36 per month.
For the first time since I was a student myself, I attended the annual Diploma Day at the Newark … Read More...
