Work In Progress

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. …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 …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 …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 …read more

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. …read more

This is the smallest size of viola I make, equivalent to a 3/4 size violin. It’s a commission from a viola teacher in Hong Kong, who wants it to lend to his pupils. I really enjoy making these small violas, testing my expertise to deliver the best possible sound at an improbably small size, and …read more

This viola is a commission from America, from a player who does a lot of chamber music and who wants a small, manageable instrument that will hold its own. Abi and I have discussed what they are after, by Zoom and email, so I’m ready to start. The first choice is the wood. The front …read more

This viola is a commission from a player who has braved the complications of lockdown to try and find her perfect instrument. I sent two small violas to her by courier to try, which she liked but which didn’t quite fit the bill. After discussing by email and video call we have established, I hope, …read more

As lockdown continues into February of 2021 and customers are thin on the ground, I’m continuing my survey of what I call the Stradivari Outliers: the models which are atypical of the Stradivari workshop output. This started by accident, when I measured and then made the 1734 ‘Habeneck’ violin, in fact by Francesco Stradivari, Antonio’s …read more

New year, new lockdown. We violin makers are so lucky to have work we enjoy and I really feel the benefit of a nice warm, quiet, safe environment to work in. Never has my lovely purpose-built workshop seemed more enticing. As orders are thin on the ground I’m enjoying continuing my exploration of models I’ve …read more