The cobbler’s shoes and a tiny sculpture

The cobbler’s shoes and a tiny sculpture

Jan 4, 2019 | Latest Instruments

The cobbler’s shoes and a tiny sculpture December 2018 It was nine years ago that I finally got around to making a fiddle for myself. Being keen to get it done and using a model I was excited about, I made it very quickly and it is one of my favourite instruments,...
The Best Cello?

The Best Cello?

Nov 30, 2018 | Latest Instruments

The Best Cello? September 2018 Because it has been out being played, I haven’t mentioned my Andrea Guarneri model cello since I finished it in the spring. This is the first instrument I have made with a poplar back, ribs and scroll, though the model I have used many...
A rare breed for me

A rare breed for me

Nov 30, 2018 | Latest Instruments

A rare breed November 2018 Next week I am taking my newly finished baroque violin to its new home at the RNCM in Manchester. This is the first baroque violin [excepting the RNCM project last March] that I have made for a long time. Except for the neck, much of a...
Making Varnish

Making Varnish

Jun 17, 2018 | Latest Instruments

Making Varnish May 2018 Varnish Making is one of those jobs which doesn’t come around too often, but noticing my supply steadily diminish over the winter, I decided to make another batch as soon as the weather got better. By the last week of May everything was ready...
Collaberative Violin Making

Collaberative Violin Making

Mar 18, 2018 | Latest Instruments

At the beginning of March, I once again headed to the Royal Northern College of Music, where I was invited, along with fellow violin makers Kai-Thomas Roth, Marc Soubeyran and Tibor Szemmelveisz, to do some collaberative violin making. This is the sixth such project, and this time we made two baroque violins. We had seven days, sometimes long days, to make them, …..