How much do you charge for your work?A reasonable comparison.

[Victor J. Colon]

Since I live in the Virgin Islands "Puerto Rico" I have been working for many years with students and teachers that use to bring me student and Mass-Production instruments.The Instruments that I make are from $3500.00 and up. But when restoring an Instrument? How much should I charge? By the hour? By Estimate? Furthermore when I'm working with Old Instruments in the $20G and $50G figures...

[Andrew Victor]

Fully professional luthiers (with all the institutional training and appreticeship behind them) charge me about the same rate (per hour) as auto mechanics or computer repair technicians do. This is probably $60 to $85 per hour. I consider this to be a rather bargain rate at a world-class violin shop. This people know enough to work fast and accurately.

Judging from what you charge for one of your violins (assuming it is all yours and all hand-made) I would estimate reasonable local rates might be half that amount.

If your local labor rates are lower, but you are working on world-class instruments, should you charge local or world rates? That is the question.

Andy

[Victor J. Colon]

Andrew..!

Thank you for your reply.

Looking at your profile I see that you are retired and have the same interest that I have regarding music.

I have no "Formal" Institutional Trainning from a recognized Institution like Antonio Stradivari School in Cremona .

I realy have 12 years of trainning and aprentice with my personal teacher, Master Craftman and Luthier, Mr. Agapito Acosta from Spain .He is now 86 years young and have an Honoris Doctor Degree from the Pontificia University Of Ponce PR.

I consither myself very fortunate to be one of his students since he has work with real Strads and Guarneri.

My Instruments are handmade with selected wood and to this date I have created 32 Violins , 12 Violas 3 Cellos.I'm a member of the VSA of America since it was created.I have two Certificates of North Bennet School Summer Seminars. For The Violin and Bow Makers Society ,this Certificates are like Toilet Paper..wich I consider very unjust.. but those are their rules.

I have an extensive and expensive Library on the subject of violin and String Instruments Making and restoring"wich I treasure and I have read for the past years.The $60 to $85 dollars an hour is more or less wath I charge.

This days I'm restoring a Lorenzo & Tomnaso Carcassi 1748. but that's other story $$. I've worked with Instruments like the ones mede by Greg T.Alf,Hidershine,and others.So I consider myself very fortunate ... I will send Pix of my Instruments in the future..!

Cordially

Victor

[Ellery Gray]

I read with great interest your training with Agapito Acosta. I have been trying to find information about him concerning a Joseph Guarneris violin he repaired in 1983. If you were training with him in that time period perhaps you know something about the history of this violin? It was owned by a lady who played in the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra.  It is a beautiful instrument and I am trying to write a history of this violin. Any help you can give me will be very helpful. Hoping to hear from you, thanks

Edited March 18, 2018 by Ellery Gray
correct spelling

[franciscus]

On 3/6/2002 at 4:09 PM, Victor J. Colon said:

I have two Certificates of North Bennet School Summer Seminars. For The Violin and Bow Makers Society ,this Certificates are like Toilet Paper..wich I consider very unjust.

Please, could you explain this statement?

[David Burgess]

On 3/6/2002 at 10:09 AM, Victor J. Colon said:

This days I'm restoring a Lorenzo & Tomnaso Carcassi 1748. but that's other story $$. I've worked with Instruments like the ones mede by Greg T.Alf,Hidershine,and others.So I consider myself very fortunate ... I will send Pix of my Instruments in the future..!

Cordially

Victor

Seventeen years have elapsed. Where are the photos?

[Stavanger]

^^  

[GeorgeH]

Hi @Ellery Gray

Welcome to MN! It appears that Mr. Colon last visited here in 2004, so you likely will not get a reply.