Thank you Maestronetters

[Skreechee]

For giving me so much knowledge and help over the last 8 years. I have learned so much about a subject I am passionate about and learned so many skills it is amazing!

In the good old days when I discovered ebay, I bought some decent but cheap violins and very little ammount of tools and with the help of books and your board, began repairing them, learning to set them up. My bridge shaping was hilarious and fitting a soundpost was enough to drive me to a bottle of scotch and a nervous breakdown!

But eventually I began to learn. Then I learned about varnishing. Then I got myself some kits off ebay from canada which where cheap and began learning how to put them together. They sounded abismall because I hadn't thinned them, just learned how to make and spring a bassbar, purfling, setting the neck correctly, everything really. How to make ebony fingerboards. I sold them for a pittance on ebay but people liked them.

Then I got this cello, cost me £250. Old German thing in a right mess, neck broken, peice of the front off, no fingerboard, back wide open, all seams open. With the help of everybody I put it together, set it up and it has a lovely tone. Nobody wants it though! I have made a few violins which have taken me ages but because I'm only amatuer really, I sold 2 for a pittance and still have 2 to sell. I learned how to rehair bows too. I am going out of this business now as there is no money in it. Nobody is buying instruments anymore. My friend, who used to play in the Liverpool Phil is now fixing cars for a living. It is diabolical and such a shame.

[jacobsaunders]

I am going out of this business now as there is no money in it. Nobody is buying instruments anymore. My friend, who used to play in the Liverpool Phil is now fixing cars for a living. It is diabolical and such a shame.

Try cleaning toilets

[Fellow]

Look at it from this point of view. "If nobody can do it cheaper and better" you have accomplished something.

Very few things we do in this world that is worthy for a lot of money but people keep doing it for the sake

of tradition. String instruments are something of culture accomplishments. By playing or making the instruments

you get a lot of satisfaction that no money can buy. What good is a million dollars ? It is only a number in

your bank book. Unless you really need that money. Otherwise it is siting there for your childern to spand it.

I rather have them make their millions on their own

[Skreechee]

Look at it from this point of view. "If nobody can do it cheaper and better" you have accomplished something.

Very few things we do in this world that is worthy for a lot of money but people keep doing it for the sake

of tradition. String instruments are something of culture accomplishments. By playing or making the instruments

you get a lot of satisfaction that no money can buy. What good is a million dollars ? It is only a number in

your bank book. Unless you really need that money. Otherwise it is siting there for your childern to spand it.

I rather have them make their millions on their own

I didn't do it for the money really as I got very little profits. I did it to learn as I said. Jacob why not clean toilets, you can join me.

[bmccarthy]

Try cleaning toilets

Do you not think that's just a tad on the rough side old chap.

[saintjohnbarleycorn]

sorry to hear that, a common story for all craftsman. keep doing it for the fun and keep working at what you need to, to make money, Maybe in time things will some thing will change. If you really like it try finding an apprenticeship somewhere. good luck

[Skreechee]

Look at it from this point of view. "If nobody can do it cheaper and better" you have accomplished something.

Very few things we do in this world that is worthy for a lot of money but people keep doing it for the sake

of tradition. String instruments are something of culture accomplishments. By playing or making the instruments

you get a lot of satisfaction that no money can buy. What good is a million dollars ? It is only a number in

your bank book. Unless you really need that money. Otherwise it is siting there for your childern to spand it.

I rather have them make their millions on their own

That's quite true. I love playing the violin and viola. I love the fact I learned music theory. I love the intruments. People who play and repair and make are very lucky people, when life gets to you, you can tune off and do your music. I only started it because I wanted to know how these wonderful instruments where formed. I am by no means the best at all but I'd say I was the cheapest! lol!

[Skreechee]

sorry to hear that, a common story for all craftsman. keep doing it for the fun and keep working at what you need to, to make money, Maybe in time things will some thing will change. If you really like it try finding an apprenticeship somewhere. good luck

I did get an apprentiship but he had me making ribs and hairing cheap terrible bows because he didn't like doing those jobs. He was not nice to be around so I went, just didn't enjoy it at all. I would be quite willing to move to find a decent violin maker who was a nice person. Not bothered about how much I got as an apprentice.

[Michael Richwine]

You need to to things better, not cheaper, and charge appropriately. I'd wager just about every successful luthier takes that approach. Even the Bible says "The laborer is worthy of his hire." Being the lowest priced provider is nothing but a race to zero.

So many craftsmen learn all about their trade, but nothing about their customers, or about business, and so they fail. I'm in this business because I'm fascinated to learn why bowed instruments sound the way they do, and how to manipulate the sound, but I love working with my customers too, some of whom I admire greatly. There's not much that gives me more pleasure than when a player I admire plays one of my fiddles, has a hard time putting it down, and finally shakes his head and says "Wow!"

There's always a market for excellence, as recognized by the market, not the maker. It's rare, and seemingly getting more so.

BTW, I've cleaned toilets, mucked out barns, baled hay, fed machines, done assembly work, mailroom work, rode a hammer all day long, done plumbing and wiring. It's all good. Work is just whatever you are doing when you'd rather be doing something else. I don't work much any more, cause there's not much else I'd rather be doing.

[pold]

Try cleaning toilets

Why are being so rude?? She is thanking the forum and your reply is just inappropriate.

[puckfandan]

Why are being so rude?? She is thanking the forum and your reply is just inappropriate.

I think she is a he.... and if you read some of the past forums you would probably have your answer.... that's what I did!

[martin swan]

Jacob and Skreechee are old friends ....!

To put it in context, Skreechee is apparently one of the best violin makers in the UK (but anonymous). jacobsaunders is the Austrian court-appointed expert on violins, and his name is Jacob Saunders. Doesn't mean he's not very rude, but he does have the moral high ground.

[lyndon]

skreechees violin she posted pictures of and claimed to make was identified by our experts as a schoenbach box from the early 1900s, that being said, jacobs comments were a bit over the top......

[martin swan]

You know I haven't been here for very long and I've learned a ton, but sometimes maestronet can be a bit odd. Got to wonder if skreechee is actually Jacob himself as an alter ego!

nice! it would make a great Monty Python sketch

violin maker dresses up as a drag queen, revarnishes a hellish Schoenbach violin and presents it to himself for certification as an authentic example of his own work

[martin swan]

Lyndon, I hope the comedy is intentional!

[lyndon]

i pity to think we have readers that confuse jacob with skreechee!!!

[Jeffrey Holmes]

It must b a full moon. Oh yes... that's right... it is one.

OK all. Care to clean up your own "flames", or shall I do it for you?

[Dr_V]

In order to make real money you have to be very good at something unique, being able to do a middling setup on a violin is not really a marketable talent.

I work as an IT Director and I see guys who are sub-par or average at best that want big salaries just because they feel entitled to it. I always let them walk because frankly they simply aren't half as smart as they think they are and what they bring to the table is a general talent, anyone can learn to install a few Microsoft servers on local storage and administer them. They are easily replaceable with someone making half the salary. Now the guys who can write a 200 line perl script with no reference or have memorized 10,000 commands, sub-commands, and switches for RHEL, NetApp, Cisco, or run projects while keeping ten different silos on the timeline and deliver, well those guys I throw money at.

You should have stuck with the nasty luthier and learned something before expecting to make a living at it, everyone has to put their time in, earn their bones if you will.

That said, good luck!