Imagine creatring DIY woodwork projects that bring in $16,000? That's what woodworker Guy Harrison of Ottawa, Canada charges for a hand made violin. He sells perhaps half a dozen violins, violas and cellos a year. It goes without saying that these instruments are of the highest quality. Even the wood is hand picked. Harrison visits Germany where he selects the best "tone woods" from specialized dealers. The wood for a violin comes to about $2000. As you might guess, Harrison didn't pick up this craft by fooling around in his workshop. He studied for three years at the Newark Violin School in London, followed by a three year apprenticeship with a shop in Finland, followed by a stretch working for a shop in Germany. Later, Harrison moved to Canada and launched his own business building and repairing musical instruments. Jean Larrivée, founder of Jean Larrivée Guitars Ltd. is a similar success story. In 1967, Larrivee began studying guitar building with classical guitar builder Edgar Monch Sr. of Toronto. While Larrivee's earlier guitars were based on the classical European guitar models, he later began adding hand designed, decorative inlays to the instruments. The popularity of these inlays grew by leaps and bounds but the cost to purchase a guitar was high. In 2007, Larrivee began experimenting with laser engraving in order to bring the costs down and make the instruments more affordable for ordinary people. Today, Larrivee's guitars are sought out by musicians and are known for their excellent quality and workmanship. The shop is located in North Vancouver, Canada. Here is a documentary of Jean Larrivee explaining his guitar building adventures. Creating musical instruments are examples of highly specialized and highly skilled woodwork projects.
No comments:
Post a Comment