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Violin makers in New York City

Violin makers in New York – a curated list of luthiers

New York offers a wide selection of violin makers, violin shops and workshops. There is not a particular part of town with more luthiers than others: violin makers can be found all over the city. Workshops of excellent violin makers are located everywhere from Manhattan to Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and the city centre all the way to Upper East side and Upper West side, and some luthiers are well-known not just nationally but even internationally.

Content overview:

Which New York violin makers are best in repair and restoration?

Since only very few violin makers focus exclusively on making new string instruments, practically every workshop in New York also offers the standard range of repairs and maintenance work. Changing strings, adjusting pegs or retouching varnish are tasks that nearly everyone in New York handles. If your instrument is particularly valuable or you need a more complicated restoration – such as repairing a crack on the top – you should make sure you only work with a violin maker you already know well and trust. This directory will help with your initial selection. You should speak to several different New York violin makers, discuss the situation in advance and request a bid.

Bow rehair, strings and accessories

Many workshops make minor repairs or rehair bows themselves in their workshops or recommend bow makers they work with regularly. Almost every violin maker offer his or her violins for rent even if it does not say so on his web page. It’s worth asking! Commonly used accessories such as new strings or cases are available from most of the violin makers in New York. Our directory offers an overview of online sources and the right violin lessons in New York.

Violin makers in New York City – map

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David Bonsey Fine ViolinsFEATURED

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Service

trade, new building, repair, restoration

Particularities

David Bonsey was Director of Fine Musical Instruments at Skinner Auctioneers and Appraisers for 14 years and workshop manager for Johnson String Instrument in Boston. As a violin maker he won several awards and specialized in appraisals and dealing with string instruments of all kinds. Having worked for museums and investors he is one of the most experienced restorers and experts frequently contributing to leading media.

He is a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bowmakers.

Address:
119 West 57th St, #1405
10019 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (646) 717-0701

Julie Reed-Yeboah, violin maker, restorerFEATURED

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Services:

Violins, violas, cellos, bows

Service

trade, repair, restoration

Particularities

Julie Reed-Yeboah's atelier is specialized in instrument repair and restoration , tonal adjustments, appraisals and acquisitions and sales of fine stringed instruments.

She studied violin making at the Newark School of Violin Making and was trained by David Wiebe while she was studying at the University of Nebraska. Following this, she has worked in renowned violin shops in England, Germany and the US. Being specialized in the restoration of finest instruments, Julie Reed-Yeboah has served as the caretaker for the instruments of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Nippon Music Foundation, the Samsung Foundation and many other collections.

The team at Reed-Yeboah Fine Violins:

  • Julie Reed-Yeboah
  • Kenichi Matano
  • Alvaro Corrochano
  • Rachel Becker

Address:
1776 Broadway, Suite 1701
10019 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 212-765-3275

Christophe Landon, expert and violin makerFEATURED

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Services:

Christophe Landon is one of the world's most renowned violin experts. Restoration, repair, general violin shop services for violins, viols, cellos, bows.

Service

trade, new building, repair, restoration

Particularities

Christophe Landon built his first violin at the age of 15 in Jean Eulry's workshop in Mirecourt. He apprenticed with Jean-Jacques Pages and worked for Max Möller in Amsterdam and studied bow making with Stephane Thomachot in Paris. From 1984 he worked with Jacques Français and Rene Morel in NYC and established his own atelier in 1986.

Christophe Landon is one of the world's most renowned violin experts and won the Gold Medal for the sound of his assymetrical viola in 1983 and the first prize in Maurice Vieux competition in 1986. He is represented with ateliers in Berlin, Paris and Seoul.

The team at Christophe Landon's workshop:

  • Markus Laine
  • Rachel Bontemps
  • Christopher Thorp

Address:
1995 Broadway, 6th floor
10023 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (212) 721-1716

Alexander Yurovitsky

Qualification

violin maker, master violinmaker, restorer

Service

new building, repair, restoration, leasing

Particularities

Selling new violins in Great Britain,Danmark and Western Europe. Sound adjustment,repairs,bow re-hair.

Opening hours

Monday open

Address:
2361 coney island ave 5r
11223 New York City
United States
Telephone:
718 376 8508

Florian Leonhard, violin maker

Qualification

bow maker, master violinmaker, restorer

Service

trade, repair, restoration

Particularities

Florian Leonhard studied violin making at the State Vocational School for Instrument Making in Mittenwald, Germany and started his career as Head Restorer at W. E. Hill & Sons and continued at Macholds in Bremen, Germany and Withers, London.

Additionally to his London violin showroom and workshop Florian Leonhard established an office in Hong Kong and an atelier in NYC.

Address:
1925 7th Avenue #8L
10026 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (646) 386 7658

Guy Rabut, violin maker

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Services:

new violin making, restoration, repair, special models (graphic design work)

Service

trade, new building, repair, restoration, leasing, accessories

Particularities

Upper West side. Violin maker Guy Rabut spent 5 years coworking with Jacques Français. Established his own workshop in New York in 1984.

Address:
251 West 93rd Street, Studio 2D
10025 New York City
United States

Gregory Wylie Violin Maker

Qualification

violin maker

Service

repair

Particularities

Small single owner workshop. Student and advanced level services. Specialized in rehairing of bows.

Address:
119 W 57th St,
10019 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 212 713 0027

Clar Fine Violins

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Services:

Violin making, restoration, repair

Service

trade, new building, repair, restoration, leasing, accessories

Particularities

Francesc Clar studied violin making at the Nuova Scoula di Liuteria "Bottega di Parma" in Parma, Italy, under Desiderio Quercetani. Since 2013 he worked with Carlos Arcieri.

Address:
257 West 39th Street #10FL -Suite 11
10108 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 201-673-1599

Ron Forrester, bow maker

Qualification

bow maker, restorer

Services:

Bow maker. Rehair, bow repair, head plates, windings, etc.

Service

new building, repair, restoration

Particularities

Ron Forrester is a New York based bow maker. He apprenticed with Yung Chin and assisted him in his workshop for approx. 7 years, before establishing his own business in New Jersey.

Back to New York City after a few years, today he enjoys the interaction with musicians as well as repairing and maintenance of their bows – a constant source of inspiration for his own works.

He is an elected member of The American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers and has worked with Rare Violins of New York since 2008.

Address:
37 West 57th Street
10019 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 609-941-7881

Yung Chin, bow maker and dealer of fine bows

Qualification

bow maker

Services:

Yung Chin is one of America’s most respected and sought after maker and dealer of fine bows. Based in New York City, Yung worked with the well known bow maker William Salchow for seven years before opening his own shop. Yung Chin is a frequent contributor to STRINGS magazine and his bows were featured on the cover of the March 1988 issue of THE STRAD magazine. Yung Chin has given numerous lectures about bows and has, for the last four years, taught bow making and restoration at Oberlin College as part of their Violin Restoration program. Yung Chin is a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Dealers as well as the Violin Society of America.

Service

trade, new building, repair

Particularities

Yung Chin is a renowned New York based bow maker, expert and teacher of bow making and restoration at the Oberlin college.

Before establishing his own workshop, he worked for many years with William Salchow.

Chin is a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Dealers and of the Violin Society of America. He supports the International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative.

Address:
1776 Broadway Suite 1702
10019 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 212 582-3626

Charles Rufino, violin maker

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Services:

Founder of "The Long Island Violin Shop"

Service

trade, new building, repair, restoration

Particularities

Founder of the Long Island Violin Shop.

Charles Rufino was born in New York and started his apprenticeshiop at the age of 22. He was educated at the Newark School of Violin Making and improved his skills as a guest student at the famous London workshops of J. & A. Beare and W. E. Hill & Sons.

Back in New York he worked for Nigogosian from 1977 to 1980, when he moved to Chicago to becoma an associate of Carl Becker & Son.

His New York atelier was opened in 1984. From 1986 Charles Rufino was one of the first staff lecturers at the Oberlin Restoration Workshop, and in 1995 he founded "The Long Island Violin Shop"

Charles Rufino is a member in the American Federation of Violin Makers and in the International Society of Violin and Bow Makers

Address:
New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 212-581-6226

The Long Island Violin Shop

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Services:

Violin maker and all common violin shop services. Rental, repair, strings, service

Service

trade, new building, repair, restoration, leasing, accessories

Particularities

The Long Island Violin Shop was founded by Charles Rufino in 1995.

Staff:

  • Endre Fischer – Workshop Manager
  • Samantha Kadisch – Violin Maker

Locations:

  • 8 Elm St, Huntington, NY 11743
  • 23 W Main St, Smithtown, NY 11787
  • 250 Main St, Setauket- East Setauket, NY 11733

Address:
New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (855) 343-3535

W. Violin Shop

Qualification

violin maker, restorer

Service

trade, repair, restoration, leasing, accessories

Particularities

W. Violin Shop was founded by Gene Park, an experienced luthier who is specialized in repairs and restorations of various stringed instruments. The shop offers instruments, repairs and restorations, accessories and certificates. They offer instruments for rent and support young talents within the framework of a foundation.

Address:
39 Highwood Ave
07670 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (201) 282-4395

Zachary Lane

Qualification

violin maker, restorer

Service

repair, restoration, accessories

Particularities

Zachary Lane is an accomplished luthier and active musician (bassist).

He apprenticed at David Gage String Instruments and continued his studies with Guy Rabut, Patrick Toole, the bass maker Nick Lloyd and the bow maker Rodney D. Mohr. Additionally he learnt guitar making with Manny Salvador. In 2019 he attended the Oberlin Restoration Workshop.

In 2018 he opened his own shop for instrument making, repair and restoration.

Zachary Lane is a member of the Violin Society of America, The International Society of Bassists.

As a musician, he obtained a Bachelor of Music Education from University of New Mexico in 2004 and a Masters of Music Performance from Western Michigan University in 2007, graduating with honors.

Address:
7 Bills Pl. #2
11218 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (269) 330-9063

New York Violin

Qualification

violin maker, restorer

Service

trade, repair, restoration, leasing, accessories

Particularities

The Main Violin Shop is this atelier's branch in Fort Lee, NJ 07024.

Address:
4401 Little Neck Parkway
11363 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (718) 352 2000

Markus Laine

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Service

new building, repair, restoration

Particularities

Markus Laine studied at Ikaalinen College of Crafts and Design in Finland and joined the atelier of Philip Brown Violins in England for an internship. After this, he switched to Newark School of Violin Making where he developed his interest for bow making and graduated in 2005. From 2008 Markus Laine worked as a restorer for Christophe Landon in NYC and opened his own workshop in 2014, where he builds new stringed instruments and bows.

He is member of the American Federation of Violin and Bowmakers, of the Violin Society of America and of the British Violin Making Association.

Address:
240 west 73rd room 201
10023 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 9176010858

David A. Zhang – Riverdale Violin Shop

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Service

new building, repair, restoration, leasing

Particularities

David A. Zhang was born in Shanghai, China, and studied violin with Chen-Qiang, Zhang at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. From 1974 to 1976 he performed professionally with Shanghai Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and apprenticed in the Shanghai Violin Factory for two years, in order to learn how to repair violins. In 1986 he moved to the USA.

He is a member of the Violin Society of America, the Michigan Violinmakers Association and the Southern California Association of Violin Makers.

Address:
3530 Henry Hudson Parkway
10463 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 917.574.8290

Joseph Tanen

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Service

trade, new building, repair, restoration, leasing, accessories

Particularities

Joseph Tanen studied violin making and restoration under Ray Melanson at the North Bennet Street School in Boston. Later he worked for the New York Violin Shop and later for Steve McGhee as a repairer. In 1994 he established his own shop.

Address:
5030 Broadway, Suite 705
10034 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (212)663-6219

Kolstein's

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Service

trade, repair, restoration, leasing, accessories

Particularities

Founded by Samuel Kolstein in 1943, Kolstein's started as a Violin and Bow making atelier at two locations in Brooklyn and NYC. 1971 Barrie Kolstein joined the shop, that had been relocated to Merrick, New York in 1958. Since 1974 Kolstein Music Inc. is focusing on product development, manufacturing and worldwide distribution, whereas Samuel Kolstein & Son Ltd. features "the fine arts division" dealing with sales, making, and restoration of string instruments and bows. In 1980 the Kolsteins relocated to Baldwin, New York. Today a staff of 12 experts in violin restoration, marketing and production is providing the company's services according to requirements of the upper echelon player as well as the demanding needs of the aspiring student.

Address:
795 Foxhurst Rd.
11510 Baldwin, NY
United States
Telephone:
+1 (516) 546 - 9300

Brooklyn Lutherie – Chloe Swantner and Mamie Minch

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Service

new building, repair, restoration, accessories

Particularities

Chloe Swantner and Mamie Minch offer superior quality setups and repairs of stringend instruments at affordable rates, and custom-made instruments of the violin family on commission.

Chloe Swantner studied violin making with Thurmond Knight at the Vermont School of Violin Making. She worked as a repair technician at David Gage and Jalopy Theater and School of Music and at Retrofret Guitars and was concerned with repairs of instruments as well of the violin family as of archtop guitars and mandolins. Mamie Minch started as a blues guitarist and worked as Head of Repair at Retrofret Guitars.

Address:
232 3rd Street suite #E003
11215 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (347) 987-3835

Salchow & Sons

Qualification

bow maker, restorer

Service

trade, repair, restoration

Particularities

Salchow & Sons is a family-run atelier specialized on rehairing, repairing, selling and appraisals of fine bows for stringed instruments.

Founder William Salchow studied bow making in Mirecourt, France with a Fulbright Scholarship under Georges Barjonnet and Charles Alfred Bazin.

After having returned to the U.S.A. in 1960, he founded Salchow & Sons and became one of the the leading American bowmakers.

William Salchow’s grandson Isaac Salchow started his career in the workshop and today is one of the leading experts in French and German bow making.

Address:
119 West 57th Street, Suite 1414
10019 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (212) 586 4805

Flushing Violin Shop

Qualification

violin maker

Service

trade, repair, accessories

Particularities

Full service professional string instrument source in Queens.

Address:
135-15 37th Avenue, Suite 3F
11354 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 718-353-6815

Peter Lam Violins | Peter Lam提琴專賣店

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Services:

Peter Lam Violins | Peter Lam提琴專賣店 Violin maker and workshop in Queens, all common repairs, set ups, trade.

Service

trade, new building, repair, restoration, accessories

Address:
173rd street, Fresh Meadows
11365 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 917-775-1021

Jason Viseltear, violin maker

Qualification

master violinmaker

Services:

Modern and baroque violins and luthier services. Awards: Violin Society of America 21st International Competition - Gold Medal Viola - Certificate of Merit for Quartet Workmanship 2014 Violin Society of America 20th International Competition - Silver Medal Quartet Tone - Certificate of Merit for Violin Tone - Certificate of Merit for Viola Tone 2012 Yale University Collection of Stringed Instruments - Quartet: violin 1, violin 2, viola, violoncello 2009 Colburn School of Music - viola 2008 Harvard University Collection of Stringed Instruments - violin 1 - violin 2 2004

Service

new building

Particularities

Jason Viseltear apprenticed with Robert Young and became his partner in the workshop of Viseltear & Young until 2006. For additional studies he joined the ateliers of Brice Dupin de Saint Cyr, Michael Sheibley and François Denis.

Since 2001 he contributes to the classes at the Oberlin Workshops. In his own work, Viseltear is dedicated to making new instruments and to providing ongoing support to his customers.

He won several awards at renowned competitions and exhibitions, such as a gold medal for a viola and a Certificate of Merit for Quartet Workmanship at the 21st International Competition of the Violin Society of America in 2014 and in 2012 a silver medal for quartet tone and Certificates of Merit for violin and viola tone at the same competition.

He is a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers and opened his atelier in Manhattan in 1995 and specialized both in modern and baroque violins.

Address:
131 Essex St. #3
10002 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 212.473.1937

Rare Violins of New York - violin dealers and restorers

Qualification

bow maker, master violinmaker, restorer

Services:

Old violins, contremporary violins, violin appraisals, tonal adjustments, restoration, bow restoration, repair

Service

trade, repair, restoration

Particularities

The team at the workshop of Rare Violins of New York

  • Tatsuo Imaishi – Head of Workshop
  • Ryan Stulb – Restorer
  • Sibai Huang – Restorer
  • Nicholas Gerald – Restorer
  • Ron Forrester – Bow Maker

Address:
37 West 57th Street, 8th floor
10019 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 212.595.3389

David Segal Violins, Ltd.

Qualification

master violinmaker, restorer

Services:

Antique and modern instruments, violin making. Modern bows and classical bows in various price ranges. General luthier services: repair, set up.

Service

trade, new building, repair, restoration, accessories

Particularities

David Segal studied violin making at the International School of Violin Making in Cremona, Italy under Francesco Bissolotti, Gio Batta Morassi and Pietro Sgarabotto. Fernando Sacconi invited him to the famous atelier of Rembert Wurlitzer in 1973, and in 1975 David Segal opened his own workshop in NYC.

Today he is a renowned luthier, expert and dealer in rare instruments and bows and joined the Appraiser’s Association of America in 1981.

The team in David Segal's atelier:

  • Diane Mellon
  • Hideo Nagai

Address:
74 West 68th Street, Suite #1C
10023 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (212) 769-4559

Matthias Lehner, violin maker

Qualification

violin maker, restorer

Service

trade, new building, repair, restoration, accessories

Particularities

Matthias Lehner Violins joins a team of excellent luthiers:

  • Matthias Lehner
    began violin and piano studies as a child and joined as a viola student the workshop of master violin maker Ernst Fuchs in Ravensburg, Germany. Later he apprenticed with master violin maker Albrecht Loebner and studied with bow maker Carsten Loeschmann, before he moved to NYC to join the ateliers of David Segal, Christophe Landon and the Carnegie Hall Studios of Mosa Havivi. He established his own workshop in 2007, specialized in tonal adjustments of violins, violas, and cellos and became an internationally renowned expert for the restoration of fine stringed instruments.
  • Jerzy Wypisz
    was born in Poland and completed a degree in forestry management. After many years of work in the forests of Poland he moved to the US and apprenticed as a violin maker in the workshop of William Harris Lee in Chicago. He has worked at Moes & Moes and Julie Reed-Yeboah and joined Lehner Violins in November 2017 as a restorer and maker of new instruments.
  • Bettina Gold
    was born in Hessen, Germany and studied violin making with Christian Brosse, a viola da gamba maker. She moved to the US in 1996 and worked with Phillip Injeian, Jason Viseltear, Young Violins & Andrew Dipper and John Waddle before joining Lehner Violins in September 2017.

Address:
46 West 65th Street, Garden Floor
10023 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (212) 580-2158

Edward Maday, violin and viol maker

Qualification

violin maker, restorer

Services:

Violin · Viola · Cello · Viols (all sizes) · Violone · Double Bass · Viola d'Amore

Service

new building, repair, restoration, accessories

Particularities

Small private workshop in a quiet location on the south shore of Long Island. Visitors by appointment only.

Address:
1066 Stanton Ave
11598 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 516 374 4943

AZG Musical Inc., violin shop

Qualification

violin maker

Services:

Student priced services. Free phone support.

Service

trade, repair, accessories

Particularities

AZG offers Brooklyn pickup and delivery service for repairs of violins, cellos and guitars as well as for bow rehairing.

Address:
1561 55 Street
11219 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 (347)762-2649

Robert Isley

Qualification

master violinmaker

Service

new building, repair

Particularities

Robert Isley graduated from East Carolina University in 1981, where he had earned a bachelor's degree in music, and studied violin making at the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City. After some years of working for music shops in Houston and Mamaroneck he established his own studio in downtown Rye in 1992.

Address:
44 Purchase St
10580 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 914 921 1075

Martin Nitsche

Qualification

master violinmaker

Service

trade, new building

Address:
3709 75th St
11372 New York City
United States
Telephone:
+1 718 777 5788

Giancarlo Arcieri

Qualification

master violinmaker

Service

new building

Particularities

Giancarlo Arcieri started assisting his father Carlos Arcieri in his studio when he was 12 years old and apprenticed with him from 1995. Under the tutelage of Ron Fletcher he built his first violins.

Address:
250 West 54th Street
10019 New York City
United States