Completed February 22, 1985
This violin is out of chronological order, as it is actually the very first violin I ever made. Back in 1985 I attended the Gault School for the Making and Appreciation of the Bowed Stringed Instruments in Washington, D.C. The school had one instructor, Willis Gault, who was a self-taught master luthier with over 40 years of experience. It was a one-room workshop, about 150 square feet, and all work was done seated on a chair with a work-board on your lap. Willis was already an old man back then and had taught dozens, if not hundreds, of wannabe luthiers. At the time, however, I was his only full-time student and got a lot of one-on-one attention. I really loved violin making, but it was Willis who talked me out of choosing it as a career:
“Until you make a name for yourself, you’ll have to work for someone else for minimum wage. Do that for ten years, then you can open your own shop and make even less.”
Originally, this violin was a rather bright orange. It has faded considerably in 37 years. If you squint at it from a distance, it doesn’t look too bad. But compare the details and craftsmanship of Willis to the violins on either side. Practice makes. . . better!
