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Workshop services
Repairs & Restoration
Expert repair and restoration for instruments and bows of every age and value — each one handled with respect, precision and a deep understanding of its character.
Repair services
Instruments. We repair cellos, violins, violas, viols and their bows. Every instrument is assessed and given a written estimate, with options where needed — the assessment is free. Once you’re happy with the estimate, we’ll give you a timeframe for the work.
Bow rehairs and repairs. All bow repairs and restorations are carried out by Philip Brown, an experienced bow maker. Quotes are free and carry no obligation. We rehair with Siberian horsehair.
Some bows repaired in our workshop are offered for sale with a two-year guarantee, typically at around half the usual price — ask us what’s currently available.
All repairs are subject to our Repairs Terms & Conditions.
Restoration services
We restore cellos, violins, violas and bows, with free estimates.
Case study: a broken violin, made whole
A touring customer fell on a faulty step, and her violin broke her fall. She was unhurt — the violin was not. Here’s how we brought it back:
- The front of the violin was removed.
- The loose piece had its own crack, so it was glued and clamped first. Small wooden “towers” were glued along the break so each pair could be clamped together for a precise fit — good clamping is essential for a good glue joint.
- An oval sound-post patch was added to support the sound post, with a plaster cast taken first so the original arching couldn’t distort.
- Spruce studs were glued across the cracks, their grain running across the violin’s grain, to hold the cracks closed.
- The violin was closed up and returned to a delighted owner.
Featured project: a Tourte-copy cello bow
A cello bow made around 1850 by James Dodd — whose family of bow makers worked in London through the 18th and 19th centuries — came to us heavily used, with a cracked frog. Rather than replace the worn ebony parts of the adjuster, we chose to keep and restore the original material, preserving the bow’s integrity and its value. Lauri Tanner worked on the adjuster while Philip worked on the bow: new pearl eyes were fitted, and the ebony repaired with short-grain pieces and long-grain shavings.
Photos of each stage are on our Facebook page.