Handmade Interiors
Home Samples of My Work Price List: Architectural Elements References and Links Contact Me Other Work: Stringed Instruments	Caroline Sly PO Box 313 Ashfield, MA 01330 413-628-0130 e-mail
	An 18th Century Sideline: Violinmaking
	In addition to my restoration work, I also have an interest in violin making. I have been doing this with my partner Molly Diesing for over ten years now and together we have made over two dozen violins, violas, and cellos. Our instruments follow the patterns of the Italian makers of the late 17^th and early 18^th centuries, and the hand tools we use to make them are similar to those I use in my house restoration work. We use primarily local materials, spruce and maple from a tonewood supplier in Vermont, carefully selected and well-seasoned for best tonal and visual properties. Our construction process follows the classic Italian methods, and our set-up process is guided by the fact that we are both accomplished musicians and experienced chamber musicians as well as woodworkers. We have some instruments available for sale, but most of our instruments are made to order.
	“Golden Strad” model violin	Guadagnini model cello scroll		Gasparo model viola
	Our instruments follow various classic Italian models: Violins: we have made instruments based on those by Stradivari (“Golden”), Niccolo Amati and Guarneri del Gesu Violas: a special focus is smaller types of violas (16 inches or less), based on instruments by Guadagnini and Gasparo da Salo Cellos: in addition to standard cellos (Stradivari pattern) we make smaller (so-called 7/8 size) instruments based on instruments by Guadagnini and Landolfi
	2009 prices: Violins: $4000-5000 Violas: $6000-7000 Cellos: $10000-12000 Custom instruments may vary in price. Contact me for a list of currently available instruments or to make an appointment. New orders can usually be filled within a year.
	© 2011 Caroline Sly Web Design: Hildegard Graphics