FAQ

You can usually pick it up within 2-3 days. If the bow needs other work, it could be longer. We will examine your bow together when you bring it in.

Weekdays by appointment. I am usually in the shop from 11 to 6. To make an appointment, please text me at (415) 867-4503.

violin/viola	$80
cello	$90
bass	$95-105
See additional pricing here

I am located in the Inner Sunset neighborhood in San Francisco; available by appointment only.

Yes, no problem. In fact, I have a degree in early music.

Yes, and you can see my repair list here.

Yes. I have excellent shop insurance through the Heritage Insurance musical trades program.

No, but cash, check and Venmo are all fine.

I have done hundreds of rehairs. Prior to San Francisco, I was in Philadelphia where I worked for Antiques Road Show appraiser Frederick Oster [osterviolins.com] Our clients were mostly Philadelphia Orchestra members, faculty and students at the Curtis Institute and Temple University, visiting soloists, and other professionals. I also wrote bow condition reports for Tarisio [tarisio.com], the New York violin auction house.

In the Bay Area I have done work as an independent for Joan Balter, Ifshin Violins, and Rolland Feller Violins. I attended Violin Society of America conferences, the VSA-Oberlin Bow Makers’ workshop each summer, and have served on the board of the VSA.

As an editor for Strings [allthingsstrings.com] magazine, I traveled widely and wrote hundreds of articles on instruments, makers, the market, accessories, buying and selling. So you can ask me almost any question. If I don’t know the answer I know who will!

I began my training as a bow maker in 1999 with the highly esteemed Charles Espey. Then I received a thorough grounding in repairs from Mr. Espey’s first teacher, Robert Shallock, when we worked at David Stone Violins in Seattle. I’ve also spent time learning repairs in the workshop of Rodney Mohr in Ohio. Paul Siefried has always been generous with his knowledge and advice.

As a musician, I have always played the fiddle, especially Irish music, and often for dancers. I have toured, taught at music camps, made recordings with several groups. I received a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and was a US Irish Fiddle Champion in 1998. An interest in Medieval music led me to the Early Music Institute at Indiana University. That was a great education, but after graduation I reverted to the fiddle world. I love to teach and taught for many summers at Lark Camp, a world music camp in Mendocino. You can hear my Irish trio, Three Mile Stone, here

[wpspoiler name=”Where is your shop?” ]Hayes Valley, in the Kanbar Performing Arts Center, 44 Page Street, Suite 400. I share an office with the Cypress String Quartet [cypressquartet.com] We are close to the SF Conservatory and convenient to Davies Symphony Hall, the opera and ballet, and the new SF Jazz Center.
[/wpspoiler]

[wpspoiler name=”What kind of hair do you use?” ]I have several kinds on hand: an excellent general-purpose white hair that is strong but not coarse. For the sensitive violinist I have some that is slightly less aggressive. For bass I also have black hair and “salt and pepper” which is a mixture of black, white, and grey.[/wpspoiler]

[wpspoiler name=”Do you do early bows?” ]Yes, no problem. In fact, I have a degree in early music.
[/wpspoiler]

[wpspoiler name=”Do you do repairs, too?” ]Yes, and you can see my repair price list here. [/wpspoiler]

[wpspoiler name=”Is my bow insured while it is with you?” ]Yes. I have excellent shop insurance through the Heritage Insurance musical trades program.[/wpspoiler]

[wpspoiler name=”Do you take cards?” ]Yes. Cash, check and card are all fine.
[/wpspoiler]

[wpspoiler name=”What is your experience?” ]I have done thousands of rehairs, most recently in Philadelphia where I worked for Antiques Road Show appraiser Frederick Oster [fredoster.com] Our clients were mostly Philadelphia Orchestra members, faculty and students at the Curtis Institute and Temple University, visiting soloists, and other professionals. I also wrote bow condition reports for Tarisio [tarisio.com], the New York violin auction house.

In the Bay Area I have done work as an independent for Joan Balter, Ifshin Violins, and Rolland Feller Violins. In order to keep current on the latest developments, I attend Violin Society of America [vsa.to]conferences, the VSA-Oberlin Bow Makers’ workshop each summer, and serve on the board of the VSA.

[wpspoiler name=”Training” ]I began my training as a bow maker in 1999 with the highly esteemed Charles Espey [http://charlesespeybows.blogspot.com/]. Then I received a thorough grounding in repairs from Mr. Espey’s first teacher, Robert Shallock, when we worked at David Stone Violins i[davidtstoneviolins.com] n Seattle. I’ve also spent time learning repairs in the workshop of Rodney Mohr [rodneymohr.com] in Ohio. Paul Siefried has always been generous with his knowledge and advice.

As a musician, I have always played the fiddle, especially Irish music, and often for dancers. I have toured, taught at music camps, made recordings with several groups. I received a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and was a US Irish Fiddle Champion in 1998. An interest in Medieval music led me to the Early Music Institute at Indiana University. That was a great education, but after graduation I reverted to the fiddle world. I love to teach and do so every summer at Lark Camp, a world music camp in Mendocino. You can hear my Irish trio, Three Mile Stone, here [/wpspoiler]