Jan's Workshop

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OUR APPROACH

	"Have you seen a man who is a master of his craft? Such a man can stand before kings; he need not take his place amongst inferior persons." Proverbs 22:29.
	"The composers are the gods ...
	... the players are the prophets ...
	*... and the luthiers* are the servants."**

INTRODUCTION

In the workshop, Jan van Rooyen (LEFT) works with Anna, Daniel Muni, some apprentices and assistants and a number of off-premises associates in the USA and abroad. (See also the "About Us" and "Contact Us" pages on this website.)

LEFT: Painting of Jan van Rooyen in the workshop by Alexandra Ramos, oboeist and fine artist from Orlando (oil, 2007).

Alexandra Ramos, having set up
her easel in Jan's
workshop.

Alexandra Ramos

at work
in Jan's

workshop.

Alex and Suliman Tekalli, for whom Jan custom-made
a violin.

For custom-made violins by violin-maker Jan van Rooyen, click here.

JAN VAN ROOYEN


Even this derelict will be restored!	Jan fixing a violin. A cello is waiting.	Making parts with an electric bandsander.	Restoring fine "Vault" antique violins.


TOP ROW: 1. Working on the bridge of Thomas Dil's fine Georges Enescu violin (from Gainesville Violins). 2. Testing. 3. Thomas plays a Vivaldi concerto for Jan. RIGHT: 1. Jan loved Thomas's playing. 2. The Dil kids from Tampa FL: Thomas (10), Kimberly (7) and Allison (4). (Pictures taken in 2005.)

BARBARA DIL WROTE (EMAIL 2005): "We appreciate the nice description you gave the children of the repair process for Thomas’ instrument. The visit to your workshop was a very inspirational beginning to our week at the Suzuki Institute at Furman University, Greenville, SC. We appreciate your hospitality and great service!"

ANNA VAN ROOYEN

Violins for Gulfwinds Montessori School,
St Petersburg.

Anna van Rooyen
sets up the violins.

LEFT: Completing
a violin.

ABOVE: Fixing a bow.

Preparing a violin.

Helping with a new batch of varnish.

ABOVE: Co-operation - Jan makes
bridges and soundposts for Anna.

RIGHT: Anna and Jan work side by side.

DANIEL MUNI: MANAGER

ABOVE: Daniel Muni (1999, 2003, 2005, 2006) is our longest serving apprentice, assistant and associate. He started apprenticing in 1998 when he was 11 years old. Daniel is currently the Manager of Gainesville Violins and its workshop. He owns Gainesville Bow Works (see the "Bows" page on this website), graduated from Business School at the University of Florida (2007), studied in France and traveled in Europe in 2006. He plays violin, viola and cello and is CEO of A&D Labs. See the "About Us" page on this website for more information about other apprentices and helpers.

APPRAISALS

* Verbal (in person or by
telephone), $35.
* Written or email, $75.
* Printed certificate with
2 color pictures, $180.

Verbal dialogue, $35.

Written or
email, $75.

Printed certificate
with 2 pics, $180.

In appraising, Jan is guided by "Elements of a Correctly Prepared
Appraisal" published by the Appraisers Association of America, Inc.

CUSTOM BRIDGE CUTTING

NOTE: For "same-day" service without an appointment made on a previous
day, please add a 50% surcharge to the prices stated below.
Likewise for all Saturday or Sunday bridge services.

1/2 and smaller	3/4 Student	4/4 Student	Ad- vanced	Professional, with accoustical timbre tuning
$25	$35	$45	$65	$120

Special fiddle bridge: only $45.

VIOLA BRIDGES:

14" and smaller:
$45

>14":
$70

Professional, with accoustical
timbre tuning: $140

CELLO BRIDGES:

1/2-size and smaller: $70

3/4 and 4/4
French: $140

Professional French or
Belgian: $200

Ask about re-cutting and/or straightening an existing
bridge. It could save you a lot of money!

RADOMIR CERMAK, CZECH
REPUBLIC, WROTE (1996):
"Mister Jan, Thank you for the best
viola bridge which I have ever had.
Your work is not just ordinary,
it has special features."

VARNISHING


Jan makes varnish from scratch using all-organic ingredients. The varnish is based on a 1704 Italian recipe.	Carefully weighing and mixing the ingrediets, Jan inspects for purity, consistency and color.	The 1704 Italian varnish recipe - a facsimile of the manuscript.

LEFT: The great Simone Sacconi of Rome (later New York), author of "The Secrets of Stradivari". He provided the ancient varnish recipe. The recipe has been improved by Jan and associates.

SECOND PICTURE: Jan carefully polishes a recently-varnished violin with wetted tripoli
and rottenstone powder to a satin-like sheen.

THIRD AND FOURTH PICTURES: A varnishing job completed.

RESTORATION: ALBANI

A fine but totally dilapidated antique
violin labelled
"Matthias Albanus" underwent a major restoration. It should
now last a few
hundred years.

RESTORATION: RAUCH

An antique "Joseph Rauch" was restored in 2004.

RESTORATION: STAINER


The "Stainer" in bad shape.	Making a new edge.	"Feathering-in" the new edge.

The edge fits, but must still be rounded and varnished.	Completed front.	Completed back.

REPAIR: A SCROLL CHEEK

Davina Tucker from Valdosta GA wrote (March 2005): "I want to thank you so very much for all the hard work that you put into my violin. It looks brand new and sounds magnificent! I am very happy with the work you did on my scroll. You can hardly tell that any work had been done at all! I am thrilled to have my violin back and can't wait to go back to school next week and play. I know that I will spend much of my Spring Break playing on my beautiful instrument. Once again, thank you so very much!"

CELLOS

See also the "Catalog" and "Customers" pages on this website.

TOP: Dangerous bridge!

LEFT: Fixing a
Carl Becker cello.

Testing.

Dr Dan Siegel from Weirsdale FL wrote (email 2005): "Jan, Just a note to let you know how pleased I am with the adjustments you made on my Michael Goronock cello. There is a decided improvement in both the tonal quality and ease of playing. Marion and I also enjoyed our visit to your studio.Thank you again for your courtesy and talent."

NEW MAKING AT GAINESVILLE VIOLINS

Together with a number of off-premises associates, Jan custom-makes copies of famous antique Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesu violins on special order, such as the "Heifetz" Guarneri, the "Oistrakh" Stradivari, the "Violon du Diable" Guarneri and several further models. For more information, go to the Featured Instruments page.

LEFT: New making in progress at Gainesville Violins: Violins hang in various stages of completion.

RIGHT: New violins, made from thoroughly aged tonewoods and covered with Jan's own old-Italian varnish, are being "played in" by special resonators made by A&D Labs fitted to the bridges. (Patent pending.)

Resonators by A&D Labs: "The most significant new tool for violin-makers since I started in this business" - Jan

MAKING A 1742 "HEIFETZ" GUARNERI COPY

For information on commissioning the making of one of these violins risk- and
obligation-free, see the Featured Instruments page on this website.


The back "in the white".	The back varnished.	The back distressed (antiqued).	Poster of the original violin.	Playing the completed replica.

MAKING A COPY OF THE 1713 "GIBSON-
HUBERMAN" STRADIVARIUS

This replica of the 1713 "Gibson-Huberman" Stradivarius was
custom-made by Jan and an associate for a customer.


2005: The back of Jan's replica.	A poster of the original 1713 "Gibson-Huberman" Stradivari which is currently owned by violinist Joshua Bell.	The great Bronislaw Huberman (1882-1947).