Forward
Some years ago I received a poster in my Strad magazine of Giuseppe Guarneri Del Gesù AlardViolin. I was excited about it at first, andthen my excitement waned as I had to goto work to earn my living as a Master Maintenance Mechanic. My love for fiddles started during my Navy career.My mother’s cousin (my god father)wanted a violin to play but could notafford even the cheapest instrument. Ireferred to him as my uncle ever since Icould remember being on the farm withthem. The guidance given was notalways headed as I grew up. I believe theLord placed me there for a reason.Through the years I was on the receivingend for everything. Yes, I did appreciateit. With 6 brothers and one sister theattention wasn’t on the middle child for long. After my tour of duty in the U.S.Army (fighting Ticks and Chiggers inTexas) I joined the U.S. Navy where Istayed for the next 14.5 years. My firsttour of duty was onboard the USSForrestal CV-59 based out of Mayport,Fl. near Jacksonville. The year was1980. I returned home for Christmasleave straight to my uncle’s farm. Thatwas when my grandfather gave me hiscopy of a Giovanni Palo Maggini violin.I then found out that my uncle hadalways wanted a violin but being afarmer could not afford the expense.I thought that I may be able to build aviolin and give it to him for the nextChristmas. I had no real idea of the process involved (little did I know that Iwould continue building violins for solong). After my leave was up I was dueto deploy overseas with the Forrestal. Iordered a book on building a violin fromLynchburg press. Read the book andover the next year fabricated the parts,tools and the fixtures. Being at sea I justcould not run down to the nearest musicstore (nearest land was straight down). Ittook me the entire deployment tocomplete. That year at Christmas I presented the poorest instrument that Ihave ever seen to my uncle. He was sohappy and tried to play that cruderepresentation to no avail. That day Idecided that my next one would be better. Here it is 26 years, 3 marriages, 2daughters and 32 instruments later; Ihave become proficient enough to produce a quality instrument. Iexperiment and sell violins and fiddlesoccasionally. Constantly trying toimprove the instruments I build. I havehad no formal education in theconstruction if violins but was an artist atheart. My education after dropping outof high school was completed in theArmy. They taught me to be a helicopter repairman and to shoot straight. I couldnot see a use for this trade when Ireturned home to my uncle’s farm. InJanuary of 1980 I was discharged fromthe Army but was unable to findemployment. After moving around fromone relative to another, I had enough and joined the Navy. Being wiser and older Iselected a trade that I could use later on.I liked the Navy and stayed receivingmore education and advancement. Thedifferent schools and duty stations taughtme theory and practical application of that theory. I was required to study manydifferent things focused on fluid andsteam power. Throughout this Icontinued building while at sea. Withinstrument 28 I had a turning point. Myinstruments started selling. I wasconfident enough to start repairing for friends and relatives. Half of theinstruments reside with family members,some were destroyed some given away.3
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