Violin Maker

Jinney Ring | Craft Units | Violin Maker

Violin Maker: William Piper

Telephone: 01527 821181
Website: www.piper-violins.co.uk

Opening Details: Everyday except Sunday.
(Please contact him to make an appointment if you are coming to the Craft Centre especially to see him.)

William Piper (Bill) is a master violinmaker who has been making instruments all of his working life. Over 50 years he has made and sold 600 Violins, Violas and Cellos. He carries out repairs to all qualities of instruments and re-hairs bows. William will also give free information and valuation on any instrument presented.

William Piper also acquires and restores old instruments, putting them into good playing order and selling them. So if you want an old German, French or Italian instruments he can usually provide these at a very reasonable prices.

His workshop at the Jinney Ring is a hive of activity building bespoke violins, violas and cellos, and producing instruments bound for the concert platform. The Violin to the left is a very special one that William made for a charity auction in 2009 - it came complete with the treated 'stump stand' and would grace any drawing/music room!

William's violins are typically bought for promising music students, those going from Grade V to Grade VIII, with the opportunity to follow the making progress of an instrument being made for them. One young owner Johanna Lucas won the young musician of the year 2006 in Worcestershire.

William's work is influenced by the great violin makers of the past - Stradivari and Guarneri, he is well known as a "copyist", making instruments which look antique. The door of William's workshop is always open. Far from the reclusive craftsman one might expect, he is always ready to chat knowledgeably and amusingly to his visitors.

So if you know a budding young Nigel Kennedy - who incidentally owns one of William's cellos - come and have a chat with William.

This is a Baroque Violin that William was asked to Repair

This is one of the many curiosities that William has been asked to value and repair - a clog violin!

Jinney Ring | Craft Units | Violin Maker