Welcome to FiddleMaker.com
It is interesting what influences children can have on their parents. Such was the case in my household. At the age of 6 1/2, my daughter, Kari, began her studies on the violin. At the age of 8, we changed teachers, resulting in the need for her violin to be examined by a qualified maker/repairer.
After learning of all the things needing to be done to her fiddle, I knew I could do the work if I only knew what to do. Thus began the quest for repair and making knowledge. I ended up at the University of New Hampshire for 11 or 12 summers, taking classes in making and repairing classical violins.
As you browse my website, you can see my interest has departed from mainstream classical instruments to that of the Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle and alternative-shaped acoustical violins.
Lynn has been to Norway 5 times since 1998, visiting makers and entering their bi-annual fiddle-making competition. In June 2002, at the Landskappleiken (national competition) in Vågå, Lynn was awarded a bronze medal for his Hardanger Fiddle. In June 2004, at the Eidfjord Landskappleiken, Lynn was awarded a bronze medal for his Hardanger fiddle. At Beitostølen 2006, a bronze medal was received for another Hardanger fiddle, and he received the highest tone score.