luthiers in ottawa

October 14, 2012 at 11:56 PM · Guy Harrison

http://www.guyharrison.com/

October 15, 2012 at 02:49 AM · Yes do visit Guy's place; him and his assistant Charline Dequincy do outstanding set up and repair work . And Guy is one of the top luthiers in Canada.

A great shop is The Soundpost ; not too far from Harrison's.

David Doyle there is very well trained . I like to go there too. Try out his fiddles and keep David from his work ( not hard to do; he loves to talk violins).

October 15, 2012 at 05:29 AM · great, thanks

i knew of Guy Harrison after googling but i thought that he might only be into making new insruments and not repair. thanks for the correction and will also check out the soundpost shop

October 15, 2012 at 06:25 AM · The Leading Note is a store for scores. They have quite a good collection.

If you are interested in bows: Bernard Walke is in Ottawa as well, and I am sure would love to have you over to try out some of his excellent bows.

October 15, 2012 at 02:36 PM · I would second the suggestion to visit the Leading Note, it's a great store & it's run by a musician couple (cello & flute) who I think do great things for the local music community. It's also right in the heart of downtown, close to all the sights you should try to see while you're there (Parliament, National Gallery, Byward Market).

October 16, 2012 at 04:41 PM · Peter Mach does repair work for our city orchestras and is a really great luthier for repair jobs. He lives in the gatineau are near Ottawa. He has a website. He recently repaired my 1700s baroque violin, and did a fantastic job.

October 16, 2012 at 07:13 PM · thanks all for the info. i wish i could bring both my violins for tweaking/fixing but you know, what with carry on restrictions.

now i just need to know how to get around when i get there :o)

October 16, 2012 at 08:04 PM · You may want to rent a car for one day. I live in Ottawa, and the good luthiers are pretty far out of the city.

Peter Mach

Caroly Loso

Sound Post

Peter Dawson

October 17, 2012 at 01:58 AM · Hi Katrina

" and the good luthiers are pretty far out of the city.

Peter Mach

Caroly Loso

Sound Post

Peter Dawson"

I'm a little confused.

Do you mean that the luthiers in the city are not good?

But then except for Peter Mach the luthiers you mention are all in the city and actually comparatively close together.

I don't know Peter Mach personally and would love to have a look at his shop. He is well known and well trained. Don't know Karoly Loso either but his website looks interesting. Would like to add a caveat at the one violin advertised as it has a Dario d'Attili certificate. If it is an early d'Attili certificate it should be fine as he was a very knowledgeable authority in his day. Dario's later certificates are useless and very misleading. Ask any dealer in the know, the story how Charles Beare was asked to go tell Dario to please stop issuing certificates.

October 17, 2012 at 01:09 PM · How did Guy Harrison get dropped off this list of the "good" Ottawa luthiers? He's probably the best known nationally and internationally, and he lives and works downtown, near the Soundpost, Peter Dawson, etc.

Another good Ottawa area luthier who deserves mention is Dennis Alexander. His workshop is in Aylmer, Quebec, just across the river.

October 17, 2012 at 06:57 PM · Hi,

I cannot recommend Guy Harrison enough. His work as a maker and restorer is simply stunning and exemplary!

Cheers!

October 17, 2012 at 07:46 PM · I agree. His work stands with the very best contemporary makers.

October 17, 2012 at 09:11 PM · Hi Christian and Parker. I agree Guy's violins are fantastic. A few professionals that tried my Lord Wilson model were blown away.

As far as repairs: Guy is the luthier in Ottawa that

gets asked to do some maintenance and repair work on the Canada Council for the Arts instruments. And some other very famous instruments.

October 17, 2012 at 11:01 PM · Exactly my experience, Hendrik, with the Harrison violin made for me last year (also a Lord Wilton model). And as for repairs, Guy's assistant Charline DeQuincey did a magnificent job two years ago on my 19th century German violin. She reset the neck, and repaired and patched a sound-post crack along with some other necessary restoration, all serious stuff. It had always been a good sounding instrument, but I must say it has improved considerably since she went to work on it. She is also an excellent violin-maker in her own right.

October 18, 2012 at 01:17 PM · I would also suggest visiting Olivia Pelling of Fine Strings in Ottawa. She was in my year at college in London (she's Canadian but studied violin making and repair in the UK) and went on to work in restoration under Guy Harrison. She's very good and very friendly.

October 19, 2012 at 06:04 AM · ok, the thing is i don't want to drive. which of those would be within downtown or very near and accessible by public transportation...

guy harrison,the sound post, leading note and peter dawson ?

thans

October 19, 2012 at 11:32 AM · Thank you Henk, Christian and Parker for the kind comments.

Hello Tammuz,

Our shop is downtown and is in fairly easy walking distance. If you would like to take a bus, the #14 takes only 15 minutes from Ottawa's downtown either from along Rideau or Elgin Street. It generally arrives every 15 minutes at Gladstone and Booth, just by our workshop. (Stop no. 6664)

October 19, 2012 at 08:27 PM · thanks Guy, what are your opening hours/days?

October 19, 2012 at 08:47 PM · Hello Tammuz,

We are available by appointment from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Just give us a call when you are in Ottawa for an appointment. Our phone number is 613 569 4803. Hope to see you soon.

http://guyharrison.com/blog