Timothy G. Johnson

Maker & Restorer
of
Fine Violins, Violas, & Violoncellos
Specializing in Historical & Modern Construction

209 Toluca Trail
Hewitt, TX 76643
(254) 420-1912
tgjohnso@earthlink.net

Timothy G. Johnson makes and restores fine instruments of the violin and viol families. He also designs and builds high quality medieval and renaissance instruments (bowed strings, plucked strings, harps) by commission. In addition to a degree in Violin Making and Restoration from the Indiana University School of Music, he holds a B.A. in History from Harvard University and the first Graduate Diploma (Early Music Performance) from the Longy School of Music.

 
Each of Tim's instruments is handcrafted using working methods of the great Italian masters. In the case of violin family instruments, we are fortunate that some of Stradivari's original molds and templates have survived. Other models require tracings and measurements of historical instruments. To create an instrument, Tim first painstakingly makes a mold, and next builds the instrument ribs onto the mold. The ribs then provide the outlines for the front and back plates, so that the instrument grows organically from itself. Thus, Tim's instruments are precisely modeled on the great masters', but each is also individual.