Skipper Custom Instruments

Violin and double bass

(or fiddle and doghouse, if you're so inclined)

Violin in case Violin scroll Skipper custom fiddle Concert violin front view Skipper custom violin in case

My violin business got a great boost this last year when I was presented with the opportunity to build a custom violin for Richard DiAdamo, retired Pittsburgh Symphony violinist. Says Richard: "I have performed on many violins throughout my forty-one-year career as a symphony violinist, and I can honestly say none of my so-called 'well-known' violins (modern and vintage) could equal the tone quality of the violin Roger Alan Skipper custom made for me." The balance of his comments can be found on the "Testimonials" page.

I've found that although red (Adirondack) spruce is not a traditional tonewood for violins, it produces the same superb quality of tone and resonance that it does on guitars and mandolins. A tree-of-a-lifetime red spruce also provided the bookmatched top for this double bass. A double bass is a big job, and makes lots of shavings! It also takes up most of my shop.

Skipper carved double bass Bass back in the process of carving Shavings from bass carving Rough carving the bass scroll Fitting the bass neck heel Finished bass in the white

Construction pictures are quite popular with website visitors, so here are a few of violins as they're being built.

Fiddle neck layout for carving Marking the overhang Tuned fiddle top Fiddle in the white Fiddle ready for neck

Check back often for updated photos and new sound clips. Contact us to have one built for you.

Sound clips:

Shawn Craver playing a Skipper fiddle.

Richard DiAdamo plays a Skipper violin: Fascination; Salut D'Amour; Millionaire's Hoedown