About Rainer

At the bench I have been a full time violin maker since 1982. I received the journeymans certificate (Gessellenbrief) in Markneukirchen 1993, and the title of masterviolinmaker (Geigenbaumeister), issued with distinction by the Handwerkskammer Munchen und Oberbayern in 1997. Both certificates were gained during a seven year period in southern Germany in which I worked in the workshops of Bernhard Franke and Antoine Muller in Stuttgart.

I am familiar with the requirements of professional players, having serviced the instruments of players from the Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra and the State Theatre Orchestra in Stuttgart for many years.

The study of the best old instruments is central to my work and I have traveled the world to do this. I have had many opportunities to handle and work on masterpieces by the most famous Italian, German and French makers. These have made a lasting impression and I base my new instruments on examples I know particularly well: a Stradivari violin of 1703 and an early Montagnana cello, as well as several del Gesu models.

Since 1997 I have been based in Guildford, in central Victoria, Australia. I work from home in a specially built workshop where I focus on making new violins and bows.