Wall Independent

Violin & Viola Set-up, Repair and Restoration

Custom Woodworking and Consulting

Douglas Wall

250 Moul Rd., Hilton, NY 14468

585-392-3478

Hours by Appointment only

 

Email: dwall2 (at) Rochester.rr.com

 
 
 
 
                                               (You know what I mean. To avoid email harvesters)

                                                                                                    

 
 

 


Wall Independent is a violin and viola set-up, repair, and restoration service. Hilton, NY is located near the south shore of Lake Ontario, just northwest of Rochester, NY. We are about a 25 minute drive from the center of Rochester. (How to find us) We are located a short drive from the towns in western Monroe County (Greece, Brockport, Spencerport, Chili, Hamlin)

    My training includes courses with Hans Nebel at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Violin Workshops. This includes both external and internal repairs, proper set-up, and some restoration work.

     In June of 2007, I continued my education with a week of training in bow rehairing and some other bow work with Lynn Armour Hannings at the University of New Hampshire, and a week of varnish retouching with Hans Nebel at MCLA.

     My training continued in June of 2008, with a week of learning neck resetting with Hans Nebel at MCLA.

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LATEST NEWS FROM WALL INDEPENDENT

07/08 We just got back from a two week tour in Ireland with the Dady Brothers. Had a great time! Saw lots, and heard some great music. Click here for details

 

 

Organ Trophy (1724), St. Michan’s Church, Dublin, Ireland

 

10/08 Latest updates to the “Latest in the Shop” pages will be indexed, and show some updates on projects.

 

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I am currently expanding my offerings to include the John Juzek™ line of new instruments for both rent and sale, Kun™ Shoulder rests, D’Addario bowed strings, Cadenza and K. Holtz bows from Eastman Strings, the fine line of Eastman Strings instruments, and some other accessories such as cases and rosin. I’ll continue to expand my offerings to fill the needs of my clients. If you have something that you would like to get, or have me carry, contact me to see if I have it, or can get it for you.

Thinking of buying an inexpensive violin from an internet dealer? Click on the VSO link below.

CAUTION - VSO - CAUTION

(Violin Shaped Object)

 

 My philosophy is to do quality work at a reasonable price, and have the instrument back to the player as soon as possible.

Wall Independent currently accepts cash or checks. New York State sales pay NYS sales tax (Monroe County, 8%).

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Some of the services that  I can provide are:

*Cleaning and polishing                                         *Fingerboard planning and replacement

*String installation                                                  *Peg fitting and replacement

*Soundpost setting and replacement                      *Peg hole bushings

*Bridge adjustment and replacement                      *Internal repairs, including bassbar  work

*Nut adjustment and replacement                          *Varnish touch-up

*Crack and seam repairs                                         *Neck resetting

*Bow rehairing and minor repairs

I will work with you to determine how much work needs to be done to bring your instrument into playable condition and present you with an estimate for the work. My prices should be competitive to, or lower than many other shops.

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Here’s a brief example of some work that I’ve done on one instrument.

The instrument pictured below is a ¾ size Violin made in Czechoslovakia, pre WWII.

The work that I’ve done on it includes; regraduation of the top and back (Regraduation is controversial, but in this case, necessary), new bassbar, fingerboard, nut, saddle, bridge, pegs, tailpiece, and strings.

Below right is a picture of the inside of the top. You can see the new bassbar, and also a linen patch that was installed to reinforce a very thin spot at a high stress area near the saddle.

 

BOWS

Yes, I can also do bow rehairing, and some repairs such as tip and frog repairs. Below are before and after pictures of a ca. 1897 bow that I’ve worked on. The pearl eyes and slide on the frog were replaced, and a new grip was installed. The bow was also rehaired.

The pernambuco used to make fine bows has recently been declared an endangered species. There are only about 1200 trees left! I support the efforts of the International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative (IPCI). One dollar from each bow rehair will be donated to help with efforts to plant trees in Brazil to insure that future generations will be able to play with pernambuco bows. Conservation efforts also include keeping old bows in playing condition. Old bows that many would consider to be junk can be refurbished and turned into decent student bows.

Click on the picture to link to the ICPI website.

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INSTRUMENT RENTALS:

I’m just starting to carry a few instruments (violins and violas) for rentals. I’ll adjust the number as time goes on to cover the demand. If you’d like to rent an instrument, and I don’t have one, I can probably get one in about a week.

** Instruments, Bows, and Accessories For Sale and Rent **

Click above to see the instruments and accessories that we have available.

USED/ VINTAGE INSTRUMENTS AND BOWS:

My interest in repair and restoration leads me to seek out instruments to work on for my own collection, to play, and to restore for resale to a new owner. I would be interested to hear of any old instruments or bows for sale. Condition is, of course, along with the quality of the instrument or bow, a major factor in its value, either bought or sold.

 

The instrument on the right is a Fiddl-ette ca. 1930. This unusual instrument was sold by the Gamble Hinged Music Co.. It was originally created by Edwin H. Bergh and Carl Wheeler Mott as an inexpensive student instrument. It was only produced in limited numbers for a very few years, and sold in the Illinois and Wisconsin areas. (from my personal collection) Click on the picture for an enlarged view

Find out more about the Fiddl-ette at http://www.vandercook.edu/archives/collections/hvbergh.htm

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In order to show the type of repair/restoration work that I’m doing, I’ve set up a page so that you can see some of my current and past projects.

Here's what's in the shop.

Check here often to see what’s new.

 

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Wall Independent is now offering the fine line of John Juzek and Eastman Strings instruments and bows to our local clients.

I am now and authorized dealer for both Eastman Strings and Metropolitan Music.

Because of my low overhead, I can order these instruments for my clients at a considerable discount from the list price. I will also do a complete check on each instrument before I release it from my shop. I can also custom outfit many of these instruments with your choice of  strings, pegs, tailpiece and chinrest. For example, If you see a Juzek or Eastman Strings instrument that you like, but would prefer Dominant strings and Rosewood fittings, I can probably do that for you at a reasonable cost. Contact me for details

 

You can see the entire line of  Juzek instruments at:

You can see the entire line of Eastman Strings instruments and bows at:

 

Wall Independent is also a dealer for D’Addario products

I’ll be keeping a stock of bowed strings to support my repair and restoration business and to sell to my local clients.

I’ll be stocking :

(Current prices are listed. Prices may need to be adjusted, depending on my costs.)

 

     Prelude violin strings (steel core)  $16.00 (violin)

 

 

     Pro-Arte violin strings (Perlon core)   $26.00 (violin)

 

 

     Helicore violin and viola strings (multi-strand steel core)  $32.00 (violin 4/4)

 

 

     I’ve  used the Zyex strings on several instrument, with very nice results. I’ll be using these strings for a lot of my restorations.

    $36.00 (violin 4/4)

 

I’ll be offering other D’Addario products (on a special order basis) to my clients, at a substantial discount from the list price. Contact me for details.

       I’ll also be keeping Thomastik-Infeld Dominant strings in stock, $42.00 (violin 4/4, med).

I can order most other strings on a special order basis, usually at very competitive prices. Turn around time for special orders, is usually 3-4 days. Contact me for a price quote and availability.

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Wall Independent also does custom woodworking, custom assemblies, and consulting.

Some examples can be found at the CUSTOM WORK link below.

Please contact us for further information.

CUSTOM WORK

Here’s a link to some other interesting stuff in our world.

Odds & Ends

Check out Michael’s Guitar Page!

 

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Visit some of our  interesting neighbors and friends at their websites:

The Dady Brothers. Great musicians and friends!   www.dadybros.com

Fine Glass Art from Milon Townsend at:      http://www.milontownsend.com

Scottish Highland cattle and other neat stuff at:    http://home.rochester.rr.com/highland/

More great Glass Art from Sabra Richards at:     http://web.mac.com/sabrarichards

Some great quilts and fabric art from Anne Fischer at:   http://annemfischer.com/index.html

We don’t do guitars. Stutzmans is great for that:   http://www.stutzmansguitarcenter.com/

Violin and viola instruction in Greece, NY with Greece Strings:   http://www.greecestrings.com/

A comprehensive listing of violin shops around the world:  

http://www.allviolinshops.com

 

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Here’s a link to some other interesting stuff in our world.

Odds & Ends