N. Benedict Colman Luthier

N. Benedict Colman Luthier Maker of fine English Violins, Violas, Cellos and Double Basses. Repairer of violin family instrume

Just in to the UV box, a viola inspired by the 'Primrose' Brothers Amati, c.1600
23/12/2023

Just in to the UV box, a viola inspired by the 'Primrose' Brothers Amati, c.1600

It's been a while since I've posted on here, but this is a replacement tip plate and liner on a bass bow, made from bone...
18/12/2023

It's been a while since I've posted on here, but this is a replacement tip plate and liner on a bass bow, made from bone.

Where old meets new!Here I'm blending the edge shape on this French flat back bass with raised edges, before cutting a p...
22/06/2023

Where old meets new!
Here I'm blending the edge shape on this French flat back bass with raised edges, before cutting a purfling channel and gluing some new pieces in to match the existing.

Its new bridge day for a Pollmann 5 string double bass, finally a bridge that makes my stamp look slightly more reasonab...
03/05/2023

Its new bridge day for a Pollmann 5 string double bass, finally a bridge that makes my stamp look slightly more reasonable size!

This poor English cello bow came in for a rehair, it was also decided to replace the broken tip plate while we were at i...
17/03/2023

This poor English cello bow came in for a rehair, it was also decided to replace the broken tip plate while we were at it!
Here's a quick glimpse in to some of the process, first removing the old tip, gluing an ebony liner and then the mammoth ivory tip plate on, then shaping the tip to blend back with the head of the bow.
Interestingly it would appear that this bow may have had a metal tip plate in the past, evidenced by the pin holes in the head.

Occasionally I get the chance to make new things!This is a scroll template in progress for a 7/8 size cello based on a l...
22/02/2023

Occasionally I get the chance to make new things!
This is a scroll template in progress for a 7/8 size cello based on a late period Stradivari cello known as the 'Comte de Saveuse' from 1726, though this scroll image is from the 'Pleeth' Stradivarius from 1732 (they were both made on the same form).
While I'm not quite ready to start making this cello, I'm going to saw the neck block somewhat closer to its finished dimensions to allow it some time to release any internal stresses in the wood, to have the finished neck somewhat more dimensionally stable.

I spent a while today replacing the screw on a viola bow.The bow in question sadly has had the frog and button changed f...
15/02/2023

I spent a while today replacing the screw on a viola bow.
The bow in question sadly has had the frog and button changed for modern parts, and the thread on the screw didn't begin at the front of the mortice on the stick, but started further back than the length of the brass eyelet, making the bow impossible to rehair with the frog in its forward most position.

I started with a long cello screw, filed the square to have the threads end just past the back of the mortice, then glued the screw in.
Then i shortened the front end of the screw to have the threads starting off at the front of the mortice as they should be.

Now it's rehair time!

Sorry about the lack of activity on my page recently, I've been in the process of moving house and setting up a new (lar...
27/01/2023

Sorry about the lack of activity on my page recently, I've been in the process of moving house and setting up a new (larger) workshop!
Today's task, remove the back off a French double bass to replace the centre brace with a more appropriate one, and deal with some cracks in the back and ribs.
Note the shadow of where the original centre brace would have been, and its somewhat massive height!

Sometimes rubber bands are the best form of clamping!
03/08/2022

Sometimes rubber bands are the best form of clamping!

Finished the fingerboard and glued it on to a small viola neck.The maple neck is an offcut from a double bass neck graft...
26/06/2022

Finished the fingerboard and glued it on to a small viola neck.
The maple neck is an offcut from a double bass neck graft, the fingerboard is cut from an old bass fingerboard (1979 written on the back of it!)
Just doing my bit to be a little less wasteful!

A new Viola bridge in progress, and the bridge it is replacing!Sometimes a bridge needs replacing because it has begun t...
20/06/2022

A new Viola bridge in progress, and the bridge it is replacing!
Sometimes a bridge needs replacing because it has begun to warp, it may not fit the instrument very well, or perhaps the string heights are just too low.
A well fitted replacement will improve both the 'feel' to the player, and will improve the instruments tone!
(Thanks to D'addario for making top quality small viola strings too!)

The small details that can make a huge difference to a setup!Here the gluing surface has been angled so the fingerboard ...
25/04/2022

The small details that can make a huge difference to a setup!
Here the gluing surface has been angled so the fingerboard will sit higher on the treble side, compensating for the difference in string heights across the instrument.
The intention is to reduce the level of asymmetry in the bridge, and increase the bow clearance on the top string without needing to set the neck overly high.

Address

Bury St. Edmunds

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

+447525050208

Website

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