Ballard Violins

27/10/2025

What does a violin bridge do? Let a luthier explain...

Gareth Ballard is a master violinmaker based in London. This channel focuses on luthier oriented work for musicians and other luthiers showing his unique approach to building string quartet instruments such as violins, violas and cellos.

This is a snippet of a longer form video that will be posted soon, exploring what goes into making a great violin.

03/12/2021

Get a starter violin from Ballard Violins, professionally setup, for less than £500 that really works well.

01/04/2021

Really excited about my new Forster cello. Such a beautiful shape. All the arching curves go perfectly through the middle of the wood and it is the first one I've done using just light to thickness.

22/09/2020

A closer look at the instruments I make and the specialist processes I use to make them

19/01/2018

Pleased with my latest Plowden model Guarneri. Time for a couple of Stradivari models, for the discipline if nothing else. I'm going to make a Soil model like that of Itzhak Pearlman and a Maurin. The Soil is based on the G mould (for Grande). The Maurin is the PG slightly smaller but still bigger in the lower bouts than the Strads I've previuously done. Both of which I've wanted to do for ages. Can't wait :)

18/10/2016

Keep an eye out for the taxi :). Such a great vehicle in London.

18/10/2016

31/07/2016

My latest violin based on the Plowden by del Gesu. Looks more like it than I was aiming for.