700 - 800 years ago a sprout of a Sitka Spruce
started waking up and got excited about sending roots into the magical Earth present on the mysterious Island of Haidi Gwaii and dancing in the sparse solar rays that filtered through the canopy of the dense forest.
started waking up and got excited about sending roots into the magical Earth present on the mysterious Island of Haidi Gwaii and dancing in the sparse solar rays that filtered through the canopy of the dense forest.
Six or seven hundred years later this tree gave up her life to spend about a
hundred years working as a stringer on a bridge connecting two sides of the
Yakoun River. Then sometime in the 1980s the bridge was disassembled by Bruce
Harvie and the wood was finally recognized and appreciated for it's higher
potential. It spent the next 25 years waiting in Eric Aceto's shop to be carved into
the Peacemaker.
hundred years working as a stringer on a bridge connecting two sides of the
Yakoun River. Then sometime in the 1980s the bridge was disassembled by Bruce
Harvie and the wood was finally recognized and appreciated for it's higher
potential. It spent the next 25 years waiting in Eric Aceto's shop to be carved into
the Peacemaker.
The making of
Meanwhile, I had been playing on a violin given to me by my
grandmother for about 23 years. I was very surprised when someone broke into
my car in San Francisco in 2007 and took it along with a 1954 Gibson J50. I
returned to my car and saw the window broken out but determined that I would
pass this test by not getting angry or overly saddened by it. It was a hard blow but I
saw that it would turn into something good.
The last time I had shopped for a violin was at age 13 when I traded my ¾ size
instrument in for a full size. But here I was without a violin to my name for the first
time since the age of ten and I felt completely naked.
I started shopping around and discovered that there were 5 string violins and after
trying one I was sold. "Why wouldn't everyone want 5 strings!?" Then I found out
there were those who had made 6 and even 7 string violins. I drove across the
state to try one of John Jordan's 7 string electric violins and found it to be too much
for me to handle. If 5 was great and 7 too much I wondered what 6 strings would
do for me.
I had never tried a 6 string and found out that they are actually more rare than a 7
string. I considered making a mock up just to see if 6 felt like something I could
wield but then found a cheapo ebay special for $180.00 I figured that the thing
would not be useable but might give me an indication of what a 6 string violin
would feel like.
grandmother for about 23 years. I was very surprised when someone broke into
my car in San Francisco in 2007 and took it along with a 1954 Gibson J50. I
returned to my car and saw the window broken out but determined that I would
pass this test by not getting angry or overly saddened by it. It was a hard blow but I
saw that it would turn into something good.
The last time I had shopped for a violin was at age 13 when I traded my ¾ size
instrument in for a full size. But here I was without a violin to my name for the first
time since the age of ten and I felt completely naked.
I started shopping around and discovered that there were 5 string violins and after
trying one I was sold. "Why wouldn't everyone want 5 strings!?" Then I found out
there were those who had made 6 and even 7 string violins. I drove across the
state to try one of John Jordan's 7 string electric violins and found it to be too much
for me to handle. If 5 was great and 7 too much I wondered what 6 strings would
do for me.
I had never tried a 6 string and found out that they are actually more rare than a 7
string. I considered making a mock up just to see if 6 felt like something I could
wield but then found a cheapo ebay special for $180.00 I figured that the thing
would not be useable but might give me an indication of what a 6 string violin
would feel like.
I offered $120 and received it in a week. It needed a new bridge (which took two
tries to get the right curvature; it has to be a severe arch to be able to reach each
string individually), a new set of strings, some nut and fingerboard planing and
some peg-work but then became my number one fiddle for 2 years and was used
on my first three albums. I've had to apologize to this violin several times because,
although her limitations frustrated me at times, I see that someone in China put a
lot of work and care into this instrument and she has served me well. Thank you.
So after playing for two years with a low cost 6 string violin I knew that I needed a
higher quality piece to say what I wanted to say. I began searching for the right maker, weighing the option of a solid body vs acoustic model. The minimalist in me
loved the sleek lines available with a solid body instrument but the musician in me
intuitively knew that only vibrating wood with a breathing air box could allow me to
share what is in my heart.
I squirmed with feelings that I could not afford a hand built instrument made in a
master's shop and explored many lower cost options only to realize that in this
case I needed to choose the right person with no thought of the cost and trust that
I would be taken care of.
tries to get the right curvature; it has to be a severe arch to be able to reach each
string individually), a new set of strings, some nut and fingerboard planing and
some peg-work but then became my number one fiddle for 2 years and was used
on my first three albums. I've had to apologize to this violin several times because,
although her limitations frustrated me at times, I see that someone in China put a
lot of work and care into this instrument and she has served me well. Thank you.
So after playing for two years with a low cost 6 string violin I knew that I needed a
higher quality piece to say what I wanted to say. I began searching for the right maker, weighing the option of a solid body vs acoustic model. The minimalist in me
loved the sleek lines available with a solid body instrument but the musician in me
intuitively knew that only vibrating wood with a breathing air box could allow me to
share what is in my heart.
I squirmed with feelings that I could not afford a hand built instrument made in a
master's shop and explored many lower cost options only to realize that in this
case I needed to choose the right person with no thought of the cost and trust that
I would be taken care of.
I first contacted Eric Aceto of Ithaca String in 2007 but didn't have courage (or the
$2,000.00 deposit) to place my order until the first week of November in 2009.
$2,000.00 deposit) to place my order until the first week of November in 2009.
My Wish List
I gave him the down payment and my wish list which went something like this:
1) A lion's head with a calm noble face and full mane with a lamb tucked into it
for protection. Perhaps I need to have a drawing done first.
I gave him the down payment and my wish list which went something like this:
1) A lion's head with a calm noble face and full mane with a lamb tucked into it
for protection. Perhaps I need to have a drawing done first.
2) Highly flamed maple please, I love a single piece back with dark rich colors
and contrast.
3) The name "Peacemaker" inlaid or carved somewhere, perhaps the back
of the scroll.
4) A piece of moldavite installed under the fingerboard so it juts out under the
strings where I play.
and contrast.
3) The name "Peacemaker" inlaid or carved somewhere, perhaps the back
of the scroll.
4) A piece of moldavite installed under the fingerboard so it juts out under the
strings where I play.
5) Boxwood tailpiece, chinrest and tuners.
6) Angled fingerboard
6) Angled fingerboard
The next 9 months I was in frequent contact with Eric who included me in the
project more as a partner than just a recipient of the instrument. He sent me
pictures of the progress along the way too.The following are snippets from the
email conversation that took place over the next 9 months.
project more as a partner than just a recipient of the instrument. He sent me
pictures of the progress along the way too.The following are snippets from the
email conversation that took place over the next 9 months.
"I have a strange request...will you consider adding a 7th string to my violin?" j
"Do you really need a higher string?" e
"Is the idea of adding a 7th string stressing you a bit? I only want 7 strings if it
makes you smile." j
"The idea of 7 strings is not stressful for me. I just want to make sure that I am
building the instrument that you want and need." e
"I've just returned from a few days of silent meditation. On the second day it
became clear to me that Peacemaker needs the 7th string... may the angels guide
your chisel." j
"Do you really need a higher string?" e
"Is the idea of adding a 7th string stressing you a bit? I only want 7 strings if it
makes you smile." j
"The idea of 7 strings is not stressful for me. I just want to make sure that I am
building the instrument that you want and need." e
"I've just returned from a few days of silent meditation. On the second day it
became clear to me that Peacemaker needs the 7th string... may the angels guide
your chisel." j
"The yogis talk about something they've observed. That if someone is loving while
preparing a meal it will be in the food. It sounds like you are going to put a lot of
love into this piece. That's what it needs. I am interested in relieving some of the
suffering the world and its creatures are going through. It seems strange I'm sure
to some that a violin would be the tool I need to do this work." j
"I don't mind stepping out of the lines a bit on this one. It needs to be amazing and
it needs to express what's inside of me. I'm a bit outlandish for my society. But I
have broken free and been given more liberty than most regarding peer pressure." j
preparing a meal it will be in the food. It sounds like you are going to put a lot of
love into this piece. That's what it needs. I am interested in relieving some of the
suffering the world and its creatures are going through. It seems strange I'm sure
to some that a violin would be the tool I need to do this work." j
"I don't mind stepping out of the lines a bit on this one. It needs to be amazing and
it needs to express what's inside of me. I'm a bit outlandish for my society. But I
have broken free and been given more liberty than most regarding peer pressure." j
"I am getting very excited by this instrument and how it will be unique in many
ways." e
ways." e
"I enjoy carving lions and love the idea of the lion with the lamb image." e
03/16/2010
"getting excited to hear this one" e
"The back and sides are pretty wow." e
"I've been working on the expression trying to make him a bit sleepier..." e
"I like." j
"I like." j
05/07/10
"Thanks for the opportunity to build this one
peace" e
peace" e
"I have been enjoying building this one. Anytime things get crazy while I'm working
on it, I remind myself that this is for you and it is the Peacemaker. It calms me
down . thanks." e
on it, I remind myself that this is for you and it is the Peacemaker. It calms me
down . thanks." e
"The fingerboard could be a lighter colored wood..." e
"This violin is just drop dead gorgeous." j
"The tailpiece is a really beautiful piece of Boxwood I ordered from Turkey for this
instrument." e
"I am falling in love with this one and am stunned by how beautiful she is; the very
picture of synergy." j
"The tailpiece is a really beautiful piece of Boxwood I ordered from Turkey for this
instrument." e
"I am falling in love with this one and am stunned by how beautiful she is; the very
picture of synergy." j
"As far as tuning the strings, I am not particularly attached to any one idea. It may
be something she and I will have to work out over the coming months." j
be something she and I will have to work out over the coming months." j
08/07/10
"I can barely believe how beautiful she is becoming. I am humbled that
I am so honored to have this beautiful piece as my instrument. Way
beyond expectations. Thank you so much. The love you pour into your
work is very evident..." j
I am so honored to have this beautiful piece as my instrument. Way
beyond expectations. Thank you so much. The love you pour into your
work is very evident..." j
"It is quite a fistfull of strings and will probably take you a while to get comfortable."
e
e
"I am filled with gratitude for your work on this piece. So lovely." j
"Can't wait to hear her first song." j
"I am trying to understand why she sounds so developed at only two weeks old.
Beside the fact that you have unravelled many mysteries of how to make the wood
come alive, one possibility is that you used ancient wood for the front plate." j
I am filled with gratitude for your work on this piece. So lovely. Thank
you.
"I am trying to understand why she sounds so developed at only two weeks old.
Beside the fact that you have unravelled many mysteries of how to make the wood
come alive, one possibility is that you used ancient wood for the front plate." j
I am filled with gratitude for your work on this piece. So lovely. Thank
you.
11/16/2009
12/30/09
01/06/10
02/12/2010
03/25/10
04/13/10
05/12/10
05/12/10
06/07/10
06/08/10
08/18/10
