John D Johnston violin, Sydney, Australia, 1993
John Johnston was born in Melbourne and, having an early interest in arts and crafts, gravitated towards violin making. He trained at the acclaimed Newark School of Violin Making, graduating in 1980.
He worked in Bristol and London for a short while before returning to Australia and settling in Sydney.
This violin sports a broad, regularly flamed maple back plate; the head is of similar wood; the ribs of narrower, stronger flame; the two piece top plate is of even grained spruce, all covered in dark amber varnish, shaded lighter in places to reveal a golden ground.
The violin was commissioned and played professionally from the day it left the workbench until now and that speaks volumes for its quality of tone, volume, carrying power and comfort of playing. It amply meets all the necessary criteria to suit the advanced amateur or student, or the young professional launching their career.
Reference: VN.1080
John Johnson is one of the earliest of the current generation of professionally trained violin makers to return to Australia.
This instrument has been withdrawn from sale. CVN1080