Specializations
Violins, violas and cellos
Repair and Restoration
Appraisals

Bruce Carlson and Bernard Neumann have been working together since 1986, having both graduated from the International Violinmaking School of Cremona.

Bruce Carlson began his studies in Cremona, where he received his diploma in 1979. He then perfected his restoration techniques in Los Angeles, with Hans Weisshaar, a former colleague of the great restorer Simone Fernando Sacconi, during his stay in New York, in the workshop of Emil Herrmann, considered at that time the most illustrious violinmaking workshop in the United States.

At the beginning of his activity, thanks to his experience in restoration, Carlson was entrusted with the activities of restoration and maintenance of the collection of the Museo Stradivariano and the municipal collection of Cremonese Classical Instruments.

 

Bernard Neumann came to Carlson's workshop in 1986 on a scholarship from his home country of Canada and subsequently remained as an employee. Bernard honed his skills and over time became a vital part of the workshop.

In 2000 Bruce Carlson was appointed by the City of Genoa as luthier curator of the small, but prestigious collection of musical instruments that includes Giuseppe Guarneri 'del Gesù' violin, "Il Cannone" from 1743, once the musical companion of the great Genoese violinist and composer Nicolò Paganini.

The company, thanks to many years of experience, continues to offer musicians a complete line of services, such as sound tuning, restoration, repair, construction of new instruments, hair replacement, insurance surveys, estimates, valuations and certificates of authenticity.