About

Russell McCumber ~ Violin Maker

I became interested in violin making at a young age when given the opportunity to build a violin under the guidance of a local Vermont violin maker, Alan Goldblatt. Because I was 12 years old at the time, we came up with a modified/simplified design for my first instrument, one which took nearly two years to complete. This experience piqued my curiosity for violin making and I played on that fiddle with satisfaction for many years. You can find Alan’s comments about the project here.

My primary training in this craft came a decade later when I relocated to North Carolina to learn from master violin maker Joe Thrift. Over the course of an eight year stay in NC I attended Joe’s violin making school, studied with him privately thanks to a grant from the NC Arts Council, worked as the teaching assistant for the school and built a few instruments in collaboration with Joe. We continue to make violins and play old-time fiddle music together whenever the opportunity arrises.

Joe first learned the craft in England in the late 70’s studying at the Newark School of Violin Making. While attending Newark on Trent, a lifelong friendship was born between him and classmate Roger Hargrave. Roger’s influence continues to inform Joe’s making and teaching method. My biggest influences as a violin maker are the lessons and techniques that I have learned from Joe along with the illuminating research and publications of maestro Hargrave.

In 2020 I moved to Turners Falls, Massachusetts and opened my shop, McCumber Violins, where I build primarily violins, violas and 5-String fiddles.

“Russell McCumber just delivered my new 5-string fiddle to me. It is the best sounding fiddle I have ever played or owned. I feel like I won the lottery.” - David Blackmon

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