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Peter Coombe - Mandolin Family
a festival of instruments
Photo by Stuart Cohen © 2009
INSTRUMENT MAKERS The craft of instrument making is alive and well at the National. Our Instrument Makers Display in the Quokka Pavilion showcases exquisite hand‑made musical instruments by master craftsmen and women from around the country. Learn about building an instrument from scratch or how to repair and restore a valued antique. Investigate acoustics and timber and learn how to care for that prized aquisition. Custom-built instruments are on sale or can be ordered to your individual requirements.
Mark Aspland - Cajon Woodskin™ has significantly expanded on the traditional cajon, enabling its use in a wide variety of musical genres. With patented built-in kick drum and switchable snare, plus tone and depth controls, Woodskin’s™ unique KiKBox™ is now played by musicians worldwide.
Erle Bartlett - Wind and Percussion instruments Erle Bartlett has been making bodhrans and whistles for over 20 years and has been an exhibitor for many years at the NFF. Look in at the Session Bar, or on stage, for many of his instruments being played, or come and play one yourself and see what’s new at the Instrument Makers Exhibition!
John Bucham - GUITAR Making a hand crafted guitar is an enchanting project. A project where you can combine beautiful woods to make beautiful sounds, and this is a wonderful thing. It is also a real pleasure to see somebody play a fine guitar for the first time. Their eyes light up as they realise that it is so very different to anything they have ever played before.
Graham Caldersmith - Guitar Graham Caldersmith, long-time luthier, old folkie and exCanberraite now works in the mountain village of Comboyne with his partner, Angela MacPherson, where they churn out a variety of handmade classical guitars. Instruments range from advanced student models to concert guitars and the extended guitar family of bass, baritone, treble and octaves.
Peter Coombe is a full time mandolin maker from Bega NSW, recently moved to Bega from Canberra. Peter has made just over 125 instruments of the mandolin family over the last 16 years, many from Australian native timbers. He has also published papers on use of Australian Native woods in mandolins and free plate tuning of mandolins. Approximately half of Peter’s instruments have been exported to musicians in the USA and Europe.
John Copley – Stringed Instruments Based in Canberra, John has a fast-growing reputation as one of the finest acoustical instrument makers in the country. He prefers to work closely with each client to ensure he produces exactly what they require in their custom-made instrument.
Doug Eaton – Stringed Instruments From Maleny, SE Queensland, Doug has made and restored acoustic string instruments including guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, early music instruments and dulcimers, since 1970. He selects the finest timbers, preferring to use Australian timbers where appropriate. Ph: 07 5494 4046 Email: sr.music@bigpond.com mywebsite.bigpond.com/doug.eaton
Adam Edwards - Violin Adam Edwards started building instruments in 1995 after meeting John Godschall Johnson at the Sydney woodworking show. Predominately self taught, he has been inspired by the work of Douglas Finlay. Adam sells a student violin called the “ Firebird “ for $1600 and a professional instrument for $8000.
Alan Funk – Banjo Alan commenced making banjos in 1974, and has made in excess of 200 instruments. He makes Bluegrass style 5-string, open-back 5-string and 4-string plectrum and tenor banjos. If it’s called a banjo, Alan will make it! Ph 08 8322 0594.
Joe Gallacher – Guitar, Mandolin, Bouzouki Joe Gallacher, based in Albury, NSW has been building steelstring and classical guitars for over fourteen years and is now building mandolins and bouzoukis. His instruments are played by some of the finest musicians in Australia, UK, Ireland and the USA. www.gallacher.now.nu
Peter Hyde – Accordion Hyde has developed the world’s first foam/timber button accordion (melodeon) with outstanding acoustics (tone, dynamics and response. The latest MIDI/acoustic button accordion – every key and system in one melodeon has been developed.