About Me
Martin resides in the Chicago area and with the exception of one year has been a lifelong resident of Illinois. At a young age, he inherited his father's fascination with how things worked, how they were made, and why they were made the way they were. This fascination led to a wide variety of interests including cycling, geology, metalworking, woodworking, astronomy, aviation, the space program, all things mechanical, and music of all types.Before the advent of shopping malls and video games, Martin (and most of his family) occupied whatever time they could with "building stuff". The "stuff" that Martin built began with models of planes, trains, automobiles, rockets, and boats. At the age of 12, he and a few brothers became the first kids on the block to achieve manned flight. Based on principles of building a flying model as taught by his father, Martin and the boys built a glider with a wingspan of 22 feet. After a short, but spectacular flight, his parents encouraged activities that didn't involve leaving the ground. The 9 year old test pilot was not seriously injured.After graduating high school, he went to work as a machinist for his father's small job shop. There he learned a great deal about how things worked, and how they were designed and manufactured. The skills learned early on in the machine-building trade opened the doors to many different trades from boat building to automation design to eventually a position as director of engineering for a firm specializing in custom manufacturing systems. All through the wide variety of occupations he engaged in over the last 35 years, he has nurtured an interest in stringed instruments and the customization and repair of same.After years of setting up, repairing, restoring, and modifying stringed instruments of all types, a fascination with the violin in particular led to more and more fiddle work, learning to play, and ultimately to building one for himself. Embarking on a quest for a better instrument, Martin spent several years studying everything he could get his hands on regarding violin making, it's history, and its course to the present time. In addition to self-study, he had the tremendous privilege and good fortune of "inheriting" a good portion of the accumulated knowledge and wisdom of the late Manfred Reinl, third generation master violin maker who's shop was a short drive away.Martin's background as an expert woodcarver, technician, engineer, luthier, and musician has enabled him to produce a world-class instrument, recognized not only for it's power and balanced tone, but also for exceptional craftsmanship.As a full time luthier, Martin is able to tailor his instruments to the needs and desires of musicians from classical to country. He brings to the craft knowledge, experience, and a passion for excellence in stringed instruments.
