Tim Baker
For the last 40 years, Tim Baker has established himself as one of the UK’s leading bow makers. Tim worked as a maker and restorer for renowned institutions W.E. Hill & Sons and J&A Beare, before setting out as a self-employed bow maker in 2001.
Tim has judged numerous international competitions since 1992, and been a major contributor to research and publications. such as ‘The British Violin’ and ‘Musical Instruments in the Ashmolean Museum’.
Tim is heavily involved with the British Violin Making Association, and has been a regular participant in the annual Violin Society of America summer school held at Oberlin, Ohio. Notably, his work with the BVMA short courses demonstrates his passion for sharing knowledge with the next generation of craftspeople.
More about Tim, in his own words:
“I was really fortunate to get hold of some great pernambuco in the 80s, and I’m still using wood from those logs in the bows I make today. The benefit of that is I’ve been able to use the feedback from countless musicians over the years to understand how the choice of wood can affect the tonal colours and playability. I’ve really enjoyed learning about characteristics of my materials, especially since going self-employed.”
“After completing the 3 year violin making course at Newark, I joined W.E. Hill & Sons as a bow maker and repairer. Three years later I moved to J&A Beare, where I got some fantastic guidance from Charles Beare and Robert Graham. Being able to make bows alongside restoring historic bows was a great foundation for my career. I was lucky enough in my 20 years between both shops to see and work on many of the finest bows; I took particular inspiration from the great French makers François Tourte and Dominique Peccatte for my own bows.”
“I’ve always enjoyed learning more about all aspects of our trade; I’ve worked with colleagues to produce several publications, including ‘The British Violin’ and ‘Musical Instruments in the Ashmolean Museum’. I’ve been on the jury of many bow making competitions for over 30 years, working alongside the greats such as Bernard Milland, Bill Salchow, and countless others. My main focus over the last 20 years has been to understand the working methods of the great old makers by studying their bows. Looking in detail at the old bows, we can piece together the working methods and order from the tool marks left on the wood. By studying many bows by the same maker, it’s possible to see which measurements varied to get the best results from each piece of pernambuco. Trying different approaches to bow making keeps it fun for me, especially in this stage of life.”
“I find myself feeling an increasing importance to work with young people to share what I’ve learned over the years. I think most makers learn by watching, and bringing people of all ages and experience together in one room is the best way of securing the future of the trade. I don’t consider myself a teacher, but I’m very comfortable talking about what I’m doing whilst I work. I’m very lucky to work with a great team at the BVMA to organise short courses where we strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued, whether they’re in their 20s or their 80s.”
Tim prefers to make a selection of bows in advance rather than making individual bows to order. If you are interested in a new bow by Tim Baker, send him an email, or give him a call using the information below.
For more information about Tim’s career, and his work on the BVMA short courses, visit the BVMA website.