Why look after an instrument? Does it matter if it’s caked in rosin and dirt, the scuffs, scratches and missing pieces of wood from the edges and corners adds character?
Focus on hire schemes

Inside Bridgewood and Neitzert (C) Julian Love
Whilst many musicians own and love their favorite instrument(s), there are times when it might make sense to hire an instrument. At Bridgewood and Neitzert we run a number of hire schemes to support students right at the start of their musical journeys through to professional players needing a high-end instrument for a tour or emergency. Read more
From fine artist to fine craftsman; luthier Ed Klose tells his story.

Ed at work at his bench (C) Julian Love
Over the last couple of months we’ve been behind the scenes at Bridgewood and Neitzert to meet the people behind the highly skilled restorations in the workshop. This month we meet luthier Ed Klose and discover his story. His interest, as with his colleagues, started with two parallel interests in music and woodworking ‘I played guitar since I was fourteen and have always been into woodwork. I remember in school in the design and technology class working on a wired plywood box. I wasn’t interested in the electrics but fascinated by the woodworking’. Read more
Introducing the people behind the scenes at Bridgewood and Neitzert: Luthier Andy Quelch

Andy at his bench (C) Julian Love
‘Here I was, in a top London violin shop….in my wildest dreams I never thought I’d be working in a top violin shop.’ Andy Quelch laughs as he describes his first weeks at Bridgewood and Neitzert some seven years ago, and it is no surprise as I hear the journey of this modest luthier who inhabits the top floor workshop. I met with him to hear his story. Read more
The road to Stoke Newington Church Street. Gary Bridgewood, Founder and Director of Bridgewood and Neitzert describes his journey into violin making.

Gary and Tom in the early days of 146 Stoke Newington Church Street
What leads someone to take up such a specialist trade, and how did such a unique shop come to exist on Stoke Newington Church Street? I met up with Gary Bridgewood, Founder and Director of Bridgewood and Neitzert to find out. Read more
Repairing major damage: it can be done!

Repairing damaged cello
Occasionally a customer comes to us with a well-loved instrument that has suffered terrible damage in an accident. It’s always devastating for any musician wondering if a repair is possible and satisfying for us if we are able to restore the instrument back to full health. In this case a customer came to us with a cello that had suffered extensive damage after an accident. The accident had caused a massive and complete break on the rib, front and back of the top right quarter of the cello and cracks in the body at the front and back. The customer literally brought us the instrument in pieces. Read more
Musical matchmaking: Cellist Richard Tunnicliffe talks to us about his new Yann Besson cello

Richard Tunnicliffe with his Yann Besson cello
At Bridgewood and Neitzert we are big supporters of modern makers. Founders and owners Gary Bridgewood and Tom Neitzert have a long history of making and we understand the depth of training and commitment that goes into the process of making a wonderful instrument from scratch. Great players often come to us seeking an outstanding instrument on which to perform and depending on their requirements we will often ‘match-make’ with a modern maker. Read more
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