News

As the holiday break approaches, we take a look back at some of the amazing instruments and quirky repairs that have come through the workshop over the year.

We’ve been pleased to welcome one of our old ‘favourites’ back in the workshop recently. The instrument is an Amati composite violin with original back and ribs and later front and head which is likely to be the work of John Frederick Lott II.

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.

In the latest article focusing on life behind the scenes at Bridgewood and Neitzert, we visit the front of house to meet Colin Parker, who looks after our customers and is responsible for the smooth running of the shop.

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... Read More

‘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.

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.

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... Read More