Latest Project Archives - December 2007

In 1977, Cyril Hatfield purchased a Sam Daniels' violin (#84) for his 15-year old daughter, Gayle.  Gayle played the instrument in the Borah High School Orchestra and through the years in several symphonies.  Two years ago after her symphony practice, Gayle was thinking about how much she had enjoyed her violin over the years and began to wonder whether Sam Daniels was still living and making violins.  She began searching the Internet and discovered Frank's web site.

Gayle contacted Frank and met him in person when she came to a festival in Grass Valley, CA to have him do some minor adjustments to her violin.  In September this year, Gayle brought her family to a festival at Plymouth, CA and commissioned Frank to make a violin for her 10-year old daughter, Annie.

In November, Gayle and Annie flew to Boise so Annie could pick out the back wood for her violin.  Below are some pictures of Annie picking out her wood and pictures showing Frank's progress on Annie's violin.

Annie's Grand Mother, Barbara, and her Mother, Gayle, look on as Annie selects her wood

What a humbling experience this has been for Frank to be asked to make a violin for Annie.  The ironic thing is that the violin will be completed exactly 30 years from the time Gayle got her Sam Daniels' violin. Annie's violin is #152.

Frank and Annie with the piece of bigleaf maple that Annie selected

Ribs Glued to Strad Form

Back with Purfling Inlaid

Top with "F" Holes Completed

Scroll Carved Out

Shown below are pictures of Annie's violin before her Grandmother personally delivered the violin to her on December 20.

Annie's Mother, Gayle, e-mailed us the following comments.

12/21/07 - "Annie's violin arrived yesterday.  It is truly beautiful in look and sound.  I tuned it and played it.  Annie also played it.  I haven't been so excited in years!"

"It is mellow sounding yet has great volume!  It is slightly sweeter in tone than mine, which seems amazing in a newly made instrument.  I still need to spend many more hours getting to know the instrument but so far I am very impressed."

12/27/07 - "We performed Silent Night on Christmas Day for the family. The violins sound so nice together. Annie actually adjusted to the full size very well but will probably regularly play on her 3/4 for another year or so. I have played #152 for several hours so far and can't get enough."

Ready for delivery