Proviolins.com violinmaker
 
 

Franke Violin Studios


Jonathan S. Franke
Award-winning Violin Maker
 

"A work of art is more than just the sum of perfect parts."


Oregon Art Beat on OPB television broadcast a segment on Jonathan.
Watch the video.

What my customers are saying............
"The violin is doing wonders, it's an immense joy to play and reveils new possibilities all the time. Superb."

"I will have a wonderful summer in Oregon, playing my new magic fiddle!"

"I'm really enjoying the violin.
 You'll be glad to know that I used it to place second in the Oklahoma State
Fiddle Championships last month, and many people were asking about the violin."


Out of my studio in Monroe, Oregon, I am currently building several different models of violins, violas and cellos. Monroe is located between Portland - Salem, and Eugene. Of special interest is a small 15" viola based on a charming instrument, probably from the 18th century. This is a nicely proportioned viola that is easy to play, responsive, and well balanced. This viola is a good choice for the violist who wants a small instrument, or the violinist who would like to play viola. Because of increasing interest, I am building 5 string violins.


5 String Violin Now Available! May 08
Read a review of this five string violin at Darol Anger's site.
More info on my 5 string violin model !


Landolfi Model 2006
Violin # 79  Carlo Landolfi Model 
Tastefully Antiqued 
Now Available
Guarneri80backViolin #80, Rhonda Vincent in Concert
Violin # 80 Guarneri Model
Rhonda Vincent in concert playing violin #80, Jan. 2007 
Sold

String Quartet Tone Award !
2004 Violin Society of America Competition  ( VSA )
This set of instruments is now available for sale as a quartet (preferably),
or as individual instruments. Please inquire.
 

Landolfi - March 2004
Carlo Landolfi violin copy. Click on image to view.
Genuine Amber Varnish
 

Landolfi Corner
Landolfi Corner 2005 - Artistic and Elegant


Vincenzo Panormo Model Bass

Vincenzo Panormo Model Bass.

Bass Scroll

Bass Button

Carving the bass top - Sept. 07

Vincenzo Panormo Model Bass -  March 08


 

"Jonathan's accomplishments are remarkable...
His violins have the tone and artistry that will be treasured 200 years from now."
Thomas Deluca, President VMAAI 1995

 
 
Monday Morning Violin Maker
The real world of violinmaking

 Imagine if you will, an enjoyable weekend with family and friends. It is now Monday morning. Somewhat forgotten from last week are today's tasks. The sun has been up for an hour, breakfast was nothing special - just enough to make it through the morning so the pangs of hunger don't distract. The solitary craftsman opens the door to the studio. The sun is shining in the lone window and the birds are busy at the feeder and the birdbath. There is a slight essence of the sweet smell of benzoin from Friday's polishing session.  This day is  unique in that the final details will be achieved. The bench is rightly placed in front of the window as shadows appear from that single source of light in the sky. The time is now to examine the smooth curves and flowing lines, taking advantage of the shadows.  Small corrections are made. Think elegance. The piece of wood is tapped and flexed, using the senses of touch, sight, and hearing to make sure everything is right. 

 It is time to do the final assembly. It has been weeks of  work that has led to this point. It's time to sign the inside of  his creation. His mind drifts off to the future as he is putting in his mark. Perhaps 200 years from now there will be occasion to repair this one. That is the next time this signature will be seen. It will likely look as fresh as it does today.  What will the future hold for this one? How many will enjoy it and be moved by it? Enough daydreaming - back to the task at hand . Heat the glue, clamp, and set aside. It will be about 10 days until the varnish is dry and this instrument is brought to life. This is my Monday morning  as a violin maker. 

Jonathan S. Franke - Violin Maker 
April 2006


 

Out of my studio in Monroe, Oregon, I am currently building several different models of violins, violas and cellos. Monroe is located between Portland - Salem, and Eugene. Of special interest is a small 15" viola based on a charming instrument, probably from the 18th century. This is a nicely proportioned viola that is easy to play, responsive, and well balanced. This viola is a good choice for the violist who wants a small instrument, or the violinist who would like to play viola. Because of increasing interest, I am building 5 string violins.

 

Playing a fine instrument can inspire a performer with it's tone and carrying power. A fine handmade instrument, beautiful in form and function, can stimulate a performance beyond a player's vision. Join players from California to New York that are enjoying their Franke instruments. I also sell some instruments through fine violin shops across the United States. If you live in the following cities, you can try my instruments in Tacoma WA, St. Paul MN, Mountain View CA (between San Francisco and San Jose), New Haven CT, Austin TX, and San Antonio Texas.

I am building the violin, viola, or cello that you have been looking for!
Current Prices: Violins $8000, Violas $9000, Cellos $20,000
Convenient no risk trial shipping - please inquire. 

Should you ever consider trading an instrument purchased from me for another, I will credit you the full purchase price (less the cost of any damage or needed repairs) towards the purchase of an instrument of equal or greater value.


 
Photo Gallery

1715 Stradivari Model Violin

1737 Guarneri Model Violin

Franke Model Violin

Carlo Landolfi Violin Copy

15" Viola Model

16" Andrea Guarneri Model Viola

16" Stradivari Model Viola

16 1/2" Strad Model Viola

Strad Servais Model Cello

I appeared in this endorsement ad for
D'Addario Helicore violin strings.
Click on ad to view.

D'Addario Helicore Ad
 

Links

Recent Newspaper Article

Channel Scraper Tool



 
 
Member of: 
Violin Society of America
Michigan Violinmakers Association
Southern California Assn. of Violin Makers
Violin Makers Assn. of Arizona International
For more information please contact:
jon@proviolins.com

Jonathan S. Franke
1381 Commercial Street
Monroe, Oregon, USA 97456
Phone 1-541-847-6021

The Channel Scraper Tool
for violin, viola, and cello. 
Solid Brass, High Speed Steel Blade, 
Professional Quality, 
Professional Results. 
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  Check out my redesigned website at:
Proviolins.com
 




































 
 
 
 
 

2009 Calendar of Appearances
Come visit me at....

Jan. 9, 10, 11.               River City Bluegrass Festival, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon . RiverCity Bluegrass Festival

Feb. 13                         Acoustic Showcase performance with  Tom and Ellen Demarest .  LBCC Benton Center, 757 NW Polk, Corvallis Oregon.  Noon - 1pm

Feb. 20                         Performance with Tom and Ellen Demarest at Enoteca's, Corvallis 7 - 10pm

Feb. 22                        I will be displaying instruments at the Salem Viola Day  at Willamette University  1-4pm. See you there!

Feb. 28                        Performance with Jon and Patti at the Corvallis Indoor Winter Market. 9am to noon, Benton County Fairgrounds

March  20                   Performance with Tom and Ellen Demarest at Enoteca's, Corvallis 7 - 10pm

March 21                    Performance with Trestle Glenat Daffodil Drive Festival, near Junction City, 11am to noon.

March  28                   Performance with Trestle Glenat the Corvallis Indoor Winter Market. 9am to noon, Benton County Fairgrounds

April 10                      Performance with Trestle Glen at Guthrie Park, Dallas, Or. 6:30 pm
 

 




2008 Calendar of Appearances
Come visit me at....
















Jan. 4, 5, 6.               River City Bluegrass Festival, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon . RiverCity Bluegrass Festival

March 28, 8 pm.     Instrument Exhibit - I will be exhibiting violins etc. at this concert of the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra. First United Methodist Church, 
                                 1838 SW Jefferson, Portland. Email me for more info.

March 30, 3 pm.     Instrument Exhibit - I will be exhibiting violins etc. at this concert of the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Good Shepherd Church, 
                                 28986 SE Halsey Road, Boring.  Email me for more info.

April 19, 20.            Noon to 5pm. .  Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit at Marylhurst University.  A  40 minute performance of my instruments  on 
                                 Sunday the 20th, 12:40 to 1:20 pm.  Classical duets, a quartet, to a whole bluegrass band! See you there!

April 25                    Best Cellar performance with Cooper Hollow. Methodist Church, 11th and Monroe, Corvallis, OR. 7:30pm. This will be the debut concert for my double   bass.

May 2, 8 pm.           Instrument Exhibit - I will be exhibiting violins etc. at this concert of the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra. First United Methodist Church,
                                  1838 SW Jefferson, Portland. Email me for more info.

May 5, 7:30 pm.     Instrument Exhibit - I will be exhibiting violins etc. at this concert of the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra. 
                                 Gerding Theater at the Armory, Portland.   Email me for more info.

May 16, 17.            Oregon Old Time Fiddlers Contest. Chemeketa Community College, Salem. See you there Saturday in the afternoon! For more info click here .

May 26                   Performance with the jazz band Cool Conspiracy and with the duo Jon and Patti at the Multnomah County Fair.  Email me for more info.

June 7, 8pm.           Performance with Tom and Ellen Demarest at the Old World Deli, Corvallis. This is part of the weekend  Corvallis Music Project.

June 14                   Performance with Jon and Patti at the Corvallis Farmer's Market 9am to 11?

June 19 -22       Amboy Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival, Amboy WA. See you there!

July 4                    Performance with  Jon and Patti  , Salem.  Email me for more info.

July 11,                 Performance with Cooper Hollow, McMinnvile. 4 - 5:30 

July 11                  Performance with  Tom and Ellen Demarest  , Winestyles, Corvallis. 7:30 - 9:30

July 12                 Performance with  Jon and Patti  , Salem - Marion Count Fair. 6pm

July 19                  Performance with Cooper Hollow, Corvallis Farmer's market  9 to noon.

July 27                  Performance with Cooper Hollow, Dallas City Park, noon to 1pm

Aug. 16               Performance with Jon and Patti at the Corvallis Artisans  Market 9am to noon ?

Aug.  24               Performance with Cool Conspiracy  Nat the Northwest Art & Air Festival  Timberlinn Park, Albany 11:30am

Sept. 5                  Performance with  Tom and Ellen Demarest  , Winestyles, Corvallis. Time TBA

Sept. 5-7               American Heritage Campground 6th Annual Bluegrass Festival, Tumwater, WA Where: End of Kimmie Street. Contact: Karla Heck, 360-943-8778 

Oct.17                  Performance with Tom and Ellen Demarest at Enoteca's, Corvallis 7 - 10pm

Oct. 18                 Performance with  Jon and Patti at the Albany Farmer's Market. 9 - 1

Nov. 3 - 7            2008 VSA Competition and Convention.  Red Lion Hotel, Portland, Oregon. For more info click here .

Nov. 21               Acoustic Showcase performance with  Jon and Patti .  LBCC Benton Center, 757 NW Polk, Corvallis Oregon.  Noon - 1pm

Nov. 21               Performance with Tom and Ellen Demarest at Enoteca's, Corvallis 7 - 10pm

Nov. 28               Performance with  Jon and Patti at the Corvallis Artisans Holiday Market 1 - 3pm

Dec. 5                  Performance with  Jon and Patti at the Corvallis Artisans Holiday Market  5 - 7pm

Dec. 19                Performance with Cooper Hollow,  Guthrie Park Christmas Show.
 

2007 Calendar of Appearances
Come visit me at....

Jan. 5, 6, 7.  River City Bluegrass Festival, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon . RiverCity Bluegrass Festival

Jan 19.  Acoustic Showcase performance with Cooper Hollow.  LBCC Benton Center, 757 NW Polk, Corvallis Oregon.  Noon - 1pm

Jan. 26  Best Cellar performance with Cooper Hollow. Methodist Church, 11th and Monroe, Corvallis, OR. 7:30pm 

April 28, 29.  Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit at Marylhurst University.  A short  30 minute performance of my instruments  on 
                       Sunday the 29th 12:50 - 1:20. Classical duets to a whole bluegrass band! See you there!

July 20, 21    Aura Jamboree, Aura Community Hall, Aura MI  906/524-7842  Two days of great music!

August 4, 5  13th annual Toivola Acoustic Jamboree.   Agate Beach Park just west of Toivola, MI.  For more info contact me: jon@proviolins.com

August 9 -12  Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival, El Rancho Manana, Richmond, MN. For more info click here
 
 
2006 Calendar of Appearances
Come visit me at....

Jan. 7, 8.  River City Bluegrass Festival, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon . RiverCity Bluegrass Festival

April 1.  Oregon Viola Society Conference.  Portland State University campus, Portland, Oregon.  I will be displaying violas and violins.  Details coming soon.

April 22, 23.  Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit at Marylhurst University. A short 20 minute performance of violins #62 and #70 Saturday at 2:40 pm.
                       For more info click here .

June 2-4.   Minnesota Homegrown Kickoff Bluegrass Festival, El Rancho Manana, Richmond, MN. For more info contact me: jon@proviolins.com

July 14, 15.  30th annual Aura Jamboree, Aura,  Michigan.  Starts 5pm Friday. For more info:  HCR1 Box 258 Aura, LAnse, MI 49946

August 5,6  12th annual Toivola Acoustic Jamboree.   Agate Beach Park just west of Toivola, MI.  For more info contact me: jon@proviolins.com

August 10-13.  Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival, El Rancho Manana, Richmond, MN. For more info click here

October 8      Cello Day sponsored by the Oregon Cello Society, Marylhurst University, 1 to 5:30pm

2005 Calendar of Appearances
Come visit me at....

Feb. 5.  Gaston Oregon Old Time Fiddlers Contest. See you there! For more info click here .

April 2. Oregon Viola Society Conference. Lincoln Hall Rm. 75 of the Portland State University campus, Portland, Oregon  from 8am to 1pm.

April 23, 24.   Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit at Marylhurst University. Professor John Paul will be playing a short concert
                        on 1715 Stradivari model violin (#62) at 2:20pm on Saturday the 23rd. For more info click here .

May 19.  Acoustic Showcase Performance. LBCC Benton Center, 757 NW Polk, Corvallis Oregon. 11:45am - 1pm

June 3-5  Minnesota Homegrown Kickoff Bluegrass Festival, El Rancho Manana, Richmond, MN. For more info click here.

June 15 - Sept. 10.  Come camp in Conover, Wisconsin. Hunter Lake Paradise Campground.

June 24-26.  New Directions Cello Festival at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. For more info click here .

July 15, 16.  29th annual Aura Jamboree, Aura,  Michigan.  Starts 5pm Friday. For more info:   906-524-7842

August 2,5,8,9,12  American Suzuki Institute, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Collins Classroom Center store, room 204, 8am – 5pm.

Dec 21-28  Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wisconsin customers - contact me if there is an instrument you might be interested in.. I will be bringing instruments.

5 String Violin five string violins
 
 
2004 Calendar of Appearances
Come visit me at....

Jan. 8 + 11.  Oregon Art Beat on OPB television will feature me on Jan. 8 at 8 pm and on Jan 11 at 6 pm. Tune in!

Jan. 24.  I will be displaying violins, violas, and a cello at the Hindemith Viola Festival 2004 at Lincoln Hall Rm. 75 of the PSU campus, Portland, Oregon  from 11am  - 4 pm. Saturday . There will be an exhibit and demonstration of new violas by Northwest luthiers from 2 pm - 3:30 pm. For more info click here .

Feb. 7.  Gaston Oregon Old Time Fiddlers Contest. See you there! For more info click here .  Corvallis Violin Shops , Eugene Violin Shops. Salem Violin Shops, Portland Violin Shops..

April 24, 25.  Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit at Marylhurst University. For more info click here .

May 21,22.  Oregon Old Time Fiddlers Contest. Chemeketa Community College, Salem. See you there! For more info click here .

June 9-13.  XXXII International Viola Congress, Minneapolis, Minnesota. For more info click here . Violin Music Store

June 15 - Sept. 10.  Come camp in Conover, Wisconsin. Hunter Lake Paradise Campground.

June 25-27.  New Directions Cello Festival at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. For more info click here .

July 16, 17.  Aura Jamboree, Aura,  Michigan. For more info click here.

August 6, 7.  Minnesota State Old Time Fiddle Championship & Festival, Cotton, Minnesota.    P.O. Box 205 Cotton, MN 55724 
                       (218) 482-5592  (218) 482-3351 (218) 482-3303

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August 12-15.  Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival, El Rancho Manana, Richmond, MN. For more info click here.

Sept. 4.  Three Eagle Trail Art Gala, Three Lakes, Wisconsin. 11am to 4pm. The Reiter Center. 1-800-944-5434

October 17.  Cello Day 2004,  Oregon Cello Society.  1 to 5:30pm.  Multnomah Art Center, 7688 S.W.  Capitol Highway, Portland, Oregon.  More info 503-997-8179

November 8-14.   2004 VSA Competition and Convention.  Doubletree Hotel, Jantzen Beach, Portland, Oregon. For more info click here .

December 23-27.  Milwaukee, Wisconsin WI. Contact me prior to December 22 if there is an instrument you would like to try.

Corvallis Violin Shop , Eugene Violin Shop,  Salem Violin Shop, Portland Violin Shop 5 String Violins five string violins


 
 

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