About The Luthier
‘The Master’s Workshop
Starting with the blocks of raw wood and finishing with a top-quality ready-to-play instrument, all the work in my specialized cello workshop is done by hand.
It takes many years of experience to ensure that a wood block can be turned into a sonorous cello. For me, the selection of wood is very much influenced by the customer’s personal needs. What is more, the process of production is guided by the particular consistency of the wood.
My father has been running a tone wood business for more than 30 years. This gives me access to a very well-sorted stock of matured, high-quality tone woods – a unique advantage in my line of work.
As my grandfather did before me, I carve the scroll out of the raw wood block by following the old masters’ artistic models. However, in addition to the traditional Guild knowledge handed down to me.
Over the years, I have acquired a wide range of personal knowledge pertaining to my craft: this is another cornerstone upon which I base my work and efforts to achieve the ultimate in substance, purity and melodiousness of sound.
Varnishes are of great importance to the sound of an instrument. Therefore, following traditional recipes and using only select resins, I personally produce all the varnishes that I use.
The varnish is applied by brush, layer upon layer. To attain an individual appearance for each cello, I offer three different types of varnishing: full varnish, light shading – and imitation antique, with which the instrument will show slight traces of use and wear.
My customers have repeatedly praised the light response and strong, full tone paired with the instrument’s inner melodiousness.
The cellos are rendered even more appealing through their attractive pricing. In the German Musical Instruments Awards competition, every single juror gave my instrument top marks for value for money.
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For many decades, our family business has been concerned with the making of high quality string instruments, with the cello at the centre of our efforts.
In our workshop, we strive to blend traditional handicraft with the most up to date acoustic measuring techniques
With family background, it was impossible for me not to fall for the charm of violin making.
I was admitted into a three year apprenticeship under Günter H. Lobe, master violin maker. After being successful at Chamber of Industry, State and German Federal levels, being granted the title “Germany’s best violin making journeyman”, I passed my master’s examination in violin making in 2000 in Nuremberg, being honoured with the Bavarian State Prize as best graduate.
Since then, my creativity in our cello workshop has blossomed further.
For a long time, my profession has been my vocation.
Master cellos from one – hand from the raw tree trunk to the ready-to-play instrument. A confirmation of my continuing improvement in the quality of the “Thomas Stöhr Celli” is the win of the “German Musical Instrument Award – Category Cello”. This award is granted by the Federal Ministry for Economy and Labour, to acknowledge products of outstanding quality. Within Germany’s musical instrument sector, it is considered the highest honour available, and it was presented to me by the Federal President, Johannes Rau. A further confirmation of my workmanship was the Violin-Making Competition in Mittenwald 2005, where I was judged second best cello maker in Germany.
Our workshop is in Baiersdorf-Igelsdorf, a village just outside the gates of the city of Erlangen in Franconia, and in the true meaning of the word, its products resonate well within national and international orchestral circles and among famous soloists.’
