A violin on the wall peeks through a row of repaired bows. Tags with owner names dangle with thread. Geoffrey J. Seitz turns to one violin in particular. “If you want a portrait of me, there you go, that’s me.” It was the first violin he made, more than 30 years ago. He used hard rock maple cut from an old table at an antiques shop.
It’s not clear where you’re supposed to stand in Seitz’s longtime violin shop on Loughborough Avenue. To the left, violins. To the right, violins. The difference is, the ones on the right are finely polished and on shelves, awaiting new owners. On the left, the violins are still being crafted or awaiting repair.
“This business is based on a real old-fashioned style of business,” says Seitz. “One could take my business and just go back a hundred years and plunk it right down.” Seitz and his employees chisel, grind, saw, sand, and scrape away at injured violins all day. And, between those jobs, they make new instruments. “This is a pretty recession-proof place,” he says. “People will still be playing the violin. There will always be music.”
It would be easy to think of his job as a lonely one, but the violins make for great company. Seitz picks up a violin after a customer leaves and places it on his shoulder. Leaning into the familiar piece of wood, he pushes the lapping gray hair from his head and plays for a hushed room.
Watch a slideshow narrated by Geoffrey below or at STLtoday.com
Comments 5
Geoff
Thanks I liked your video. I’m playing more
guitar now than bass. Love my Gibson, especially now that it is set up right. I had no clue. But now it sings like a bird and stays in tune.
I still kinda miss playing music with you. The guys and gals that do are lucky indeed.
Bob Sylvester
Posted 09 Apr 2009 at 9:40 pm ¶Nice presentation. I’d like to link it from my blog at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago (Fiddle Club of the World). May I get permission to use a photo of Jeff on our site to bring attention to the link? (I’m new to all this stuff).
Posted 10 Apr 2009 at 9:12 am ¶Geoff,
Great to see the photos of your shop. Brings back fine memories of the various open house / jam sessions that you have hosted over the years.
Still it does not do your shop justice, and one has to experience first hand the unique feeling of being inside such a timeless place.
I am forever grateful for the guitar you made me, and I love the new stand you sent me out here in California!
Joe Brunworth
Posted 11 Apr 2009 at 7:42 pm ¶This is wonderful and the pictures are a complement to your many talents. Loved hearing the music played and I plan to share with my students at school. (OK we are in the 1100’s AD but it is a cloudy day and I want to share)
Goeff, so glad you are acknowledged in our community. I have had your picture with other fiddlers in my classroom for years (from Kimswick). Glad to show off my friends
Posted 13 Apr 2009 at 9:16 am ¶Stacy
Very nice video Geoff and an awesome fromt pic. Really impressed by your video.
Posted 04 Jun 2009 at 1:38 pm ¶Post a Comment