About violin maker, Adam J Edwards
Adam was born and raised in Launceston, Tasmania. He trained as an Navy Clearance Diver and then six years later, as an Architectural Draftsman. It was while living in Sydney that he began to make furniture and learn antique restoration work. In 1995 he began violin making, initially inspired by, and with considerable input and assistance, from John Godschall Johnson.
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After moving to Hobart, Tasmania in 1998, Adam met Douglas Finlay (Newark trained) who has mentored him for many years. Adam has studied Finlay's approach to violin making which involves the adjustment of the frequencies of the violin, combined with a varnishing process that enhances these qualities.
Adam has also built many different folk instruments including the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle. Hardanger fiddles have 5 sympathetic strings running underneath the fingerboard. These strings resonate when the top strings are played.
In 2013 Adam was awarded a Churchill fellowship where he travelled to Norway and studied the traditional making of Norwegian Hardanger fiddles. Since returning to Hobart he has continued to develop this idea.
Adam is also heavily influenced by the Japanese culture and approach to fine craftsmanship which includes building Japanese style Tinyhouses and the end blown flute called Shakuhachi.