An American Violin After Guarneri By Zachary Johnson, 2023.

Zach Johnson was born in Montana and grew up in Oregon. He made his first violin under the direction of David Dunn and then matriculated into the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City, Utah, graduating a few years later. He worked for Stephanie Voss in Atlanta before returning to Oregon to work at the Eugene Violin Shop. He settled in Lexington Kentucky and recently left Old Town Violins to manage a branch of the Baroque Violin Shop and continue servicing the community. He enjoys time with his family and focuses on new making, for which he has already won an award for a viola made in 2014.

Zach’s making is imaginative and curious, yielding instruments that are both eye catching and immediately pleasing to play. This Johnson violin was made in Lexington in 2023 and features attractive tone woods which include a beautiful one-piece back and painstakingly detailed shading to the varnish. It speaks quickly and easily, offering an immediate balance of tonal qualities that an adept player can manipulate to the forefront of its expression.