Stefan Krattenmacher Cello Maker & Double Bass Maker CONTACT: stefan johann krattenmacher maker and restorer of fine instruments am kirchberg 38 77955 münchweier +49 (0)7822 300 50 70 see map below TO EMAIL STEFAN: paste the line below into the address bar stefan.krattenmacher [at] t-online.de then replace [at] with @ - no spaces (anti-spam system) WEBSITE

Born in Tegernsee, a small alpine village south of Munich, Germany, I come from a family of woodworkers and musicians. Growing up in my father's furniture workshop, I started learning the double bass at fourteen and became the first violin maker in the Krattenmacher family.

After completing my initial training at the Mittenwald Violin Making School and working for three years in Germany, I spent a number of years working for various established makers in countries as diverse as Hong Kong, Australia and England. This time abroad enabled me to gain invaluable experience of other violin making schools and allowed me to distance myself mentally, technically and stylistically from the German tradition and to explore other styles and techniques. My extensive restoration experience has given me the opportunity to work on many fabulous instruments of the "Great Makers". It is the combination of my German training and my eclectic work experience that makes me the maker I am today.

In 1998, I was awarded the title of "Master Violinmaker" (Geigenbaumeister) and simultaneously won both the Bavarian State Prize and the Crafts Council Prize in Munich. I have also been awarded a Crafts Council setting-up grant and have now established myself as an independent maker.