My background
Violin maker with 25 years of experience
As one of Norway’s most profiled and renowned violin makers, Jacob von der Lippe has made instruments since 1998 for musicians at home and abroad. Jacob’s instruments are built with a solid foothold in the traditions of the Italian masters. He graduated from the Violin Making School “Istituto Professionale Internazionale per l’Artigianato Liutario e del Legno, A. Stradivari” in Cremona, Italy. The instruments Jacob makes have a sound that focuses on warmth, projection and richness of overtones.
As the first and only Norwegian, he is a member of the worldwide organization Entente Internationale des Luthiers et Archetiers. Over the past thirteen years, Jacob has taken the essence of all his experience and developed his own personal model for violin, viola and cello.
Jacob offer instrument cases from BAM France in the Nordic countries, and carries a large stock in the workshop in Oslo. Feel free to stop by to see the different models. The boxes can also be purchased directly from the online store bamnorden.no
Photo: Marius Viken
Timbre – The Soul of Music
For the listener, timbre is the soul of music.
Timbre has individuality, is always unique, and is created in it’s meeting
with the listener.
Timbre reaches me in a room, touches me, overwhelms me, and
surrounds me.
Timbre is created when a person plays on an instrument.
Different musicians can tease different timbres out of the same instrument.
An arsenal of timbres lay hidden away in the instrument, waiting to be
liberated by the hands and breath that push the tones out.
Edvard Hoem
Lyrics written especially for “Sculpted Sound” released on VON DER LIPPE RECORDS
Why choose a von der Lippe instrument?
warm and projecting sound • personal follow-up
I took a big step thirteen years ago when I stopped making copies and designed my own model. I took out the essence of all the instruments I had built, and kept the best qualities. This I merged into my own model. Musicians tell me that my instruments have a special sound and that each instrument has its own personality. It is always exciting to present the instrument to the musician for the first time and hear them play it. I really hope that the instruments I build will hold up well over time, and that musicians will also say in 200 years:
“Wow, this is really good, I want to play this instrument!”
That’s the best thing that can happen.
Instruments and bows for sale
carefully selected for you
Sculpted Sound
unique RELEASE • VINYL • CD • DIGITAL
Sound is the real motivation for building instruments. On this recording, it is the sound that is in focus. Can a particular timbre be repeated in several instruments built from the same spruce log and by the same violin maker? How do the acoustics in very different rooms enhance the sound of the same instruments? How will the sound of the instrument be influenced by the musicians’ personal playing style and, not least, the violin maker’s development over a period of twenty years?
Listen on Spotify and all digital platforms
Insight into the workshop
violin • viola • cello
Coming for sale
Instruments and bows
Photo: Marius Viken
t-shirt • jumper • shopping netT • STICKER
We live in the new golden age of violin making. There are many incredibly skilled violin makers all over the world. And I can’t wait to see how your personal model will sound and look! Stradivari is of course a great master to learn from, but why do so many spend their entire careers building copies? We have lost the diversity of violin making that lived in Italy and many other European countries in the period 16-1700. Each and every violin maker and city had its own style. I hope to see it again. More style, more personality and more focus on what really matters. The Sound.
To emphasize the message, I have produced local merch in Oslo with the “Strad is Dead” logo.
Or maybe you’d rather have stickers, a t-shirt or a shopping bag? We have those too.
Guided Tour
GET A UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO THE WORKSHOP
Are you curious about what a violin maker’s workshop looks like? How do I build a violin? What kind of materials and varnish do I use? You get all this and more in a personal and engaging tour of my workshop. Tour with a duration of 60 min. costs NOK 3,500 NOK
Experience the workshop with Jacob, who provides insight and new perspectives on violin making and the world of music. The tour provides an interesting peek into a world that is unknown to most.
Jacob has extensive experience in communicating his profession, including for the Oslo Philharmonic, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Harmonien i Bergen, Munch Vgs, Bestum String Orchestra and many others.
The tours can also be adapted to different age groups from children to the elderly.
In his workshop at Adamstuen, Jacob von der Lippe has made around 70 instruments for musicians at home and abroad.
To book a private guided tour, email jacob@vonderlippe.com or call/sms +47 900 19 140.
What kind of sound are you looking for?
Tell me more
I have extensive experience with musicians at all levels. Whether you are a music student, freelancer, orchestra musician or soloist, I understand and listen to your wishes. You can always borrow with instruments and bows on home loans up to two weeks, insurance is taken care of.
