In a shed behind his house in Orange, New South Wales, Peter Reid is hard at work building a viola.
"The woman we're constructing this for is a very professional player," he says, pointing to the bare wood that's starting to take shape.
From start to finish, it'll take him about a month to deliver the instrument.
That's because there's a team of just two behind his business, Sophia's Strings: wife Frankie does the marketing and admin, but in the workshop it's just Peter.
Peter Reid builds instruments in a shed behind his home in Orange, NSW. Source: Supplied
His life as a luthier (the technical word for someone who makes or repairs string instruments) is far different from his working life a few decades ago.
"Originally my first trade was electrical so that and violin making are wildly different," he says.
It was a chance encounter with a client that set him on the path towards becoming a luthier.
"In 1988 I was working in a house in Mount Victoria that happened to be owned by an old Czech fellow who was a violin maker back in Europe prior to the Second World War, " Peter explains. "I was playing some Mozart at the time and he came out and said 'you Australians don't like this music!' - I still remember him saying that. And I said 'well this one does!' And then he was delighted with that answer and from them he just started teaching me things."
After learning from his mentor, Denny Kutzeena, over several years, Peter eventually began repairing instruments on the side. It wasn't until 2006 that he got serious about actually building them.
"I decided, well, this is really what I wanted to be...and I thought if I don't do this as a maker, I'm not going to develop as a repairer."
From tradie to luthier, Peter Reid repairs and builds string instruments. Source: Supplied
But as he sought clients, he soon ran into a problem.
"It is a very traditionally based industry...players were taught by some who was taught by some, same thing with makers," he says. "The pedigree of a maker is very important."
And Peter's teacher was virtually unknown in Australia.
So he started small and local.
"The very first thing I did, I contacted local people I already knew, music teachers, they then said you should go and speak to [so and so]. Regional conservatories were next step from that process."
Soon, his network of contacts grew. In 2009, he finally broke even.
The business now operates with a six-month waiting list for new instruments - and Peter says this past year has been one of its busiest yet.
"We've made 8 instruments but we've sold ten so it's been a great year."
With everything made by hand, it takes 1-6 months to construct a single instrument. Source: Supplied
His prices range from $8000 for a basic violin, up to $30,000 for the most expensive double bass.
With everything made by hand, it can take anywhere from one to six months to construct a single instrument.
Peter's customers include performers, conservatories and music students - including his 5-year-old granddaughter Sophia, the businesses' namesake.
"We thought how would we tie in Sophia's name [when she was born] and my wife said 'Sophia, strings - that's what we do, Sophia's strings.' And I thought perfect!"
Peter re-named his business after the birth of his first grandchild, Sophia. Source: Supplied
And after a decade of building instruments, Peter says he still gets a thrill out of hearing one of his pieces played.
"You look at an orchestra in town, [and think] 'that one's of mine, that one's of mine' ... that's pretty good," he says with a grin.
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