I, Hansruedi Hösli, master violin maker, and jester... or a simple fool? Fool from time to time perhaps but not all the time. In my defence, allow me to cite a German saying that goes “wer nicht liebt Wein, Weib und Gesang, der bleibt ein Narr sein Leben lang” which translated into English could sound like: those who shun wine, women and song remain fools their lifetime long. On that score at least I’m not at risk.

My website primarily addresses those who have played and bought my instruments. It is an invitation to revisit the path we took together. I would also like to reach out to all those I have got to know in the early stage of their life as violin makers who, together with the team at the Swiss School of Violin Making, I have had the pleasure to introduce to our noble profession and to share my knowledge and knowhow. And last but not least, I wish to reacquaint myself to all those colleagues whose company I have had the privilege to enjoy and benefit from over the decades spanning my working life.

My heart-felt thanks go to you all. Your, at times, exacting demands have furthered me in many ways: in my search for good shape and good tone – not only a fine sound – and in my search for unity in diversity and diversity in unity.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank my family, my wife Suzanne and our children for their love, encouragement and unwavering commitment.

Hans Rudolf Hösli