Michael Fischer 16 3/4" viola, 2018, copy of Zanetto 1570, Los Angeles | Metzler Violins

About the Maker
Michael Fischer is a living luthier who was born and raised in South Germany. At eighteen, Fischer attended the Mittenwald Violin Making School before moving to London to assist Dietrich Kessler at Withers, making viola-da-gambas and other baroque instruments. While in London, Fischer also worked with Charles Beare, the renowned luthier and violin dealer. While working in Beare’s shop, Fischer accomplished difficult restorations on the instruments there. Fischer moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s, working in Hans Weisshar’s atelier before opening his own shop in 1984 with a focus on restoration. It was while restoring a 1697 Mateo Gofriller violin, Fischer decided to make a copy for the joy of it. Since then, Fischer has made and sold over 300 copies of fine instruments alongside his efforts to restore and sell excellent stringed instruments and bows out of his atelier. Professionals worldwide play and praise his instruments, with testimonials from musicians such as Gil Shaham and Gidon Kremer. Fischer is a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, Entente Internationale des Maitres Luthiers et Archetiers D'Art, and Verband Deutscher Geigenbauer und Bogenmacher e.V.