J.K. Bellville Guitar Company
McMinnville, OR 97128
ph: 971-237-2418
Services
In the Beginning...
I began my interest in instrument making at a relatively young age. My brother, Rod, mentored me during these formative years. Rod worked under Matt Dahl, an instrument maker originally from Norway who relocated to the Twin City area. I remember when I was in the 8th grade, Matt Dahl showed me how to fit a bridge. I still look to Rod for bouncing ideas off of and getting information not found in publication.
My violin varnish is handmade using a recipe from the age of Stradivarius. Making varnish is just like cooking candy except instead of using butter and sugar you use turpentine. I have recently designed two violins for ease in playing. They are a cross between a viola and a violin. My mandolins are all just a little different in style and each has its own distinct sound.
MANDOLINS
Louder, better and more beautiful--my mandolins are made of traditional woods. Sitka spruce, Oregon maple and in some cases apple wood binding from Wisconsin. The beauty in the flame of the Oregon maple jumps out at you as you move the instruments. The 'f" holes are all a little different. The mother-of-pearl inlay designs have a lot of thought that has gone into them as far as design in addition to location and placement of each pearl piece.
VIOLINS
The violins are made from the finest woods. European maple from Belgium as well as hard woods from the Eastern United States. The photos below show the detail in the scroll which was hand carved. You will also note the unique shapes of the violins. The style was designed to be "user friendly" getting the body out of the way to make them more playable. Variation in the cutout was created for ease in playing. The designs are original. The concept of the design was to have a larger, resonant volume to get more of the low overtones in additional to alleviating some of the scratchy, high irritating aspects of many violins.
PRICING
Base price on mandolins with decorative mother-of-pearl inlay: $15,000.00-- available for sale.
Base price on violins: $9,500.00--Currently two are available for sale.
Base price on guitars: $5.000.00-- Currently one is available, three are in progress.
Custom orders are available. Contact John for details.
Email me at jbellville4@comcast.net
McMinnville, OR 97128
ph: 971-237-2418
