Peter and Wendela Moes

Wendela and Peter Moes (rhymes with shoes) met and married while attending the Violin Making School in Mittenwald, Germany and received journeyman’s diplomas after the 3½ year program in 1975. After graduation, they worked for Hans Weisshaar in Los Angeles where they gained expertise in instrument restoration and repair.

They have worked in both London and for ten years in New York City. In addition to repairs, restoration, and sales of fine old instruments, the Moes’s always specialized in making new instruments that are now played by orchestral and solo musicians around the world. Among those are Yo-Yo Ma and Hilary Hahn. They strive to produce a powerful, balanced, rich and focused sound — a broad palette of possibilities with a very quick response — to enable the player to easily reach their own sound ideal.

Since the early 1980’s their instruments have all been made from 200-300 year old spruce taken from centuries old farm houses in the Alps of Northern Italy. They feel there is a special quality in the sound of this old wood. The varnish matures and wears in just a couple years to achieve the burnished look of a fine old instrument without any phony antiquing on our part. Every instrument looks unique with the individual wear of its owner.