I have entrusted my bows and cello to David Goodrich for the last eight years, during which time he has performed several major repairs for me including the virtual reconstruction of a cello, the repair of a Sartory bow with a broken tip and replacement of its frog, and a restoration of the varnish on my best cello that has improved its appearance and durability considerably. The quality of his work is second to none that I have seen, and his ability to restore shattered instruments to a strong, beautiful and musical condition is amazing. He is especially good at analyzing varnishes and matching them with his own, which he makes from a vast stock of raw ingredients.
Coupled with Mr. Goodrich's comprehensive knowledge, good ear and immaculate craftsmanship is his obvious concern that his clients be absolutely satisfied with his work. He has bent over backwards to safeguard and enhance the value of my instruments on minor as well as major repairs, and I recommend his services unequivocally.
George Banks, cellist, Colorado Symphony Orchestra
I have known David for fourteen years and admire his work. He is always thorough, meticulous and gives his clients a sense of all possible repair options. He brings the same care and attention to detail to his own instruments, and unlike many modern makers, is constantly seeking color and warmth as well as power in the sound.
Edward Dusinberre, violinist of the Takacs Quartet
In my past 20 years in Boulder I needed regular maintenance and care for my cello, ranging from routine to very serious. David's integrity, experience and craftsmanship of the highest quality made them all a worry-free and most positive experience. Thank you.
Andras Fejer, cellist of the Takacs Quartet
What a privilege it is to have David Goodrich in Colorado! I have relied on David for everything from sound post adjustments to all kinds of repair work over the years and his workmanship is consistently of the highest order. I also enjoy performing one of his fine violins.
Ron Francois, violinist and Head of String Department, Colorado State University
I have always found David Goodrich to be an honest and conscientious craftsman.
Lynne Glaeske, freelance violinist, formerly Concertmaster of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
The Woodsong Suzuki Scholarship Fund is most grateful to David Goodrich for donating one of his hand made violins to our program. WSSF is a small non-profit fund, run entirely by volunteers, that provides financial assistance for students of Woodsong Suzuki Violins. The violin, valued at $6000, is loaned to advanced students in our program who demonstrate financial need, musical proficiency, and personal maturity.
The violin has a bit of a story behind it. When Dave originally finished the violin, he was unhappy with the sound and the appearance of the instrument. The violin hung in his shop for years before Paul Rowinski, director of Woodsong Suzuki Violins, convinced Dave to rework it for our fund. Dave agreed on the condition that we provide volunteer labor for some of the finishing work that didn't require a luthier's skill. Bob Goddard donated the 56 hours of labor, and the two of them reworked the violin over a period of a year and a half. Because of its history, the violin has affectionately been nicknamed "Lazarus".
The students who have had the opportunity to play the Goodrich violin have found it to be inspiring and rewarding. We are very grateful for Dave's generous support of our efforts to make violin studies affordable for all students.
Joan Goddard, President of the Woodsong Suzuki Scholarship Fund
I first met Dave Goodrich 10 years ago when he repaired my 3/4-size violin. I was impressed by David's high-quality work, thoughtful approach, and interest in my preferences. Walking into his shop was like stepping into another century, and David was happy to share his enthusiasm about violins with my family and me.
A year later we went back to the shop to purchase my first full-size violin, an instrument from the workshop of Christopher Pu. The quality and increasing value of this violin have impressed us greatly. David's careful work on this violin over the years has kept it at an optimum playing level, first for me, and later for my mother, who took up the violin a few years ago.
A few years after purchasing the Christopher Pu, I started the search for a new violin, and there was no question in my mind that the violin should be one that David had made. David encouraged me to play other instruments as well, but none of them compared with his violins. After a few months' search, I found my violin, as I had expected, in David's shop. I fell in love with its dark timbre and big, gorgeous sound. Nicknamed "Cactus" for the cochineal that gave it its deep red color, the violin is quite distinctive in appearance as well. Over these several years, David has maintained my violin to a very high degree of precision, and continues to ensure that my needs are met. He is unique among violin makers I have been to in that he is willing to spend hours making slight adjustments to optimize my violin's sound according to my personal playing and preferences. Though I am now a student at the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, I always have David do any work that my violin needs. I can not pass up such careful and personalized work.
I strongly recommend Dave to anyone who is interested in high quality instruments and restoration. His standards are unsurpassed and he is always ready to work with us to keep our instruments in top condition.
Lisa Goddard, student at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music
David Goodrich completely restored my 1757 viola by Joseph Hill. The workmanship was superb and the instrument has never sounded better. I am deeply grateful to David.
August 2022
Hi David,
As you may have guessed, I spent the day playing my viola. It's hard to express the delight of having the instrument so beautifully restored and I imagine sounding better than it ever has. As the new strings have begun to settle I'm finding an evenness across the instrument and an unforced resonance and an array of colors that were previously missing.
I'm so grateful to you for your expert and thoughtful craftmanship, your tremendous knowledge of instruments and their acoustics, and not least for only charging me your estimate of costs, although I'm fairly certain that you spent more time and effort than that estimate merits. I hope to ask you to look over the instrument in a few months and see whether any adjustments are needed.
Many thanks, David!
Russell
Russell Guyver, DMA, Professor Emeritus of Music and Former Director of Orchestras, School of Music, University of Northern Colorado, Frasier Hall
I recommend Dave Goodrich wholeheartedly as a violin maker/restorer/repairman. I consider him to be an absolute master of his craft. He is meticulous, patient, and thorough. Each time I have left my instrument in his care I have been extremely happy in the result. I trust his integrity, and find him always willing to explain to and educate me about what he does with my instrument. I consider Dave to be one of Boulder/Denver area's great treasures.
Debbie Holland, violinist, violin teacher, Boulder, CO
For David Goodrich
When Stefan Scarampella built my fiddle He left a little knot, right in the middle, Just where the two conjoined back plates would meet. Three years ago I thought the sound less sweet And, looking, noticed varnish newly cracked Where joiner's plane had chattered, inexact. Dryness, an old repair, or heavy use, Had caused this crucial structure to come loose, Or maybe the strong clamp of chin and shoulder. Next day I brought the violin to Boulder, Where David, of the Goodrich shop, repaired it. Except for his high skill, I'd not have dared it. Such complicated surgery needs hands Experienced, well trained to the demands Of patient, non-destructive, restoration Meeting the careful player's obligation: These fiddles rest but briefly in our trust. Soon we, not they, retire to quiet dust. For what we have received - too much to tell! We must protect, preserve, and play them well, That, year on year, the ancient builder's art Comfort the ear, and still beguile the heart.
Copyright 2007, Keith Howard, violinist in the Colorado Symphony Orchestra
I wanted to mention that we were thrilled with how the violin sounds! It's completely different from how it was beforehand. Now I don't think I want M to leave it at school anymore. Thank you!
Michael Kanda, parent of violin student
David Goodrich's work demonstrated an excellent hand, eye and ear: it was structurally sound, artistically heartwarming and, in setting up, his keen sense of timbre was invaluable.
David Lockington, cellist, Music Director of the Grand Rapids Symphony, formerly Assistant Principal with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra
My Roth sounds wonderful after your excellent repair job. I really like the tone, and the fact that the tone is consistent over all the strings - I used to be able to tell what string was sounding, and everything is a continuum now. The G string sounds much more alive and warm, and I think the D also, but it is held back by the currently unravelling string. I hope it will hold on through the weekend concert, and maybe next week I can get a replacement from you. I do love the new fine tuners; they are a big help for on-the-fly adjustments, and I feel a lot better in tune. Also the new sound blends in with the section a lot better. You did a really good job! and I do appreciate it so much. Your timing was excellent - I was able to get some experience with the new sound before the concert, and will be totally comfortable with it by the time we have our Denver Pops concert/dance in Boulder in May. Again, thank you so much!
Dale Phelps, violinist
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy the adjustments on my cello. It truly does feel so much more effortless to play, and has a quicker response and clarity of tone! Thank you so much for such wonderful work. I will certainly contact you for any future needs.
Brighton Prescott, cellist and music therapist
I am familiar with an early 20th century Saxon cello that Dave Goodrich restored. From the reset neck and fine job matching the older varnish to the well-cut and good sounding bridge, Dave demonstrated the capacity for meticulous work and a first rate knowledge of the violin maker's art.
Richard Rognstad, cellist, Colorado Symphony Orchestra
I acquired my first David Christopher Goodrich violin in 2000, and found that it had the tone and response I had been searching for for many years. It is dark and rich sounding, yet very clear and even, with a quick response and a lot of power. Over the years I have owned it, with periodic adjustments by Dave, my violin has developed an increasingly complex and beautiful tone, retaining its dark qualities while becoming more brilliant in the treble register. In my years as a violinist I have had the opportunity to play many fine old instruments by great makers of the past, as well as by contemporary makers, and my Goodrich violin has equaled or surpassed every one.
As a Suzuki teacher for the past 25 years, I have had many students who, after trying out other instruments, chose a Goodrich violin when it came time to purchase their "dream" instrument. In every case these violins have improved with age and periodic adjustments, and become my students' prized possessions. While each of his instruments has its own voice, I have found them to be uniformly clear, powerful, complex, and responsive.
Dave is also a master at making adjustments to improve tone and response. He can listen to a violinist play their instrument and know exactly what it needs to reach its full potential. He has been wonderful about following through with the periodic maintenance that all new instruments need in their first years, encouraging his customers to stop by with their instruments periodically for a "checkup". A visit to Dave's shop is always a learning experience.
I would encourage anyone in search of a fine violin to see what David Christopher Goodrich has to offer.
Paul Rowinski, violinist and Director of Woodsong Suzuki Violins, Boulder, CO
"For the instrumentalist, it is extremely important to have a regular relationship with a violin maker, just like a family doctor", says Karoly Schranz, a violinist with the world-renowned Takacs String Quartet, which came to Boulder from Budapest in 1983 at the invitation of the University of Colorado. "These instruments need regular inspection," says Mr. Schranz, who along with the rest of the group, uses Goodrich to help select instruments from corporate and gallery loans. "With 300 year old instruments, you need advice as to which ones are the healthiest. It is great luck to find somebody like David in a small place like Boulder. His violins are the best contemporary instruments made. David is modest, so I will tell you that his instruments and his knowledge are amazing."
From an interview with Karoly Schranz, violinist of the Takacs Quartet in the Boulder Planet, written by Carol Ward
I am very pleased with my violin's improved sound, not only on the A-string that responded to the adjustment you made in your workshop, as we heard, but since then on the lower strings also and with a much more consistently good tone throughout. I guess I can't tell you whether the strings are actually closer to the fingerboard [less unusually high] now that I have stopped using the humidifier [the kind Menuhin called a snake], but since my violin sounds so much better now, that was surely another of your good solutions!
Grietje Sloan, violinist
I have been a customer of David Goodrich for approximately 20 years. He has always provided the highest quality repairs to my circa 1710 violin, and has a complete understanding of the sound quality that I am looking for. My regard for his craftsmanship is so great that he exclusively repairs my violin, and I entrusted him with the 18 month long restoration of it. As a professional violinist, I expect my violin to perform at the highest levels, and David's work has always met my expectations. I expect to be a loyal customer of his for many years to come.
David Voegtle, violinist in the Colorado Symphony Orchestra