Luthier Jimi Glenister
Jimi currently works out of a purpose-built workshop in a scenic seaside village not far from Cape Town.
Services
He offers musicians the full spectrum of services, including:
- Guiding a beginner musician in selecting a first instrument
- Servicing instruments
- Helping musicians have an instrument perform optimally
- Repairing damaged instruments
- Restoring old or antique instruments
- Guiding a musician through the complexities of designing and building their own instrument
- custom-building an instrument for a discerning musician or collector
Since 1975
He has made and repaired guitars and mandolins in South Africa since 1975, specialising in carved top and back 'f-hole' instruments for jazz players. The bulk of his work until 1989 was in the area of set-up and basic repair. In 1989 he moved to the UK where he stayed to further hone his Luthier skills until returning to Cape Town in January 2004.
Studied guitar design and construction in the UK
In the UK he studied guitar design and construction under Norman Reed at the Totnes School of Guitar-making, Totnes, South Devon, graduating in December 1991. He still makes and repairs guitars and mandolins, tending to specialise in acoustic guitars and mandolins with carved top and back as in the violin-making tradition.
Classical instrument background
Orchestral instrument bows
His making, repairing and maintenance of bows for orchestral instruments began in 1989 during which time he studied the construction of all parts of the bow, inspired with the help of the late Arthur Bultitude of Hawkhurst Kent. Jimi's bows stylistically favour models of Dominique Peccate, Pajeot and the Hill bow by W.C.Retford.
Violins
He commenced study of the violin family instruments in September 1992, graduating from Newark School of Violin Making in 1994, where he majored in restoration under the tutelage of Glen Collins. He was the first student in the history of N.S.V.M to graduate as a restorer and repairer with an informal commendation by Charles Beare who was responsible for judging graduate's work in the final year. The orchestral instruments he makes are generally modeled on Stradivarius and Guarneri 'Del Gesù' depending on the musicians request and/or preference. For varnish he favours darker but transparent reds of either oil or spirit depending on the main climate where the instrument will be used or on the musician's preference.
Non standard instruments background
Instruments made and repaired in his workshop are not limited to standard instruments or designs. He enjoys the challenge of the unusual. For example, he was a co-founder of Bridge Musical Instruments of Sleaford and was principal designer of a range of electric violins, celli & double basses with hollow Carbon Graphite, Kevlar & Epoxy Resin bodies of unusual ergonomic shapes (as can be seen in the Hindersine rosin advertisements in the Strad magazine and on the net). He has also made Bowl Lyres, David's Lyres, Hurdy Gurdies and other instruments requested by musicians that don't conform to any traditional or standard description other than being a portable stringed musical instrument.
Proudly manufacturing top quality instruments
Jimi generally works alone without assistants or apprentices and prides himself in the manufacture and maintenance of top-quality, functional musical tools used by working musicians.
All instruments are custom-made to customers' specification.
Jimi's contact details
Website
To open the website in a new tab or window, hold down the 'Ctrl' button and click on the link.
jimi@jglen.co.za
Address
J. Glen Guitars and Violins
Kommetjie
South Peninsula
Western Cape
Phone
Cellphone: 082 4900 342
Landline: 021 783 0933
PDF catalogue
You can download Jimi's portfolio catalogue here. This is not a full catalogue of all his work, but rather only a teaser, displaying only 4 guitars. All Jimi's creations are unique, tailor made to customers' specifications. To download, right click on the link, and choose the 'save as' option.
Size: 92kb
Catalogue
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