BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
Skilled craftsmen have long been praised for their abilities to create high quality objects with their bare hands. Although commercial mass production has played a convenient role in providing the public with easily accessible items at a low cost, there still remains a very well respected place for those with the ability to make something beautiful from scratch. Andrew Tait is one such craftsman, and his talent allows him to produce musical instruments that can sing unique and personal tones.
Andrew, who recently crafted a double bass for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, says the process provides him with a gratifying experience that can be shared with those who play his magnificent constructions.
“An enjoyable part of the process for me is getting to know the player and custom designing the instrument to suit their needs,” Andrew says.
“A commercially made instrument comes off a production line where each person knows only their small task and very little about the process as a whole, whereas a handmade instrument is generally made completely by one person who has complete control over the entire process.”
Andrew has produced guitars, violins, viola da gambas, cellos, and double basses – all with his bare hands. His skill of crafting instruments was long in the making.
“I consider myself to be a handy man, having grown up on a farm in the central western districts of New South Wales, where a farmer has to be a Jack-of-all-trades. I built the workshop in which I make and repair musical instruments – locally known as ‘the church’, as it has a 6.5 metre high cathedral ceiling.”
While Andrew was a student at the NSW Conservatorium of Music, he borrowed his teacher’s old English double bass – marking the turning point for the young musician.
“I played this instrument for six months and fell in love with it,” Andrew reminisces.
“Of course it was worth a lot of money and as a student, I could not afford an instrument of that quality, so from that moment, I was inspired to make and own an instrument of the highest calibre.”
Andrew went on to learn the techniques of some of the finest instrument makers in the world, including Australia’s Alan Riley, Harry Vatiliotis, and London’s Roger Dawson – the latter possessing a family bloodline of makers that can be traced as far back as 1715. Receiving grants from the Department of Culture and the Arts, the Simon Lee Foundation, and a Churchill Fellowship, Andrew gave up his summer barbeques to brave many a British winter to study under Roger’s wings.
Andrew couldn’t have picked a better place in the world to study his passion, as his love for the traditionally crafted instruments stems right from the UK itself.
“My favourite instruments come from the English school of making from 1750 til 1850. These instruments combine the depth of sound with a clear attack and power that is essential for a modern orchestra,” Andrew enthuses.
With Tait-made instruments around Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania and Western Australia, Andrew enjoys to follow the stories of his creations as they take his uniquely designed sound to performances far away from his workshop.
Unlike many musicians and craftsmen, though, Andrew is not afraid to use his hands to get down and dirty with a local cricket match. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, Wendy and his two children.
Image supplied. Credit: Matt Gilligam.
