Steven Beckley, violin bow maker

Steven Beckley
Bearden Violin is located on 8787 Lackland Road, just 5 miles from Lambert International Airport.

http://www.beckley-violinbows.com

Steven Beckley was born in Menlo Park California in 1955. Always tinkering, he had an early fascination for musical instruments and working with wood. At the age of nineteen he began professionally repairing fretted instruments. As his skills unfolded and grew, he expanded his business to the restoring, repairing and construction of classical guitars.

In 1981 He began making bows under the tutelage of William Salchow. His instruction with Mr. Salchow continued through 1983.

In 1982 He began working for Boyd Poulsen where he was given additional instruction in bow repair and restoration. He continued to make bows from scratch on his nights and days off.

In 1986 Mr. Beckley began building bows full time at his shop in Los Altos, California dedicating most of his time to making bows for the wholesale trade.

In 1989 He earned his Journeyman's Degree from the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers.

In recent years Mr. Beckley has moved to the vicinity of Mendecino in Northern California where he has built a home and a custom, solar-powereed workshop where he devotes his days to the craft of making violin bows.

When he isn't working he is with his beloved wife, Meryl Courtice; their cat, Willa; their dog, Spirit; and their three ducks... we mustn't forget the ducks.