Luthier • Dealer • Restorer
Restoration, Repair, and Adjustment for String Instruments and Bows
Serving Cleveland, Ohio and Beyond
From the Bench
From major restoration to the adjustments that shape how an instrument responds, I work with musicians on violins, violas, cellos, double basses, and bows.
As both a trained bassist and luthier, I approach each instrument with an understanding of both sides of the bench: what the work requires, and what you need to hear and feel when it returns to your hands.
No two instruments arrive with precisely the same history, condition, response, or needs. Whether I'm carrying out substantial structural work or making a small adjustment, I take the time to understand the instrument in front of me and the player who knows it best.
SERVICES:Setup & Adjustment
“I have worked with many luthiers in my career and I can say without a doubt that Maxwell is one of the best I have ever worked with.
Maxwell not only works with the highest professionalism, but also has the right personality for this job. He listens to what his clients want and approaches his work with humility and the highest quality. He has an excellent ear for sound and always seems to know what sound quality I’m looking for. My violin always sounds better after he works on it and I always leave his shop with a smile.”
~ David Radzynski
Concertmaster of NDR Elbphilharmonie
Former Concertmaster of The Cleveland Orchestra
Services
I work on instruments and bows at many different points in their lives, from routine setup and seasonal adjustment to extensive repair and restoration.
Some needs are immediately apparent, while others take closer examination, so if you're uncertain what to book, the appointment calendar includes an option for exactly that.
Professional Setups
A good setup should suit both the instrument and the person playing it. I work with the relationship between its individual parts, the condition of the instrument, and what the player is hearing and feeling.
Major & Minor Crack Repair and Reinforcement
Cracks can range from relatively straightforward repairs to work that requires the instrument to be opened and addressed internally. I assess the location, extent, previous work, and condition surrounding the damage before determining the appropriate repair.
Major Structural Repairs
The more extensive the intervention, the more important it becomes to understand what is original to the instrument, what has been altered over time, and what the repair requires now. I undertake major structural work with that broader history in mind.
Bow Rehair + Restoration
A bow can change gradually enough that the player adapts without immediately realizing how much has shifted. I work on rehairs as well as restoration and repair, always with attention to the bow as a whole.
Maxwell A. Morgan
Since 2015, I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve musicians of the Cleveland community, including students and faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Case Western Reserve University, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, the Oberlin Conservatory, many independent teachers, students, members of regional orchestras, and of course, many of the string players in the distinguished Cleveland Orchestra.
I continue to advance my knowledge and practice of the finest restoration techniques in use today, both on my own and with other luthiers across the world. I frequently attend prestigious festivals and see dealers and clients in Europe and Asia and am a member of the Michigan Violin Association.
I got started in lutherie by working part time at Beau Vinci Violins while still a high school student in my native hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. I had the honor to study the craft under Award Winning Maker and Restorer Cameron Robertson and learn the business side from owners Emily and Mike Dixon during my time at Beau Vinci. I later left Beau Vinci to begin my studies in Double Bass Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. I opened my first independent shop in 2018, and moved to my current, permanent location in the Larchmere district of Cleveland in January of 2023.
“Maxwell did a superb job repairing and restoring my 1620 Maggini violin after several cracks in the top appeared. It is always scary to have the top off, but the instrument came back sounding as strong and colorful as ever. Some registers are even better.”
~ David Bowlin,
Violin Faculty, Oberlin Conservatory
“Maxwell is as superb of a musician as he is an excellent luthier. His adjustments to my instrument were not only beneficial to its health, but critical in its development in my work at The Cleveland Orchestra. I owe a great deal of my success onstage to his work and highly recommend it”
~ Charles Paul,
First Assistant Principal Double Bass at The Cleveland Orchestra
“When I slipped on ice and damaged my rare Italian violin, Maxwell not only repair it, he made it sound better than it had ever sounded before. Furthermore, Maxwell handled this stressful time for me with kindness, care and a sense of humor. Maxwell is now my trusted luthier who I entrust with all my instrument needs and send my students to.”
~ Sibbi Bernhardsson,
Violin Faculty, Oberlin Conservatory
“Maxwell Morgan is my trusted luthier in Cleveland. Over the last several years he has done marvelous work on all my cellos and also expertly rehaired my bows.
I recommend him highly to both my students and my professional colleagues, and am thankful to have him in our area.”
~ Sharon Robinson,
Cello Faculty, Cleveland Institute of Music
A Musical Matchmaker
I keep a changing selection of instruments and bows available for sale, ranging across historic and contemporary makers and workshops. Because inventory changes regularly, you can view the current selection on our For Sale page or make an appointment if you would like to see an instrument or bow in the shop.
Three hundred years of history, and due on stage Thursday.
