Howard Needham

Howard Needham was born in 1944. He became interested in music as a child and took violin and guitar lessons. Needham worked as a systems analyst in his early adulthood, but around 1973 he started making guitars as a hobby. In 1975, he officially quit his job to work as a luthier full time. By the 80s, he had taught himself to make classical stringed instruments as well.

Needham’s career took a turn in 1999, when he attended a workshop with Geary Baese, an expert in violin-making known particularly for his study into the secrets of eighteenth century Italian varnish. Under the guidance of Baese, Needham became fascinated with the technical process old masters used to produce astounding sound quality in their instruments. The instruments he made after attending the workshop showed incredible improvement from the ones he had made on his own. His work gained traction across the United States as demand grew among professional musicians. In 2007, one of Needham’s instruments was included in a blind comparison with almost 100 other magnificent violins, including a Stradivarius and other 18th century Cremonese works. Needham’s violin beat every instrument except for a Guadagnini.

Today Needham works out of his home in Silver Spring, MD. He uses many unique techniques, including stringing up the instrument before varnish is applied to make accurate adjustments to the sound before the instrument is complete. This helps to create a more complex and beautiful sound. Needham’s instruments are effortlessly responsive, with remarkable clarity that is admired by players around the world.