Dancing Master's 'Kit'

The original 'travel' instrument - beloved of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century 'dancing masters', who footed it about the country areas of Scotland and elsewhere, teaching dancing to the inhabitants of great houses and small communities alike. The shape was to allow the instrument to be slipped into an internal pocket in the master's great-coat. Also called a 'pochette'.

I offer two versions: one with flat back and straight sides (based on museum examples.) This incorporates some guitar making techniques to make the instrument affordable; the second a 'waisted' version, the slim profile augmented by shallow 'C' bouts as in a standard violin.

(awaiting image) Carved spruce top, sycamore back and sides, fruit-wood fingerboard. Price: £550

(awaiting image) 'Waisted' model: carved spruce top, sycamore/maple back and sides, ebony fingerboard. Price £750