Johnn Dale – Luthier

Johnn Dale

making guitars, lutes, and instrument restoration

Johnn learned to play guitar in 1970. In 1975 while living in a Victorian mansion that he shared with other musicians, in the leafy suburb of Glenferrie, Melbourne, he started repairing guitars. In 1979 Johnn made his first lute from a kit which had been given to him.

Later that year he was introduced to William Bower who had just returned from overseas . He had been studying and performing lute music in Europe. This was when Johnn developed his interest in historical instruments and music, especially the Baroque lute and its music. In 1980 Johnn started making lutes full time.

During the 1980’s, Johnn visited a number of museums in Europe, including The Royal Collage of Music, Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna where he had the opportunity to examine and draw many original instruments.

Johnn has completed a number of major commissions including the restoration of the 1888 Pipe Organ by Alfred Fuller for St Mark’s Catholic Church in Falkner, Melbourne. This project was undertaken With Marc Nobel a prominent Harpsichord maker. In 1990 he collaborated with Christine Holms (artist) and Marc Nobel, in decorating the pipes of the 1890 T. C. Lewis pipe organ in St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne while the mechanics were away being restored by Harrison & Harrison Ltd, Durham, England.

John has had numerous exhibitions of his work and was part of a prominent group of musical instrument makers who provided demonstrations in the art of making musical instruments, at the Working With Wood Exhibitions, through out the 1990’s.