Your Incredible Neighbors: GV man is modern-day Stradivari

Hristo Tchechmedjiev is a violinist, a violist and a cellist, but not in the traditional, more familiar sense.

Just as master woodcarver Geppetto of fictional fame brought life to Pinocchio from a piece of wood, so does Tchechmedjiev bring stringed instruments to life. By taking pieces of maple and spruce — and starting from scratch — he crafts the wood into instruments having acoustical perfection.

He began making instruments at age 14 in his native Bulgaria. As the only one in his family to have the talent, he said, “I had some feelings inside” about his ability to make his first violin at such a young age.

A prolific craftsman and musician with a fine musical ear, he went on to become a luthier — one who makes guitars, mandolins, violas, cellos and stringed instruments.

In the last 34 years, Tchechmedjiev’s instruments have won distinguished awards and medals — in 1974 from the International Luthiers Competition in Sofia, Bulgaria; in 1977 from the International Competition for Violin Makers in Poznan, Poland; and in 1979 from the International Luthiers Competition “Antonio Stradivari” in Cremona, Italy.

Emigrating to the U.S. in 1982 at the recommendation of a friend, he moved from Sacramento to Green Valley in 2003.

Totally musical, Tchechmedjiev is also an operatic tenor and recently performed at a Green Valley Chamber Music Recital, where his deep, clear tenor voice flowed effortlessly.

“I love singing, but my profession is making instruments. I’ve been singing for pleasure my whole life,” he says.

The walls of his house display framed photos of musicians with instruments made exclusively for them. Included are the late violinist Yehudi Menuhin and violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman.

His home is his instrument-making studio. Everywhere is something musical — stacks of CDs, violins in the making and a complete wood workshop where he saws, shapes, creates, stains and varnishes each piece to perfection.

“The tops of the violins are spruce. The scroll, neck, back and sides are made of maple,” he says.

He explains that the tops are made of spruce and the rest from maple because “the fine grains in the spruce are similar to our vocal chords. Maple is very strong and has excellent acoustical quality.”

The finger board is made from ebony, and the color of stain of the completed instrument is the client’s choice, he says.

“The older the wood, the better the acoustical sound ... the important part is the acoustical sound of the instrument. Pieces must be made to certain thicknesses,” he says, as he shows a sample piece.

In each room is a humidifier to give needed moisture to the wood in the dry Southern Arizona climate. In a wood and glass display case containing violins, each compartment has a glass of water providing just the right amount of moisture to the finely crafted instrument.

Tamara Kahrimanis, a local musician and pianist who accompanies Tchechmedjiev at recitals, says his instruments are all made in the Bel Canto style where the ultimate goal is beauty of tone, not necessarily volume.

From start to finish, it takes about six months to craft a violin, viola or cello. An oil varnish finish is the final step of the time-consuming, handcrafted process. Often, as a custom-made instrument is curing, Tchechmedjiev will do repairs for clients.

He says musicians hear about his expertise by “word of mouth, string magazines and by reputation.”

Has he ever found it hard to part with an exquisitely-made instrument? “I call them ‘my babies,’” he says, but admits to letting go.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.