Portugal
Interested in traditional handcraft and discovering the secrets of lutherie? Sign up at our new construction master courses for modern, historic and traditional string instruments and build your own custom made precious companion.
Master Lutherie
Crafting Timeless Instruments
Driven by a deep passion for the art of luthiery, Robin Szombath meticulously creates and restores exquisite stringed and plucked instruments. With decades of hands-on experience, he crafts each piece as a timeless work of art, blending tradition with unmatched precision.
Language
About the Luthier
Mastering the Art of
Fine Instrument Making
Born in 1995, I graduated at 19 from my four-year apprenticeship at the School of Arts in Hallstatt with distinction. My final assignment, a lute, earned the “Best Instrument” award, solidifying my passion for crafting stringed and plucked instruments.
During my journeymanship, I worked with renowned ateliers such as Tomáš Kaiser in Bratislava and Jürgen Manthey in Leipzig, where I crafted violins, violas, and violoncelli.
After receiving my master craftsman’s certificate with distinction in 2020 in Hamburg and Linz, I was awarded a scholarship to refine my skills in various ateliers across Austria, France, Ukraine, and Portugal. Initially self-employed in Burgenland, my compulsory Austrian Civil Service abroad brought me to Porto, where I opened my new master craftsman atelier.
In 2022, I was honored to receive the bronze medal at the XIII Concorso Internazionale di Liuteria di Pisogne, further recognizing my dedication to craftsmanship and innovation in instrument making.
My services
Fabrication,
Reparation, Restoration.
New Instruments
Discovering the wide range of sound hidden in a new instrument and growing with it is a magnificent moment in a musician’s career. When passion, craftsmanship, and innovative spirit come together, custom-made instruments that are both comfortable and easy to play pave the way for success on stage.
Repairs
Cleaning, varnish retouching, gluing, and sound adjustments—whether it’s minor maintenance, annual reconditioning, or optimizing playability, I handle all types of repairs. From simple fixes to intricate restorations, including bow rehairing and high-quality servicing, every job is done with the utmost care and precision.
My Services
Bowed Instruments
Alpine spruce, Bosnian maple, Lombardian poplar—carefully selected tonewoods, dried for several years, finely carved and tuned for exceptional sound. Finished with exquisite St. Petersburg amber varnish, these instruments enrich musicians from Leipzig to Lyon, Vienna to London, and Lisbon to Vancouver with their gentle timbre and masterful craftsmanship.
My Services
Bowed Instruments
Violins
Mostly modelled after A. Stradivari, G. Guarneri and N. Amati.
Violas
Sized between 39.5 and 42.5 cm and modelled after A. Guarneri and G. Gennaro.
Celli
Modelled after M. Gofriller, P. G. Rugieri and Montagnana.
My Services
Plucked Instruments
Aesthetically inspired by historical originals, replicas of stringed instruments are crafted from the finest tonewoods, using authentic, traditional handcrafting techniques. The workshop is committed to using sustainable, regionally sourced materials.
my services
Plucked Instruments
Violas da Gamba
Available in various sizes, from descant to bass repertoire.
Lutes
Handcrafted models based on existing historical originals.
Guitars, Citterns
From vihuelas and baroque guitars to Viennese and modern instruments.
Workshops
Instrument Making Courses
Austria
Master classes for modern and historic string instrument making. Our since 2021 yearly held courses near Vienna in the pannonian lowland - supervised by two master luthiers, additional guest lectures and professional handicraft tools and finest tonewood provided.
Handcrafted Masterpieces, Timeless Sound
Each instrument is a testament to tradition and craftsmanship, meticulously crafted from the finest tonewoods. From violas to lutes, our collection embodies the rich history of stringed instruments while delivering unparalleled quality and sound.
In Their Own Words
What Musicians Are Saying
Our instruments have earned the trust and admiration of world-class musicians and luthiers. Hear from those who rely on our craftsmanship for their performances and explore the press clippings that showcase our work across the industry.
Prof. Tatjana Masurenko
Professor for viola at HEMU Sion & Colburn School Los Angeles
"Excellent working instruments are the key for a successful career. With their rich and brilliant sound, not missing any focus Robin Szombaths violas are of highest respectable quality and unbeatable prices. Testing them already in Leipzig at violin maker J. Manthey, I highly recommend visiting this master luthier in Portugal!"
Quarteto Intempus
Miguel de Pacheco Gil, Aveiro
"For the first time, I found a balanced instrument with a full and harmonious sound. An instrument with excellent response across all strings, which has evolved and continuously surprised me. In this arduous task of finding a suitable instrument for my work, I had the luck and privilege of relying on Robin Szombath to provide all the necessary support throughout this process. I am very grateful!"
Joana Nunes
Viola, Valencia
“I couldn’t be happier with this instrument! I was completely surrendered by its warmth and also its precision when I first tried it and it’s mesmerizing how it keeps changing in my hands! It feels as if it knows what I am after! I am very curious to see where this instrument is going in the future but I am certain that from here it will only sound better and better!”
Sonja Barth
Jazz-violin, Trio Oyabá, Nuremberg
"The enchanting warm, dark, yet brilliant sound of my violin fits perfectly into jazz! I was immediately fascinated, it’s comfortable to play, and visually it’s also really beautiful. An excellent master luthier in an excellent workshop!"
Contacts
Get In Touch
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
