Bass Violone after Simon Cimapane 2023
I am blown away! What an incredible instrument! I have recently been playing on a Grancino cello with original neck, and not altered or cut down with a corpus of 78cm, and this instrument completely holds its own next to that monster. Thank you for building such an incredible beast!
-Keiran Campbell
Keiran has performed with ensembles including The English Concert, NYBI, Philharmonia Baroque, The Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra, Four Nations Ensemble, and Les Violons du Roy. He recently performed with Le Concert Des Nations under Jordi Savall, touring Europe performing Beethoven Symphonies before recording them on Savall’s new Beethoven CD. He is currently a core cellist with Tafelmusik in Toronto Canada.
Viola with Renaissance, all gut Setup, Personal model, 2022
I commissioned TEX out of an interest in having an instrument to fulfill many of the lower middle instrument roles so common in the Renaissance and Baroque. Through long research and the advice of colleagues, I came to find Nate Tabor’s web site. I was intrigued by the variety of violas he offered. All different sizes, shapes, and setups for different eras and aesthetics. I was of course amazed by his specialization in historical tenor violas. He understands the setups of these instruments, which is what makes his large tenors so playable. Over many months of correspondence he was able to build an instrument that was truly tailored for me. This instrument sounds good at any tuning pitch. Not only the viola tunings I use, but I’m able to use different tenor violin tunings with it! I can’t recommend Mr. Tabor’s work enough to anyone interested in finding an instrument that is beautiful AND satisfies historical requirements.
Dan McCarthy has served as section violist with the Trinity Wall Street Baroque Orchestra, concertmaster of the Austin Baroque Orchestra, and tenor gambist with Parthenia. He has also toured extensively throughout North America, East Asia, and Europe with artists and groups such as Jordi Savall, Masaaki Suzuki, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, and American Bach Soloists. Here on the east coast he plays with Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity, Washington Bach Consort, New York State Baroque, Artek, REBEL, Clarion Music Society, Early Music New York, Teatro Nuovo, Queens Consort, Academy of Sacred Drama, and Tempesta Di Mare. In addition he is also the North American Distributor for Corde Drago gut strings.
Renaissance Viola, Personal Model, 2017.
The viola works beautifully, and most importantly my colleagues loved the sound and the way it blended with 16th 17thC consort music.
-Oliver Webber. Artistic Director, Monteverdi String Band, Gabrieli Consort London Handel Orchestra
Viola Pomposa after Johann Wagner. Baroque Violin inspired by Gagliano.
I came to Nate with an enquiry about a viola much larger that it is usually seen around.
He has responded very well to this demanding challenge and to my unusual brief. In spite of my specific request for a relatively short string length, drawing on his extensive experience, historical knowledge of models of the 17th and 18th century, he devised his own model based on the tradition of makers such as Albani and Wagner. Nate managed to enhance the natural sonorous properties of the wood, and his model is well proportioned and a pleasure to look at. This was a great achievement, as he was venturing to an almost uncharted territory. The result is a resonant instrument that happily unites a natural alto and tenor register; the the clear and light feminine voice with a darker, masculine and pensive timbre. I am delighted with it, and look forward to countless hours of happy playing. I also have Nate’s baroque violin based on Gagliano that highlights the natural and intrinsical perfect proportions of a violin. It is a very resonant instrument, with its own unique voice. By listening to it, it teaches me how to play.
Oreste De Tommaso has collaborated with diverse ensembles and orchestras, such as La Petite Bande, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the London Classical Players. He has performed with conductors such as C. Abbado, H. von Karajan, G. Sinopoli and with historical informed conductors and players such as G. Leonhardt, F. Bruggen, S. Kuijken, R. Norrington, E. Kirkby, M. Tan, C. Mackintosh, A. Bjilsma, H. Suzuki.
17.5″ Tenor Viola with all-gut, Renaissance setup.
I am delighted with my tenor viola which Nate made especially for me. We discussed at length both set-up and model. He fashioned it historically in the Gasparo de Salo manner, without the Amati style internal mould) which gives it a delightful individuality. He made it specifically to be played with all gut strings, and we spent time together working out the possibilities of making sound on all gut (which requires a shift in technique.) Its sound is beautiful, warm, full of character, and with a myriad of sound colours. It is even across the instrument, the sound projects well, and even the C string (so often problematic on all-gut strung violas) is beautiful, and capable of a large range of sonorities. I recommend Nate very highly, all of his instruments I have played sound incredible. I will hopefully be ordering another soon !” – Emma Alter
Emma Alter was principal viola of La Nuova Maniera in 2007-2012, and has been guest principal for many groups including: Academy of Ancient Music, Gabrieli Consort, the Sixteen, Armonico Tributo, and Opera Cork 2000. Emma has performed and recorded renaissance repertoire with: Braccio, I Fagiolini, His Majesties Sacbutts and Cornetts, Gabrieli Consort,New London Consort.
Emma also makes wonderful period bows and mutes.
Baroque Violin after Francesco Gobetti
This violin is perfect. I am blown away. I want more arms so I can play more of your instruments at once. TRULY a “soulmate” violin. Tried once to put him away for a little bit… Failed! I can’t put this thing down! First, the bridge so far back threw me off, but now I’m loving the position. Gives me so much room to move from sul ponticello craziness to the softest sweetest singing whisper that still manages to clearly enunciate. I adore the flatness of the fingerboard, so comfortable and SO much nicer for baroque repertoire. Oh my god. I am smitten.
He plays very well with the light flexible pernambuco, but the weightier stiff ironwood bow REALLY really works nicely. The heavy strings are killer, makes everything so crisp on the lower strings. I am sublimely happy. – Rebecca Montgomery Limehouse
17″ Tenor Viola in Modern Setup made in Vienna
The moment in hand, with lax strings, the gradual tuning process invoked an enchanting sound. As the strings settled into concert pitch, the tone blossomed into a siren of depth and vitality. The lower register emanates a true tenor voice, cellistic by comparison, whereas the upper register, initially bland, gradually ripened into the sweetest song.
Like a good pair of shoes, any new instrument needs to be broken in to reveal comfort and joy. It took but only a couple days to begin to flourish. As time and hours of practice flew by unnoticed, the viola took on a soul of its own, occasionally releasing a faint perfume of lavender lovingly imbued by its maker; something to complete the awakening of the senses, and such proof of meticulous attention to the finer details in the creation of what once belonged to the mighty forest.
It is such a benevolent contrast from my previous viola, and it has not gone unnoticed. My quartet and other colleagues are simply in awe with Opus 26. As expected, it is a true conversation piece and the envy of my local luthier in Montreal who inquired on its origin and maker saying it is “a very well-made and nice instrument” as he reveled upon its sheer size – a full-bodied 17 inches, not for the faint of heart. 
–Seán-Paul O’Brien, violist Yamaska String Quartet. Manager and Cellist at Musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra
Viola 16.5 Opus 21 2011
Sometimes in life it’s good to take a chance and that’s exactly what I did when ordering a viola from Nate, which at the time was just a piece of tone wood. After a few months, in which Nate kept me informed of the progress, a viola arrived which exceeded my expectations. Tonal description can be subjective, so I’ll do my best to describe my initial reactions. I’ve played on many violas that have the one-dimensional tone of an oversized violin but Nate’s viola has a true viola sonority, producing many timbres and colours. It is extremely responsive, sounding with ease, requiring less finger pressure to produce a clean tone. The resonance is amazing, with open strings continuing to sound long after the bow has left the string adding great depth to string crossing passages. The viola continues to impress in the higher position, again sounding effortlessly. The A string is probably the best I’ve ever played, singing all the way to the highest positions. The dynamic rang is also very impressive, the viola producing a vast sound with excellent projection. The viola will improve even more as it is played in and opens up, something I’m looking forward to. The build quality is of a high class and the colour and varnish, perfect. Did my chance pay off? Absolutely! Nate has produced a viola which greatly outperforms its price and I cannot recommend his instruments highly enough. Thank you Nate. 
Nate Tabor is a most meticulous craftsman. His instruments are beautiful to look at, and the ones that I have heard have an exceptionally fine and full tone.
-Nona Liddell MBE Soloist and former Leader of the London Sinfonietta,former sub-principal of the English Chamber Orchestra and Professor of Violin at the Royal Academy of Music London and Trinity College of Music London.
Would you like to own an instrument which sounds as wonderful as in the Testimonials above? Let’s start a dialogue and discuss your musical needs.
