A Rich Heritage and a Continuing Legacy
Restoration Strings is following a rich path left to us by Louisville's own; Robert Delprato, Thomas Haile and Gary Cornett. Robert Delprato, born in France in 1902, learned violin making and repair from his father who owned a shop in Paris. His father later immigrated to Chicago to work for Lyon and Healy. Robert moved to Kentucky, settling in Louisville in 1944. Thomas Haile, who also settled in Louisville in 1944, learned the craft of violin making and repair from Robert Delprato and passed his learning and skill on to Gary Cornett who continued with and surpassed the luthier training of his teacher and served Louisville, KY music lovers for many, many years.
With Gary's support and training, Grace and David Erickson, owners and luthier of Restoration Strings have chosen to continue this path and serve Indiana and Kentucky music lovers. We feel that there is always a need in our communities for honesty and quality workmanship and it is our goal to provide that to everyone whether they are beginners or professionals. We are constantly striving to give our community the best.
This path carved by our predecessors joined the path of another Louisville and Indiana fixture, The Wood Doctor, David Erickson Sr.. The Wood Doctor has been an established expert in the field of antique repair and restoration for over 40 years. Now his son David, luthier of Restoration Strings, is continuing his father's woodworking and restoration legacy, building and expanding on it into the field of instrument repair and restoration.
