---
product_id: 35785371
title: "Jack Batts: Violin Maker and Repairer"
brand: "paul ballonoff"
price: "€ 36.69"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 4
url: https://www.desertcart.gr/products/35785371-jack-batts-violin-maker-and-repairer
store_origin: GR
region: Greece
---

# Jack Batts: Violin Maker and Repairer

**Brand:** paul ballonoff
**Price:** € 36.69
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Jack Batts: Violin Maker and Repairer by paul ballonoff
- **How much does it cost?** € 36.69 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.gr](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/35785371-jack-batts-violin-maker-and-repairer)

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- paul ballonoff enthusiasts

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## Description

Jack Batts: Violin Maker and Repairer

## Images

![Jack Batts: Violin Maker and Repairer - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/514HLR11zYL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Reading this book was like hearing Jack talking about violin making in his shops again.
  

*by A***R on Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2015*

I agree with both book reviews posted so far.  My review is coming from my personal experiences perspective. Reading this book was like hearing Jack talking about violin making in his shops again.  In the late 1960’s I wanted to build and play a violin.  I had already bought some wood and a book about how to make a violin..  And although I grew up in Marion, IL, which is 5 miles from Johnston City, IL, and moved out of state after college, I had not heard of Jack Batts until 1969.  It was then that I got to meet Jack in his Shoe Repair – Violin shop.  He used his shoe repair sander to rough out the general shape of his violin backs and tops.  Many visits followed to his shops in Johnston City and West Frankfort, IL.  During those visits from then until his death, he told me most of the information that is found in the book.My first violin was made from hard maple which made a beautiful back, ribs, and neck with a spruce top.  When I heard the long awaited voice of my first violin, I have to admit the sound was bad!  I used European wood on my second violin but it sounded like an old factory German violin. For my third violin, I used better European wood.  When it was finished, I took it in the white (unvarnished) to Jack’s shop to be strung with good strings.  Jack played my violin for awhile and then exclaimed, “I can’t believe the sound!”  “It took me years to get that sound into a violin!”  I then told Jack that I had tried to do what he had told me to get a good sound.  Apparently it works.  By that time I could tell when a violin has a good voice.Jack varnished all three of my violins with Michaelman varnish.  It was interesting to me that the voices of the first two violins stayed bad while the third violin’s voice improved after being varnished.My third violin had the inside coated with a mixture of agricultural lime and raw linseed oil that was refined at home in the summer sun and rain in a gallon can with water and a drain to let out excess water.  The lime & oil are mixed into a putty-like form, and it is rubbed on the inside of the top and back before they are glued together.  Jack used the mixture to keep the moisture out of the unvarnished inside wood.Starting with no knowledge of violin building, it took me 3 violins and 3 years to make a creditable sounding violin.  A person already making violins should be able to put the information from this book to use in much less time.  I personally know one other person that used to visit Jack’s shop who used Jack’s ideas.  He was from Chattanooga, TN and made many good violins and some violas too.In the last few years of Jack’s career, he concentrated on building new violins and 2 or 3 violin bow while basically giving up his repair work. He also changed to a varnish made with amber.Jack told me that he wanted his shop records preserved so people interested in violin building could use them.  He gave me copies of the records too, but having the shop records in this book makes his wish come true.Jack was a dear friend to me and remembering him is made easier for me by opening my double violin case to see a 1961 Batt’s violin and my third violin side by side.Paul Ballonoff’s book gets a 5 star rating from me.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    This is great story of a master craftsman living is a most ...
  

*by S***C on Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2014*

While I haven't lived there for over 45 years, I grew up in Johnston City and knew Jack Batts well. This book describes both Jack snd J-City quite accurately, and it brought back many fond memories of both for me. Although I know next to nothing abour violin making, I certainly learned a lot about it and Jack's technique and philosophy from this book. This is great story of a master craftsman living is a most unlikely place.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Great Story of an interesting talented man
  

*by R***S on Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2017*

Great story of a great man.  I grew up in the town where Mr. Batts had his shop and often heard him playing the violin when walking down the street.  Didn't play the violin as a kid, unfortunately, but am trying to find one of his violins now.

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*Product available on Desertcart Greece*
*Store origin: GR*
*Last updated: 2026-02-27*