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- Mr Gao ZhenMin and his wife Wen YaXia in their workshop.
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- Luthier Mr Gao ZhenMin in front of his folded double-bass inside the case.
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- Ms Wen YaXia varnishing an instrument in the couple’s workshop.
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- Mr Gao with a Sichuan maple soundboard ready to be mounted.
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- Mr Gao shows his reserve of drying wood.
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- A piece of maple that Mr Gao keeps for his next commission to use as a back of a double-bass.
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- A very Nicely Made in China double-bass head with copper keys.
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- A cello Nicely Made in China by Mr Gao in his Hebei workshop.
This week Nicely Made in China gives centre stage to Mr Gao ZhenMin, a luthier, owner of Huaming Bass. Mr Gao Zhenmin lives in Hebei and makes his speciality to build and repair double-basses and cellos with his wife, Ms Wen YaXia. NMiC paid him a call in his Hebei workshop where a collection of stringed instruments await his attention between fragrant Sichuan maple and alcohol-based home-made varnish.
When did you open your workshop?
In 2004, after working for 7 years at the oldest Beijing instruments-making factory where I was assembling, adjusting and testing the instruments. While working there I met a lot of music professors who told me there was a niche market in making instruments for high-end classical and jazz musicians. That’s how it started.
