John Waddle graduated from the Violin Making School of America in 1981, where his instructors included Peter Prier, Paul Hart, Jeff Robinson and Chris DeGroot. He then worked in Peter Prier's violin shop for one year, before moving to Los Angeles to join the workshop of Hans Weisshaar. After two years John left L.A. to be shop foreman at Davis Violin Shop in Minneapolis, where he remained for two years, before opening his own shop in St. Paul in March of 1986.
Pictured above is my Grandfather, C.Ray Waddle. Grandpa was a woodworker, draftsman, and played violin and mandolin. My Father Craig C. Waddle is retired now, but he was a mechanical engineer. My Mother, Willa Rae Waddle is an artist.
Along with radiologist Steven A, Sirr, MD, John has developed a unique expertise in CT scans of valuable stringed instruments. The results of their work together have been widely published in the scientific press, leading to new ways of examining rare instruments without causing damage.
John Waddle remains in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area today, serving the needs of both professional and amateur musicians alike. He is a member of The Guild of American Luthiers, The Violin Society of America, The America Viola Society, The American Musical Instrument Society, The American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers and The Catgut Acoustical Society.