Ivan Stankov craving a flamed violin back on the workbench Maker Bio: Ivan Stankov

Ivan Stankov is a Master Luthier among Bulgaria's most respected makers. His instruments are gaining a sparkling reputation for tone, craftsmanship and finishing.

Mr. Stankov studied with graduates of the Cremona School in Italy to hone his craft. He uses traditional Italian methods of construction and select well-seasoned European spruce and Balkans maple tone wood.

His masterful violins are finished in the method inspired by England's David Rubio where a pine-resin oil varnish is brushed over a special coat of mineral ground. This advanced varnishing technique was developed after many years of studying the genuine violins of Giuseppe Guarneri and Antonio Stradivari.

Mr. Stankov competes in luthierie competitions in Europe, including Cremona, Italy's Trianalle and the European Eufonia Competition. He has won several medals for his violins, violas and celli.

For instance, in 2009 his viola earned 7th place and his cello 6th place in the Eufonia event. More recently his cello earned the distinction of a coveted Silver Medal at the 9th Annual ANLAI International Contemporary Violin Making Competition (Associazione Nazionale Liuteria Artistica Italiana) in 2018! 

He lives in the Kazanlak region or "Rose city" of Bulgaria with his wife, Angela Moneff, who is also a luthier from whom we commission master-grade violins.

Fiddleheads carries violins lovingly nicknamed "crazy backs" for the intensely marble-figured woods used on the back plates. Only a couple crazy backs are made each year owing to the rare seasoned supply of this incredibly ornate material.

He lives in the Kazanlak region or "Rose city" of Bulgaria with his wife, Angela Moneff, who is also a luthier from whom we commission master-grade violins. Fiddleheads' owner Rhiannon Nachbaur and Mr. Stankov forged a close working relationship in 2006 and remain friends to this day.

See Stankov Instruments Here