The Phoenix 6-string Violin

After first seeing the Bahamut guitar I built for Wang Leehom, Dennis Lau got in touch with me with the idea to build a custom electric violin that could rival the stage presence of the Chinese dragon-shaped electric guitar.
It was a great idea, but this would be my first ever violin. It took six years of discussions and persuasions before I finally gave in and agreed to build The Phoenix.
I had been holding the idea of a violin that would wrap around your body for support, so I suggested making a Phoenix and Dennis agreed that it was a perfect symbol to represent his music and his journey and rebirth as a musician.
We spent a few months discussing the design and then Dennis travelled all the way from Malaysia to Ireland to have the violin fitted to his body. It was more like tailoring a suit than building an instrument.
The Phoenix was hand-carved and moulded in carbon fibre to make it very strong and light and to give it a true skin of fire we gilded it with 23K Gold.
On completion I flew to Malaysia to deliver it in person and then a couple of months later my wife Kim and I made yet another trip to Malaysia for the unveiling of the violin at The Phoenix Rising Concert.
This project has been one of the most rewarding commissions of my career. From meeting new people and traveling to new places, to being given the opportunity to stretch my creative abilities to a new level. Thank you Dennis for giving me this opportunity.