The Society has a selection of viols, complete with bows and cases, available for hire to members. The intention of this service is primarily to help those starting the viol and taking lessons from a qualified teacher before buying an instrument of their own.
Members
Charges (all for a three-month period) are: £69 hire charge + £20 insurance for
trebles and tenors, and £75 + £20 for basses. As well as the standard treble, tenor
and bass viols, there are seven-string basses, a violone and a few renaissance viols available
for hire. The hire scheme is working more or less as usual during the Covid crisis.
For non-Student Members of VdGS, the contact details for viol hire are:
Gary Bridgewood, Bridgewood & Neitzert, Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0JU. Tel 020
7249 9398. Fax 020 7275 9330 violinsbn@gmail.com
or bridgewoodandneitzert.london/
Student Members
A reduced charge for students is £56 per three-month period + £20 for any size of
instrument.
Advanced Student Members
The Society has a smaller number of good quality viols, including 7-string basses, which were
donated for use by advanced viol student players. For these viols there is only a £25 per
quarter charge to cover insurance. These instruments are usually for hire for a maximum of 6
months maximum, depending on the demand from the waiting list. To be eligible for this scheme
students:
- must have been members of VdGS for at least 3 months
- will usually be attending a university or conservatoire
- be receiving viol tuition
Recent graduates may also be eligible.
All enquiries for the hire of viols by Student Members must initially be sent to Linda Hill, at outreach@vdgs.org.uk. Students should not go directly to Bridgewood & Neitzert.
If you have a viol of any size that is not being played, please consider donating it to the VdGS hire scheme. You may also wish to consider bequeathing viols to the Society in your will. Please contact The Administrator admin@vdgs.org.ukif you can help.
If you are currently hiring an instrument from the VdGS you can extend the viol hire period in several ways:
- send a UK cheque for the next 3 months' hire to Bridgewood & Neiztert (please make it out to the 'Viola da Gamba Society')
- send a PayPal payment to admin@vdgs.org.uk through your own PayPal account
If you are unsure how much you need to pay, or have any questions, please get in touch with Bridgewood & Neiztert.
If you have returned your instrument, please contact the administrator to get your deposit back.
