Strings, bows and tuning knobs clutter Norm Lambert's daily routine, with his 45 years repairing and rebuilding violins bringing him acclaim as a violin doctor.

The Lambert family has lived on a homestead at Coopernook on the New South Wales mid-north coast since the early 1800s, but Mr Lambert was the first to learn the violin.

"My dad asked me what I wanted to play as a boy and I said the violin. I am not quite sure why," he said.

"I think it was the sound that dragged to me to it in the first place … it's an ever lingering sound in your head. I hope that when I play others feel that way."

He rebuilt the family home with full wooden panelling along the walls and roof, to best accentuate the acoustics of his violins while repairing and fine tuning them.

He receives classical instruments from all over the country and in all stages of disrepair.

"I have had one gentleman come to me with a violin in bits and I asked him to pour it out on the table, and I put it back together," he said.

"There is a real artistry to building and repairing classical instruments. I have had the pleasure in the past 45 years of mending and playing some truly beautiful violins."

Mr Lambert says he feels privileged to have played some of the most beautiful violins. ( ABC Mid North Coast: Gabrielle Lyons )

Repairs on the run in the outback

But his purpose-built workshop was not on hand when the Darwin Symphony Orchestra needed help.

Mr Lambert and his wife Elvie recently visited Uluru, attending an outdoor performance by the orchestra, surrounded by red soil.

"We had some of Australia's best sopranos performing right in front of us. I could see and hear an issue with the tuning during the rehearsal," he said.

"Coming from [a region with heavy] moisture to the dry west had upset and snapped a number of sound posts."

Mr Lambert did not expect to be repairing the full strings section of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra while visiting Uluru. ( Supplied: Elvie Lambert )

Mr Lambert said with the assistance of his son, he made a range of tools out of elements he found locally, and was able to repair the instruments swiftly.

"The sound post is the most important part of a violin. You have to find the proper post with perfectly straight grain through the wood, so the sound travels from the front to the back of the violin," he said.

"I have this sharp s-shaped scrap of metal that I use. It's sharp and thin so it properly slides through the middle of the sound hole without damaging the structure of the instrument."

By the next morning, in time for the evening performance under the Northern Territory stars, Mr Lambert had repaired four violins, three cellos and a handful of violas.

"I managed to fix them all without proper tools, and the performance was magical," he said.

Mentorship key to learning the trade

Bodies of violins are scattered around Mr Lambert's workshop, filling cupboards and hanging from hooks overhead.

Taped to a cupboard at the back of his work desk is a faded and curling news article about John Godschall Johnson, who Mr Lambert said was his greatest mentor.

"He used to come up here in his bus and park on my lawn," he said.

Mr Lambert spends most of his days in his workshop. ( ABC Mid North Coast: Gabrielle Lyons )

Mr Johnson was awarded an Order of Australia for his services to the arts, in particular instrument making.

He passed away in 2003, and made 60 violins in his time.

"It can take up over 200 hours to build an entire violin," Mr Lambert said.

"To build a violin of good calibre, you need decent wood, so I keep a fair bit of timber which dates back to the 1700s for special jobs.

"[John] taught me to start small, work with kids helping to clean and upkeep the instrument.

"Later on down the track when I had more experience, I would sit with John to put a violin together."

Mr Lambert said learning to repair violins had been a thrill throughout his very full life, and hearing a well-kept instrument made his job worthwhile.

"You will see a great player playing so relaxed, and that's where the sound comes from," he said.

"I feel honoured to have handed back beautiful instruments to fantastic players.



"What more could you ask for but to put such a wonderful instrument back together and make it work again?"