Virginia is for Lovers

  • Welcome

    Welcome

    • About Virginia
    • Welcome Centers
    • VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS
    • Accessible Travel
    • International Visitors
    • Weather
    • Transportation
    • Related Links
    • Weddings In Virginia
    • LGBTQ+ Travel
    • Virginia Green Travel
    • VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS SHOP

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia 2021 Travel Guide
    Order Now
  • Things To Do

    Things To Do

    • Family Fun
    • Historic Sites
    • Eat & Drink
    • Outdoors
    • THEME PARKS & WATERPARKS
    • Zoos & Aquariums
    • Music
    • BEACHES
    • State Parks
    • National Parks
    • CAVERNS
    • Golf
    • SPAS
    • SHOPPING
    • MUSEUMS
    • Arts & Culture
    • LOVEworks
    • Filmed in Virginia

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia 2021 Travel Guide
    Order Now
  • Events

    Events

    • ARTS & CRAFTS
    • CIVIL WAR
    • CULINARY
    • FAMILY FUN
    • FESTIVALS
    • HISTORY & HERITAGE
    • MUSIC FESTIVALS
    • PERFORMANCES
    • SPORTING
    • WINE FESTIVALS

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia 2021 Travel Guide
    Order Now
  • Places To Stay

    Places To Stay

    • BED & BREAKFAST
    • COTTAGES & CABINS
    • INNS
    • RESORTS
    • PET FRIENDLY
    • CAMPING
    • HOTELS & MOTELS
    • LODGES & GUEST RANCHES
    • Vacation Homes & Rentals
    • VIRGINIA GREEN

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia 2021 Travel Guide
    Order Now
  • Deals

    Deals

    • DEALS & DISCOUNTS
    • FALL PACKAGES
    • FAMILY FUN PACKAGES
    • FOOD AND WINE PACKAGES
    • HISTORY DEALS
    • SPRING PACKAGES
    • MILITARY DISCOUNTS
    • ROMANCE PACKAGES
    • TRAVEL PACKAGES

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia 2021 Travel Guide
    Order Now
  • Store
  • Maps

    Maps

    • Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia - Blue Ridge Highlands
    • Central Virginia
    • Chesapeake Bay
    • Coastal Virginia - Eastern Shore
    • Coastal Virginia - Hampton Roads
    • Southwest Virginia - Heart of Appalachia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Virginia Mountains

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia 2021 Travel Guide
    Order Now
  • Accessible Travel

The Crooked Road: Luthiers and Fiddle Makers

Crooked Road Albert HashLuthiers and fiddle makers are common along the Crooked Road. One of the greatest teachers of the art was the late Albert Hash of Whitetop in Grayson County, who influenced some well-known luthiers and fiddle makers along the Crooked Road.

Albert Hash's daughter, Audrey Hash Ham, carries on the tradition today, handing it handed down to another generation, as has been done for centuries.

One of Hash's apprentices was Wayne Henderson of Rugby. Henderson, a master guitar maker and award-winning picker, is known around the world for his guitars. Even Eric Clapton waited several years for one! You can read all about it in the book, "Clapton's Guitar" by Allen St. John.

Henderson taught Gerald Anderson how to make guitars and other fretted instruments, such as the mandolin. Anderson has built more than 100 mandolins over the past 40 years. Anderson's mandolins are modeled after the classic instruments made by Gibson in the 1920s.

Today, one of Gerald Anderson's apprentices is Spencer Strickland. Anderson and Strickland made the hand-crafted mandolins and guitars offered as prizes in The Crooked Road Sweepstakes.  

Jack Branch of Bristol is a fiddle maker, another early apprentice of Albert Hash, who happened to be his brother-in-law, too. Branch also learned the techniques of making fine Italian-made instruments, even double basses, from Karl Becker, a famous luthier in New York.

Another one of Hash's apprentices is Tom Barr of Galax, who owns and operates Barr's Fiddle Shop in Galax, where many professional musicians hang out and jam as well as purchase their instruments and music supplies.

Randall Eller of Chilhowie, studied with Hash. Today he and his sons make fiddles and mandolins at Cabin Woodworks. Eller plays fiddle and guitar with the old-time band, Cleghorn.

Other notable luthiers and fiddle makers along The Crooked Road include John Dancer of Damascus in Washington County; John Huron of Bristol; Mac Traynham of Willis in Floyd County; James Savage of Pipers Gap in Carroll County; Walter Messick with Cabin Creek Musical Instruments in Mouth of Wilson, Grayson County; and Wayne Powers and Bradley Hill of Haysi in Dickenson County.

For more information on how you can purchase a beautiful handmade fiddle, guitar, mandolin or other stringed instrument, please contact the folks at the Visitor Centerin the region you plan to visit.

Last Updated: 2/20/2020

CN20072701P_001.JPG

Spring in Virginia

  • Lesser-Known Spring Break Spots

    Affordable Family Activities

    Spring Road Trips

    Get Outdoors

    Scenic Wineries for Spring

    Family-Friendly Resorts

    Pick-Your-Own Farms
Virginia is for Lovers Trucker Hat

Shop with us for merchandise and gifts

Shop Virginia

We Need Your Feedback

Take our Survey

Travel Updates

Success! Get ready to start receiving Virginia.org travel updates.

Find out why Virginia is for Lovers. You’ll get monthly travel inspiration, insider tips, and itineraries to help you plan your best Virginia vacation yet. Plus exclusive offers, deals, packages and more! Sign up for Virginia is for Lovers Emails now!

There’s always more to LOVE in Virginia. Please select any topic that interests you!

About Va
  • Virginia Travel Blog
  • Welcome Centers
  • Cities & Localities
  • Transportation
  • Virginia Is For Lovers
Contact Us
  • Media/Press Room
  • Send Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • DEI Statement
  • Travel Industry
  • Travel Guide Order
Travel
  • Group Planners
  • Sports Marketers
  • Meetings Professionals
  • Virginia Green Travel
  • Accessible Travel
Additional Links
  • Virginia Is For Lovers Store
  • Add/Update Your Listings
  • Website Survey
  • Site Map
  • Virginia is for Lovers
  • DiscoverAmerica.com
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • England
  • Korea
  • China
  • Japan

Official Tourism Website of the Commonwealth of Virginia ● © 2021 Virginia Tourism Corporation, 901 E. Cary St., Suite 900, Richmond, VA 23219
For Virginia citizen and business services visit www.Virginia.gov. ● Virginia Economic Development Partnership visit www.VEDP.org.