LINND. 2010 saw the closure of the Vidlin workshop and a move to rented premises in Lerwick. I had been working on the concept of a new Violin Shoulder rest and along with Andrew Tait (Cam Craft), on his CNC machine, wooden prototypes were made. Finance was needed for patents and tooling (pictures) so in late 2011, with Bob Thomas as MD and Richard Gleave as investor, Pure Acoustic Ltd was formed.
Under the management of Pure Acoustic Ltd the Linnd “Laxo” and “Lunna” shoulder rests were patented, produced and launched at Messe Frankfurt in 2012. Sadly issues with the injection moulding tooling meant the “Laxo” did not work and redesign was required in other areas. Linnd shoulder rests are, however, still available wholesale from Stentor Music and the “Lunna” is the top selling shoulder rest at High Level music in Shetland.
Unfortunately production of the Skyinbow S1 e-violin stopped in 2014 when I resigned as a director of Pure Acoustic Ltd due to still unresolved issues with Pure Acoustic Ltd’s business strategy.
I have continued making Pure Acoustic Pickups, the occasional Mandolin (pics) and S1 Mk III. I also repair and service Skyinbow e-violins and Pure acoustic pickups. A new workshop is under construction and I hope to be making a line of violins and Mandolins later in 2024. In total, from 1992 to 2014, around 3,600 Skyinbow e-violins were produced.
The spirit or Skyinbow lives on under Kenny Johnson Acoustic.
History of Skyinbow
Introduction to Skyinbow history