In 1967, Lothar Semmlinger started his violin maker apprenticeship at Höfner supervised by the master violin maker Albert Lang. The broad product range made at this company allowed him to experience all forms of bowed instrument manufacture.
 
He added to his knowledge and his technical skills during further years of employment both at the company where he did his initial apprenticeship and with the cello maker Roderich Paesold from Bubenreuth.
 
In 1975 he graduated as a master violin maker, following years of apprenticeship training and employment, at the chamber of trade and commerce in Nuremberg.
 
After having reached master standard he continued employment at Dilk in Möhrendorf for a further four years and then founded in 1980 his own company in Baiersdorf in close proximity to the famous centre of violin making in Bubenreuth and began constructing his own instruments.
 
Together with his two sons Stefan, who graduated as a master violin maker in 2004, and Christian, Lothar Semmlinger specialised in the manufacture of high quality instruments for the best soloists and concert musicians.
 
The instruments made by this master craftsman are distinguished by a deep acoustic colour and a large resonant body. His instruments resemble those made by the famous master craftsmen of old, both with regard to their sound and to their craftsmanship.
 
He has experienced major recognition by professionals working in this area on account of his artful recreation of "La Dama de Miwa" (a famous baroque cello made by Tomaso Castelli in 1623).