In his workshop in Wiesloch near Heidelberg, the maker constructs guitars, lutes and other stringed instruments to order. Projects involving the creation of entirely new instruments or the evolution of existing ones, developed in close cooperation with musicians and sound artists, are at the core of his work. He also undertakes repairs, servicing and modifications to improve ease of play and sound. In addition, he sells selected instruments for everyday use, preferably from European producers, and advises children, beginners and learners of all ages in choosing a suitable instrument. His focus remains on perfect playability, a well-balanced sound and tasteful design, a combination intended to inspire musical motivation.
He built his first guitar in the late 1990s under the supervision of Gerold Karl Hannabach in Bubenreuth. Further instruments followed, and from 1999 he completed a four-year course in musical instrument design and construction in Markneukirchen. During this time he met Günter Mark, a lute and viol maker in Bad Rodach, who inspired him to build historical lutes, now a significant part of his work.
In 2003 he began working in Bernhard Deutz’s Klangwerkstatt in Berlin. The seven years spent there opened a new perspective on instrument building. The experience of constructing monochords, intuitively playable string instruments such as the psaltery and lyre, and sound-related objects like sound chairs and sound beds had a lasting influence on his approach. Working with tonewood as a living material and shaping sound continue to fascinate him. He thrives on developing simple yet effective solutions in collaboration with musicians to meet their specific artistic requirements.
The Craft
Classical guitar construction at concert level demands years of accumulated knowledge: how individual pieces of timber vibrate, how bracing patterns affect tonal balance, how small changes in geometry shift the character of an instrument. A finished concert guitar typically represents several hundred hours of hand work. Every decision — wood selection, arch height, brace dimensions — shapes what a player can do with the finished instrument.
