Early Interest in the Guitar
I was born in 1982. When I was eleven years old, I began playing the guitar, and from that moment on the instrument never lost its hold on me. After a brief period of learning classical guitar, I turned to the electric guitar and spent several years exploring Blues, Rock and Jazz. Realising that I wanted more from and with the instrument, I returned to classical guitar and soon discovered my affinity for Tárrega and other composers of the early twentieth century.
Studies and First Steps in Guitar Making
In 2002 I began my studies at the conservatory in Osnabrück. My teacher Ulrich Müller not only helped me refine my playing, but also encouraged me to build my first guitar. I constructed that instrument on the living room carpet at home, and both my teacher and I were enthusiastic about the result. Motivated by this experience, I immediately wanted to build the next one.
During this period I met Gerhard Oldiges. He allowed me to observe his work and to ask countless questions. My desire for knowledge grew, and I realised that in him I had found an experienced luthier whose expertise and artistic standards would shape my understanding of high-quality instruments. Through many visits to his workshop and long discussions, I learned the essentials of refined craftsmanship.
Further Musical Education and Professional Path
In 2004 I continued my studies at the Akademie für Tonkunst in Darmstadt with Olaf van Gonnissen. When my third guitar was sold immediately after completion, I understood that building instruments would become far more than just a hobby. Highly motivated, I began working as a luthier alongside my studies.
Despite the considerable time and energy that instrument making demanded, I successfully completed my studies in 2007 and passed the concert examination two years later.
Inspiration and Artistic Motivation
Over the years I have tested every guitar I could get my hands on, continually seeking inspiration. Through this process, I developed a deep passion for the sound of the old masters. My greatest motivation remains the act of creation itself: witnessing how an instrument emerges from raw materials and shaping its sound step by step towards my personal ideal – an ideal I may never fully reach.
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.
