Andreas Kirmse - 2017 No. 60 Doubletop

Andreas Kirmse was born in East Germany in 1981. At the age of 16, he discovered his passion for the guitar. Lacking professional training, he has learned by teaching himself and mostly playing for his pleasure. After finishing school and civil service, he took some years off, traveling to several countries. In 2003 he decided to begin to study lutherie. He had the chance to work with Hermann Graefe in Lenderhausen, Germany, for one year. From him, he received a lot of basic knowledge of the craft, and Andreas had his first contact with interesting guitars from luthiers like Daniel Friederich and Richard Jakob Weissgerber.

Andreas continued his study at the University of Applied Science in Markneukirchen. In 2007 he took a trip across North America, visiting luthiers along the way. He had a chance to work with well-known luthier Gregory Byers in California. This trip has proven to be very influential in his development.

After finishing his studies at the university, Andreas worked for Achim Peter Gropius in Reutlingen and learned a lot about the repair and restoration of guitars. From 2009 to 2012, he lived and worked in the south of France. Since 2013 Andreas has lived with his family in Leipzig, Germany.
The quality of Andreas’ instruments and the search for a perfect tone are essential parts of his work. He is strongly inspired by old masters like Antonio de Torres, Manuel Ramirez, Pedro Perez, and Santos Hernandez, and modern makers like Daniel Friederich, Robert Ruck, Gregory Byers, and Matthias Dammann. They helped him find his way to his personal guitar concept. Since 2007 Andreas has used the “double top” technique exclusively. With the help of this construction method, he can reach the tone he is looking for.

Thanks to its lightweight, this fantastic instrument responds very well to the touch of the right hand, making it incredibly comfortable to play. The dark cedar top is a wonderful match for the sometimes mysterious and emphatic sound character. A distinctive ziricote back and sides complete the appealing aesthetics of this guitar. Thanks to the particularly accessible neck shape, even demanding musical passages can be confidently played. This 2017 model is in excellent condition with only superficial signs of play. Also noteworthy are the great tonal volume and excellent projection with which this guitar performs brilliantly in any playing situation. A very desirable concert instrument that is packed with lots of character and personality.

Watch the presentation video of this particular guitar below, where you can find a lot of additional information about its playability and sound.