Andreas Kirmse - 2020 Doubletop Cedar/Cypress

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. H 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 the essential parts of his work. He is strongly inspired by old masters like Antonio de Torres, Manuel Ramirez, Pedro Perez, 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.

This particular guitar has a cedar double-top. The back and sides are made of Cypress, which contributes that this guitar is lightweight and has super responsive and massive open sound. Interestingly enough, the musicality of this guitar and the ability of the first string to sing are astonishing. Wonderfully rounded, warm, and velvety tone provides the guitarist flawless control over the phrasing and sound quality. Moreover, a highly comfortable neck offers first-class playing comfort. Overall, a truly fantastic concert guitar with precise craftmanship from a prominent German luthier.