Other – The Holy Grail Guitar Show

Stratmann Gitarren

admin — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 11:13:05 +0000

Since 1990, Stratmann Gitarren has been THE address for custom made electric guitars and repairs in Hannover, Germany. Guitars and basses as well as “very special” instruments are completely designed and hand-crafted using traditional tools and machinery. All stages of manufacturing are performed in the local workshop – from best selected wood to high gloss finish and the perfect setup of each instrument. Even the pickups are handwound in the workshop to meet the individual demands of the customers as well possible.

In the spacious and well equipped workshop, Thomas Stratmann also offers guitar building courses of 2 weeks with up to 5 participants.

In 2014 and 2016, we had the chance to successfully exhibit our instruments at the “The Holy Grail Guitar Show”. It was absolutely fantastic and the perfect event for guitar afficionados! We are looking forward to taking part again this year!

William Laskin Guitarmaker

admin — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 12:03:10 +0000

William ‘Grit’ Laskin has been building concert level Steel String, Flamenco and Classical guitars In Toronto, Canada since 1971. He is the originator of the Bevels on acoustic guitars as well as the Sideport Soundhole. He is also known for his groudbreaking Inlay Art. The latest book on his Inlay Art is Grand Complications–50 Guitars & 50 Stories. He has received Canada’s highest award for Craft Excellence, the Saidye Bronfman Award, as well as being given the Order Of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honour for his innovative guitar work and his contributions to Canada’s music community.

The featured guitar, “SCHOOL STRIKE”, inspired largely by Greta Thunberg, has Inlay Art that focuses on the climate crisis. But this guitar was also designed in collaboration with Kora Jünger and Frank Deimel. On two Deimel guitars Kora created art also inspired by Ms. Thunberg, but expanded the theme to include other courageous young people who are changing the world.

Kora and myself will make ourselves available for a Zoom session with any who are interested and book the event with us. The scheduled time is tentatively: both Saturday & Sunday, at 18:00 Berlin time / Noon in Toronto.

I have been playing the guitar since age 9 and loved woodworking, so becoming a guitarmaker was a logical extension, and is a career I still feel passionate about.

TV Jones Inc

admin — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 19:47:34 +0000

Tom purchased his first guitar at the age of 14. His interest led him on a passionate journey toward becoming a self-taught musician, luthier, and eventually, pickup maker. 2020 marks Tom’s 27th year of handcrafting guitars and basses. Tom “TV” Jones is internationally recognized for the handmade pickups used in guitars and basses around the globe. Tom has consulted and designed instruments and pickups for industry leaders including Gretsch, Bigsby, Fender, and Cort. According to Tom, the HGGS is a premier showcase of talent where fellow artists can admire and learn from one another’s work.

My goal is to find the perfect tone and create the best personality possible for each guitar I design. The Holy Grail Guitar Show is a highlight for luthiers!

Maudal Musical Machines

admin — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 19:34:30 +0000

Maudal Musical Machines – eye candy for your ears, established in 2006 Maudal Musical Machines began with the concept of producing guitars with woods that the luthier knew from when they were living trees. Thus, these instruments aren’t a packaged plastic-wrapped product. They were living things; ecosystems in themselves. There is always evidence of this in every instrument, with a bit of what the Japanese call wabi sabi – perfection in imperfection. Maudal Musical Machines are a blend of this artistic ethos and the precise engineering necessary for a beautifully-playing and sounding instrument. Guitars are what work is for.

“Modern man does not experience himself as a part of nature but as an outside force destined to dominate and conquer it. ” E F Schumacher

The calling I have found in lutheiry leads me in the opposite direction. I seek to create the most beauty using the least resources.

Ergon Guitars

admin — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 19:26:15 +0000

Ergon Guitars are a combination of a life long passion for music and all things artistic. It is also a continuation of the brave journey started by other builders who dared to do things beyond the average, as we stand on the shoulders of giants. The instruments are made to be a beautiful extension of the musician’s body, granting a more fluid channel through which expression can be manifested. Each guitar is unique and brings a new sound, because no two instruments are similar. Even inside the same design family, every guitar is different and an evolution of the previous.

What drives me to build guitars is to create something I have never seen before and the grateful feeling I get for allowing me to keep growing as a human being. Being able to share this with some of the Holy Grailers makes me feel lucky.

Nordic Guitars

admin — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:53:55 +0000

Nordic Guitars was established in 2015 by Bjørn Rønnow, who beside his jobs as a yoga teacher and handyman has always been interested in developing musical instruments. His vision is to give guitar- and bassplayers more opportunities for musical expression. ROTATOR is the name of this instrument, and the shown version is a 4 string fretted/4 string fretless bass. By rotating the necks 180 degrees, you can bring either the one or the other fretboard up in normal playing position. By playing the two fretboards together, using tapping, plucking and picking, you can create a musical whole, spontaneously, with one instrument.

When I first heard about the Holy Grail Show in 2016, I thought: This is the place for my instruments! At that time I was not ready at all with my skills and instruments, but now after building several ROTATOR – prototypes, I feel ready and very happy to be a part of this show.

Laetsch Guitars

admin — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 16:58:04 +0000

Laetsch Guitars is a small one-man atelier in northern Germany that delivers unique, custom-made instruments. A perfectionist and purist at heart, owner and Master Luthier Veit Laetsch is driven by a desire to produce well-balanced and highly responsive instruments that offer both a pure sound and comfortable handling. Like all artistic products, the resulting sound and beauty of the instruments are hard to explain in words – you have to experience it for yourself. Whether you’re looking for a custom-made guitar, one-of-a-kind reconstructions in a puristic design or want your favourite instrument repaired, it’s well worth a visit.

I’m delighted to be presenting my instruments at the HGGS one more time. It especially brings me great pleasure having this opportunity to show my new creations to so many amazing guitars enthusiasts. My workshop is about creating one-of-a-kind steel and nylon string guitars with six or more strings.

Kopo guitars

admin — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 16:50:07 +0000

Since 1988, hundreds of instruments have come out of Fred Kopo’s workshop. There have been many creations, some bestsellers, such as The Yalta, of which nearly fifty copies have been produced so far. As many electric and semi-acoustic guitars and basses have been made, however more and more acoustic models are now produced. In 2016 Fred designed a new version of the Ouessant, the L1, featuring a linen composite body, and during the past 3 years Kopo strongly developed this concept that became the KLAS, for “Kopo Linen Acoustic Solution”; comfort, stability, acoustics and ecology !

Featured guitar: Leonard#1 – This unique guitar was built of a Klas body (eco linen composite https://en.kopo.fr/solutionlocale) , featuring a red cedar soundboard, basswood neck, sorbus fingerboard and bridge (stained with red pigment). It was ivory white lacked and then artistically painted by the artist Nathalie Leonard, who had a total freedom for this; then It has been satin varnished to protect the creation.

I am very very happy to be part of this 2020 edition of the HGGS, as I was already there in 2015 for the first show. This is the best event a guitar maker could imagine, and a guitarist could dream to attend ! Thanks to EGB team !

Photo Copyright: Franck Belloeil

Pablo Sánchez Otero Guitars

admin — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 16:42:28 +0000

After learning instrument making in Spain, UK and Belgium, he’s just settled in his new workshop in A Coruña, Spain. He builds mainly classical and electric guitars, but also mandolins and other plucked instruments.
With every project, he wants to achieve three goals: sensitivity and response to the musician’s needs, comfort for the player, and aesthetics regarding shape, construction and colour. Another pillar of Pablo’s work is the careful selection of the raw material, regarding the cutting, seasoning and also the sustainability and respect towards each piece of wood. Unique instruments adapted to the needs of every musician.

I built my first guitar in 2009 and from that moment on I was absolutely got hooked on this beautiful world of guitar making. I’ve volunteered at the previous HGGS shows since the beginning and since the first one I had the dream of exhibiting here one day.

Photo Copyright: Naoyuki Arakawa (workshop photo 1)

Vilhelm Engström Guitars

admin — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 16:41:38 +0000

Captivated by the sounds of slide playing delta blues artists, Vilhelm Engström built his first metal bodied resonator guitar in 1999. 10 years later he decided to bring his guitar building to a professional level and studied luthiery for 3 years in Stockholm.
Today he runs a small shop in Stockholm, working both wood and metal. He is focused on building his own models, including fine Ladder Braced flat top guitars and exclusively designed metal bodied resonator guitars of the highest quality. His high end metalwork features TIG welded joints and various chemically obtained rust finishes, giving each instrument its unique appearance.

Cannot think of a better guitar show! Truly got the blues knowing this will be the last…