Yearbook 2017 The European Guitar Builders association (EGB) is an alliance formed by professional independent European luthiers. It was founded with the goal of organizing the independent luthiers, as well as people related to the field of guitar building, all across Europe. Why was the EGB founded? There are rumors that the electric guitar is dying. Well, we don’t happen to think so. The aim was twofold: to create a community dedicated to the support of luthiers and Yes, there are deep changes happening in today’s world and the music scene. Some their work all across Europe and to increase the visibility of the art and craft of guitar of the large companies are struggling, that is true, but we also see many areas where building in a larger public forum. the guitar is alive and well, with young players (many of them female) passionate about the instrument, charting new paths, creating new sounds and songs. And In 2012 a small group of European luthiers got together at the Montreal Guitar Show. as small builders we share that passion - and we are able to move nimbly with the There had been many intense discussions about the fact that there were no congenial times, to offer today’s musician the service and personal attention the industry can’t. platforms to present their work in Europe, especially for electric guitar builders. So this group of originally 6 luthiers together with 4 others decided to actively pursue What makes a luthier-built guitar so special? the idea of an international organization and a special guitar exhibition. The EGB was founded as a European-wide organization and the groundwork of what was to Of course, the quality, the personal attention and the nearly limitless possibilities become The Holy Grail Guitar Show was started. are certainly factors. But above all it is the people - luthiers love making your dreams come true and the process of buying or having a custom instrument built for you is In May 2013 the registration of the association ‘The European Guitar Builders, something special. e.V.’ was confirmed, and the first edition of The Holy Grail Guitar Show was held successfully in Berlin in 2014. It’s now been just over 4 years since the EGB came into being, but we can already look back on this time with a deep sense of accomplishment. Simply put, the creation of New friendships, collaborations, information sharing and intense networking across this grass roots association has been a watershed event for small builders all across the continent have changed the face of European lutherie. In addition to organizing Europe. We now have 135 full members in 20 countries. Starting with the inception The Holy Grail Guitar Show in Berlin, the EGB has initiated several projects, such as of The Holy Grail Guitar Show in Berlin in 2014, followed by the EGB Symposium and the the EGB Symposium, the Local Wood Challenge and the EGB Community Build, various community projects, the EGB has had a significant impact on the European and has supported the increased attention to handcrafted ‘boutique’ guitars at guitar building scene and has become a vital part of many luthier’s lives. larger trade shows and events. This first yearbook offers a brief introduction to our activities and to our members. Here you find guitar makers ready to work with you to create that very special instrument for you. Visit with us and see what the world of handmade guitars has to offer - quality, sustainability, inventiveness and above all boundless love and joy for the instrument and the music it helps make. Michael Spalt, EGB President, 2017 Scan this to find a luthier near you! What we do: THE HOLY GRAIL GUITAR SHOW is certainly the largest ongoing project, with its 4th edition scheduled for May 5th and 6th, 2018 in Berlin. 135 invited luthiers present the highlights of their art and craft to the public; and a 2-day program of lectures and demo concerts as well as a sales The EGB Manifesto table offering books recommended by the EGB BOOK CLUB (www.europeanguitarbuilders.com/book-club/) • The tradition of lutherie is a rich legacy with knowledge accumulated over offers much to the interested visitor. More information centuries. We want to preserve this, but also carry it forward, expand it through about the Show online at: www.holygrailguitarshow.com innovation and the exchange of ideas and culture. • We want to foster a sense of community among practitioners of our craft. As a community we are dedicated to support each other by sharing knowledge, resources, and experience in order to preserve and innovate the art and craft of guitar building The EGB SYMPOSIUM is an annual in Europe as a vital part of our musical culture. event for EGB members and guests, bringing together the community for • We strive to support musicians in expressing and developing their art through networking, discussions, the sharing collaborating closely with them. of knowledge, and connecting with each other both professionally and • We want to promote sustainable development, ecologic awareness and economic socially. growth in an ethical way. A major goal is to educate consumers about the values they support by their choices and how this impacts the goals of the association. • Our intention is to educate the public about what differentiates a handcrafted instrument from a factory product, and why the expense of buying such an instrument is justified. We want to raise public awareness about the impact their purchase has The EGB COMMUNITY BUILDS were started at the 2017 EGB Symposium and will be on issues regarding the environment, endangered woods, fair wages and the fabric presented to the public at The HGGS 2018. 3 guitars and 3 musicians – one acoustic, of our society. one electric, and a bass are being created by groups of luthiers for three players with the goal to show how custom instruments are made, allow the public glimpses • We stand for responsible conduct in regards to the environment, and for a into workshops all over Europe, and witness the creation of unique pieces of high sustainable way of creating instruments of enduring value. We want to contribute to craftsmanship from start to finish. a life of entirety, instead of participating in the ruthless exploitation of resources and people for the sake of profit margins. In addition, by inviting three female players to be part of this project we want to draw attention to the fact that women are still very under-represented in our profession Who we are: 2017 members and the musical industry in general. More information and updates online at www.europeanguitarbuilders.com/cb-projects/ or join the community on Facebook! THE LOCAL WOOD CHALLENGE was created for The HGGS 2016 NIKOLA ADAMOVIC ANDREA BALLARIN and focuses on educating the public about the advantages ADAMOVIC MANNE GUITARS of using local and non-tropical woods by challenging guitar NETHERLANDS ITALY www.adamovic.nl/ www.manne.com/ builders to make special instruments out of woods local to their area. Instruments conforming to the requirements can be registered and receive the LWC sign. www.europeanguitarbuilders.com/local-wood-challenge/ KEVIN ARAM CSABA BENEDEK ARAM GUITARS FIBENARE GUITARS UNITED KINGDOM HUNGARY www.aramguitars.co.uk www.fibenare-guitars.com TED ASTRAND RALPH BONTE ÅSTRAND GUITARS THE YOUTH BUILD was started at ARRENBIEGUITARS (COSMOLOGY AB) BELGIUM the same time to develop guitars to SWEDEN www.arrenbieguitars.be be built with and for children. www.astrandguitars.com JOHANNES AULY WOUT BOSMA AULY GUITARS DE LUTHIERS AUSTRIA NETHERLANDS THE HISTORICAL PROJECT remem- ADVOCACY. The EGB is also involved www.aulyguitars.wordpress.com/ www.deluthiers.nl bers guitar makers and instruments in ongoing CITES initiatives to pro- that should not be forgotten by vide both luthiers and the public presenting a special exhibit at The with information as well as support SETH BACCUS PIERRICK BRUA HGGS. changes to the regulations simplify- SETH BACCUS GUITARS PIERRICK BRUA GUITARS www.europeanguitarbuilders.com/ ing traveling and dealing with instru- PORTUGAL FRANCE www.sethbaccus.com/ www.bruaguitars.com/ egb-historical-project/ ments. ARON BACH DANIEL CABEZAS BACCE CUSTOM TULI BASSES GUITARS & BASSES FINLAND SPAIN www.tulibass.com www.bacceguitars.com RUDOLF BACHMANN FULVIO CAPPELLI BACHMANN GUITARS ACOUSTIC LIUTERIA & TONEWOOD ITALY ITALY www.acousticliuteria.com www.bachmann-guitars.com PIERRE-MARIE FRANK DE HAAN PIERRE DUBRÉ GÁBOR GOLDSCHMIDT CHÂTEAUNEUF DUBRÉ GUITARS DE HAAN GUITARS FIBENARE GUITARS PMC GUITARS DENMARK NETHERLANDS HUNGARY FRANCE www.dubreguitars.com www.pmcguitars.com www.dehaanguitars.nl www.fibenare-guitars.com GERARD CHATELIER PETER DE SMET MARTIN EBNER CHRISTOPHE GRELLIER CHATELIER FRERES PDS GUITARS FANT GUITARS GRELLIER GUITARS FRANCE NETHERLANDS AUSTRIA FRANCE www.chatelierfreres.com www.pdsguitars.nl www.fant-guitars.com www.grellier.fr/ SIMONE COLOMBO GIJS DE WIT GÜNTER EYB LUIS GUERRERO LIUTERIA ACUSTICA COLOMBO DE WIT GUITARS EYB GUITARS MARTINEZ ITALY NETHERLANDS GERMANY LUIS GUERRERO GUITARS www.liuteriacolombo.it www.dewitguitars.com www.eyb-guitars.eu SPAIN www.luisguerreroguitars.com ALAN CRINGEAN FRANK DEIMEL EMANUELE FAGGION JEFF GUILFORD AC GUITARS DEIMEL GUITARWORKS ONIRICA GUITARS JJ GUITARS UNITED KINGDOM GERMANY ITALY UNITED KINGDOM www.acguitars.co.uk www.deimelguitarworks.de/ www.oniricaguitars.com www.jjguitars.com/ ANDREAS CUNTZ ENRICO DIDONATO TONI FAYOS JOVER OTTO HALABICA CUNTZ-GUITARS DI DONATO GUITARS AFJ CUSTOM GUITARS HALABICA GUITARS GERMANY ITALY SPAIN SLOVAK REPUBLIC www.cuntz-guitars.de/ www.didonatoguitars.it/ www.afjguitars.com halabicaguitars.com MAURIZIO CUZZOLIN MEIK DOBBRATZ DANIELE FIERRO THORSTEN HANS JACARANDA GUITARS GREAT OWL GUITARS LE FAY HANS GUITARS & REPAIR (LIUTERIA ARTIGIANA JACARANDA) ITALY GERMANY GERMANY ITALY www.greatowlguitars.com www.lefay.de www.hansguitars.com www.jacaranda.it/en/ NICO DAYET REINER DOBBRATZ HANS GEERDINK FRANK HARTUNG GUITARS & CIE STEPINHUT LE FAY JHG GUITARS FRANK HARTUNG GUITARS FRANCE GERMANY NETHERLANDS GERMANY www.lutherie-guitare.fr/ www.lefay.de www.jhgguitars.nl www.hartung-guitars.com SANDER DE GIER CHRISTIAN DÖRR BERT GERECHT RICHARD HEERES GITARRENBAUMEISTER C.