Classical & Flamenco Guitars · Austria
“I go into the forest and select a tree that will eventually result in a guitar top.”

Tobias Braun is fascinated by the homogeneity of the artisanal process.

See the guitars
From a tree to a guitar

One maker, from the forest to the finished instrument.

From then on he accompanies his material from the storage of wood to the processing of individual parts until the finished workpiece.

I

The forest

Spruce from the Austrian Alps and the Bohemian Forest for the soundboards — with a particular preference for Bearclaw Spruce.

II

The wood store

All woods are naturally air-dried. Since 1988 — sometimes whole trees — a large, varied and well-aged stock.

III

The workbench

Every guitar is based on a famous “original” by the distinguished Spanish Masters, personally analysed and researched.

IV

The guitar

A wooden ring inside the sound hole, a rosette with the “Key” motif — and the tradition of the Spanish guitar makers.

The Guitars

Built on the great originals.

“I have only ever built instruments based on famous ‘original’ instruments, particularly those made by distinguished Spanish Masters.”

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Tobias Braun

Self-taught, then three weeks with Romanillos.

Guitar making started as his hobby when he was in his very early Twenties. For one and a half years Tobias Braun followed books and tried to make guitars in the self-taught way. In 1984 he attended the very first guitar making class by José L. Romanillos in Zürich. These three weeks formed the acoustical and aesthetical basis of his guitars.

1984First guitar-making course with José Luis Romanillos, Zürich
1989Master Craftsman’s Certificate, Vienna
1993Assistant to J. Romanillos, Guitar Makers’ Course, Córdoba
1998New house and workshop in Gaaden, in the Vienna Woods
2000Working with Guitar Salon International, Santa Monica
Full biography
Publications & Lectures

Research into the great Spanish guitars.

The Restoration of a Spanish Factory-Made Guitar (around 1900)

“…a small but, in terms of the history of Spanish Guitar Making, significant saga reminiscent of a Sherlock-Holmes mystery.”

Lecture · 75–90 min

The Viennese Guitarist Luise Walker and her Santos Hernández Guitar

The history of this guitar and its player (1910–1998), and of her teacher Miguel Llobet — held by experts as the most beautiful surviving “Santos”.

Lecture · request via email
Press
“One of the best Central European makers we’ve seen to date. He uses spectacular materials including gorgeous German spruce which is covered in bearclaw markings…”
Guitar Salon International, Santa Monica CA
Contact & Visit

The workshop in Gaaden.

Address
Sittendorferstr. 16b
A-2531 Gaaden bei Mödling
Tel + Fax
+43 2237 8418
Mobile
+43 664 2303710
Email
office@tobiasbraun-guitars.com
Directions