By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone
Cover art by Zonagirante Studio
On the crowded beaches of the internet, if we stay on the shore, we'll be left with spam from your aunt who sells cakes on Instagram, the girl who creates courses so you can succeed with the opposite sex, and irrefutable proof that some idiots talk and carry with them the truth of the universe.. Always remember that there is a lot of beauty and wisdom available on our screens, and that nourishes us more than celebrity gossip or reading the same old scammers. Here, as we have always said, we will talk especially about art, in all the complexity of the word, as it is promoted and conceived in 2024. This week in this section, we'll be featuring four very special guitar makers, distinguished by their origins, construction materials, and unique designs. Here's our fifth digital blog post:
Jennings Guitars (https://jenningsguitars.com)
Custom guitars handmade in California. Jennings Guitars was founded by Chad Jennings, who built his first electric guitar at age 14 as a science fair project. With the help of his father and basic tools, he immersed himself in the world of guitar building and repair. From then on, he made this hobby his main focus until he was 19. In 2011, a friend asked him to build him an electric bass guitar, which led Chad to establish the idea of Jennings Guitars in his parents' garage. He dedicated countless hours to researching, practicing, and perfecting his craft, which allowed him to begin building a reputation for the quality of his instruments. Chad worked as a guitar technician in 2012, performing adjustments and repairs on around 300 guitars while continuing to develop his business. In 2013, he decided to leave that job to dedicate himself fully to Jennings Guitars. To improve his skills, Chad participated in guitar building and repair programs, working with renowned luthiers and graduating from the Galloup School of Guitar Building and Repair. Finally, Jennings Guitars It was officially established in Camarillo, California, in December 2014. Today, the company is dedicated to helping musicians create instruments that inspire them creatively.
Furch Guitars (https://furchguitars.com)
Furch Guitars was founded by Frantisek Furch in the 1970s, When, faced with a lack of quality instruments in socialist Czechoslovakia, he began to build his own instruments using his skills as a metalworker. He created a banjo and then his first acoustic guitar, which attracted the interest of other musicians. Despite the regime's restrictions, Frantisek established a small factory in 1981, marking the beginning of the "F" brand. During the 1980s, he built about 100 guitars, especially roundback style guitars, gaining recognition in the Czech music scene. The Velvet Revolution of 1989 allowed Furch to expand production, moving to a larger workshop and hiring its first employee. In the 1990s, it introduced models like the Silhouette and adapted its line to solid wood guitars, creating different shapes, including dreadnought and jumbo. The company grew rapidly, opening its first store in 1999 and expanding its product range with series like Millennium and Vintage. In 2003, Furch acquired an old mill to improve its facilities, and in 2006, his son Petr joined the management, modernizing processes with CNC technology. Today, Furch Guitars produces around 10,000 high-quality instruments a year, sold on five continents. With a team of over 80 employees, the company continues to innovate in design and technology., being recognized by prominent musicians such as Al Di Meola and Suzanne Vega.
Gepetto Guild (https://www.gepettosguild.com/)
Gepettos Guild It is an international coalition of the most talented luthiers, guitar builders, and custom painters from around the world. Its members proudly hail from Germany, Finland, Sweden, Israel, Malta, the Czech Republic, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and various parts of the USA. The Guild values collaboration and the exchange of ideas, resulting in some of the most creative constructions in the world. Gepettos Guild has perfected the renowned Piano Guitar. 100-year-old piano keys, sealed in epoxy resin, have been transformed into a beautiful guitar. This is the place where you can buy guitars that are anything but ordinary.
Guttlin (http://www.guttlin.be/)
This is the manifesto that presents Karel Phlix, creator of this venture based in Belgium: «"In 2007, I started building my own guitars. As a musician, I owned several guitars from well-known brands, but I wanted to create my own models instead of simply copying existing ones. I was looking for a shape with a vintage feel, and that's how the Thin King model was born, combining classic elements with a unique identity. Later, I developed more original designs under the Guttlin brand, encompassing different types of guitars and basses. I also dedicated myself to the manufacture of pickups, creating the "BarBar Pickups" line. All components, such as bridges and knobs, are made in-house, following a handcrafted approach: no CNC, laser cutting or 3D printing, which defines the essence of "Handmade Originals". Enjoy exploring the various models of these modern vintage guitars and feel free to contact me by email. Since I'm the only one in charge of the whole process, sometimes I can't keep my website updated, but I share photos of my projects almost daily on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.".
And now a few words from our sponsor:
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