In a small workshop in Tilburg (The Netherlands), I make bespoke guitars and ukuleles by hand. The construction methods I use are stongly informed by the Spanish tradition of guitar making where the instrument is build without a mold and with very few jigs and fixtures. Throughout the proces I rely mostly on traditional hand tools instead of machines. This gives me a better feel for the properties of each individual piece of wood, and allows for a more intuitive way of working.

All the parts of the instrument are made in the workshop, except for the tuners. As a vegan I do not use any animal-based products in the construction of my instruments. Synthetic alternatives are often more consistent in quality, and I have adjusted my methods where needed to make vegan and cruelty-free instruments without compromising the highest standards in craftsmanship and tone.

Next to making new instruments I'm available for repair and restoration work. In fact in my first years as a luthier I worked primarily as a restorer, performing extensive restorations on antique and vintage instruments. As such I've worked on many fine instruments ranging from  19th century romantic guitars to 1950-60's Gibson and Fender guitars, and more recently gypsy-jazz guitars by makers such as Busato and Selmer. 

Before I became a full-time luthier I worked as a guitar-teacher, while running a succesfull side-business dealing in rare vintage and boutique guitars. As a musician I've performed in various bands and ensembles both in the Netherlands and abroad, and have released several recordings including a full-length album. I'm still teaching a small number of students, and enjoy sharing the knowledge I've gained in 30 years of playing the guitar.