“I am a one-person shop by choice which means that I can focus on only creating the highest quality craftsmanship, tone and playability”
Before pursuing the art of luthiery I had training in both music, art and woodworking. I studied a 3 year full-time guitar building course at The Academy of Musical Instruments in Stockholm, Sweden. I built classical , steel-string and archtop guitars. I received my bachelor’s degree in guitar building and passed the tests with honor for my journeymans certificate as a luthier.
My passion has always been with the steel-string acoustic guitar so it came naturally to me to explore it further. I was fortunate enough to become the first apprentice under Jason Kostal at Kostal Guitars. I travelled to Phoenix, Arizona to work under Jason to learn the approach of building a modern steel-string guitar and how to voice a guitar for maximum responsiveness. Jason is a highly respected luthier worldwide and the tonality of his guitars has influenced the work I do today.
In the summer of 2019 I was awarded with a certificate as a master guitar maker from the Swedish craft council.
I am currently creating 6-8 guitars annually from my workshop located in Öland, Sweden.
Each part of the guitar is made completely by hand with simple woodworking tools to achieve perfection both tonally and aesthetically.
I spend around 200+ hours working on each instrument. From start to finish the instrument is built during a period of 3-4 months. I only use the best materials available and never rush any part of the process. I am a one-person shop by choice which means that I can focus on only creating the highest quality craftsmanship, tone and playability.
“I build my guitars with a structural bracing pattern that allows me to work with thin tops for maximum responsiveness and a full and present sound. I voice my tops to achieve a balanced instrument where nothing holds back the true potential of the tonewoods. My guitars land in the category of the modern approach to sound. Working mainly with tonewoods yielding a rich and complex sound with lots of overtones”
The Craft Of Luthiery
An introduction and glimpse into the workshop of Åstrand Guitars, luthier Ted Åstrand.
Filmed and produced by Pavel Lychagin in the fall of 2019.
