New York-based Luthier, Brian Itzkin, Builds His First Guitar for GSI!

We've received some sneak peek photos of our first guitar built by a young talented luthier from New York - Brian Itzkin.

We had the pleasure of meeting Brian at the most recent Roma Expo Guitars. His guitars are built in the traditional Spanish style, following the tradition of Antonio de Torres. He learned guitar building in Spain from masters such as Stephen Hill and Daniele Chiesa. 

Brian's bracing system is heavily influenced by Romanillos and Torres, but with a more reinforced upper bout. Brian noticed that by making the upper bout stiffer, he was able to increase the volume and sustain. If you look at the photos below, you might also find the two harmonic bars above and below the soundhole being made of different pieces of wood than the rest of the braces. They are made from a 200-year-old set of pine that Brian was able to repurpose from an antique table. 

The materials used for these guitars are stunning. The top is created from a beautiful piece of bearclaw spruce, while the back and sides are made of a striking set of Indian rosewood. Brian also picked an excellent set of old Madagascan ebony for the fretboard, bindings, and head veneer. According to Brian, this wood is not only jet black but also has a tight, almost closed pore structure.

Check out the photos below and don't hesitate to reach out to us with questions!