Bernhard Kresse is a German guitar maker in Cologne (Köln) known for his reproductions of early Romantic guitars by makers such as Louis Panormo and Johann Georg Stauffer, for his restorations of 19th-century guitars, and for a modern concert guitar inspired by those historical instruments.
At a Glance
- Workshop: Cologne (Köln), Germany – his hometown
- Training: largely self-taught; left college for guitar making
- Specialty: reproductions of early Romantic and 19th-century guitars
- Models after: Louis Panormo, Johann Georg Stauffer and others
- Also: a modern concert guitar; restoration of 19th-century guitars
A Self-Taught Maker from Cologne
Bernhard Kresse lives and works in his hometown of Cologne. Largely self-taught, he left college to devote himself to guitar making, and in his early years he built conventional classical guitars. Playing early-music repertoire drew him to the instruments of the 19th century, and what began as curiosity gradually became serious research – and eventually the heart of his work.
Reproductions of Early Romantic Guitars
Bernhard studies surviving originals in European museum collections, along with period illustrations and written sources, and builds reproductions after the great makers of the early Romantic guitar, such as Louis Panormo and Johann Georg Stauffer. He thinks of them as interpretations of the originals rather than exact copies. His Panormo models, for example, follow the London maker whose Spanish-style guitars bridged the early Romantic guitar and the later work of Antonio de Torres: compact bodies, open headstocks, transverse bracing instead of fans, and a shorter scale. He also builds a modern concert guitar that draws on features of these historical instruments.
Restoring 19th-Century Guitars
Alongside his new guitars, Bernhard restores 19th-century guitars, and over some 35 years he has kept detailed measurements and construction notes on the many instruments that have passed through his workshop – a valuable record of how these guitars were made.
Bernhard Kresse Guitars at GSI
Bernhard Kresse guitars come our way only rarely. You'll find guitars currently in stock by clicking the "Guitars In Stock" button in the header of this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bernhard Kresse? A German guitar maker in Cologne who builds reproductions of early Romantic guitars and a modern concert guitar, and restores 19th-century instruments.
What is a Bernhard Kresse "Panormo"? His reproduction of a guitar by Louis Panormo, the 19th-century London maker known for Spanish-style guitars – with a compact body, open headstock and transverse bracing.
Who is a Kresse guitar for? Players of early Romantic repertoire such as Sor, Giuliani and Carulli who want a historically informed sound, and collectors of fine guitars.
