Florian Blöchinger (b. 1992) is a German classical guitar maker and concert guitarist – known on stage as Florian David – who works in his own workshop in Dorfen, near Munich. The son of master luthier Edmund Blöchinger and a longtime student of Pepe Romero, he builds guitars that blend ideas from his father, Pepe Romero Jr. and Miguel Rodríguez. GSI is proud to be the only dealer of his guitars in the world.
At a Glance
- Born: 1992
- Nationality: German
- Workshop: Dorfen, about 30 miles outside Munich
- Training: his father Edmund Blöchinger; Pepe Romero Jr.; luthier school in Mittenwald (graduated 2016)
- First guitar: 2013, built jointly with his father
- Also: concert guitarist ("Florian David"), student of Pepe Romero since childhood
- At GSI: GSI is his only dealer worldwide
A Childhood Among Guitars
Florian Blöchinger (artistically known as Florian David) is a rare breed – he's both an extremely talented concert performer and a world-class guitar maker. Since birth, Florian has been immersed in the world of the classical and flamenco guitar. Being the son of world-renowned luthier Edmund Blöchinger, he has not only been around the construction of instruments his entire life, but has also studied the instrument extensively as a player.
Since his childhood, he has regularly attended guitar concerts with his father, and together they have spent hours listening to recordings of the great maestros. As an impressionable child, this inspiring environment helped him fall in love with the instrument and its music.
At the age of 6 he asked his father if there was any chance he could learn to play the guitar. Fortunately, Klaus Duschl, a well-respected teacher and close friend of Edmund, lived just a few miles away, and weekly lessons ensued. Seeing that he had really taken an interest in playing, his father built a smaller-scale instrument when Florian was 9 years old, and since then he has always had one of his father's guitars to play.
Lessons and Concerts with Pepe Romero
Since the mid-1990s the Blöchingers have had a close friendship with the Romero family. When Pepe Sr. first saw young Florian play the guitar, he was impressed and offered to teach him as well. His first lessons with Pepe took place in his father's workshop, and they have continued regularly to the present day. Already as a child he won several first prizes in competitions and kept a regular schedule of public performances. In 2008, at the age of 15, he gave his first duo performance with Pepe Romero in Munich, and he continues to perform in solo and ensemble settings.
From Player to Guitar Maker
Though Florian spent a lot of time in the workshop as a child, admiring the woods and tools, he never felt the desire to build a guitar – he felt it was too difficult, and he recognized that he had more fun playing anyhow. This changed as he grew older, and in 2013, at the age of 21, Florian decided to build his first guitar jointly with his father. He completely fell in love with the entire experience from start to finish, and decided the day that guitar was completed to become a professional luthier.
To find his own style, Florian spent a considerable amount of time with his close friend, luthier Pepe Romero Jr., learning his approach to guitar making. He was also able to study the Romero family collection of guitars, which has been monumentally important for him – he could intimately inspect and play guitars by the greatest makers of the past, including Antonio de Torres, Hermann Hauser I, Santos Hernández, Domingo Esteso and Miguel Rodríguez. Back in Germany, Florian apprenticed in a small workshop in Munich and attended the luthier school in Mittenwald, graduating in 2016.
Florian's Own Model
With all this accumulated knowledge and experience, Florian continues to develop and refine his own model. Although his guitars look similar to his father's (most noticeably the plantilla and headstock shape), they are actually a blend of his favorite ideas from instruments by his father Edmund, Pepe Romero Jr. and Miguel Rodríguez. Being not only a guitar maker but also a guitarist helps him understand how changes in building affect the sound. He works alone in his own private workshop in Dorfen, about 30 miles outside Munich. Learn more about Florian on his website, florianguitar.com.
Florian Blöchinger Guitars at GSI
GSI is proud to be the only dealer of Florian Blöchinger guitars in the world. You'll find guitars currently in stock by clicking the "Guitars In Stock" button in the header of this page as well as earlier examples in our Museum by clicking the "Guitars In Museum" button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Florian Blöchinger?
A German classical guitar maker and concert guitarist (b. 1992), the son of Edmund Blöchinger, who builds in his own workshop in Dorfen, near Munich.
Who is Florian David?
Florian Blöchinger's stage name as a performing guitarist.
How are his guitars different from his father's?
They share Edmund's plantilla and headstock shape, but blend in ideas from Pepe Romero Jr. and Miguel Rodríguez guitars.
Where can I buy a Florian Blöchinger guitar?
GSI is the only dealer of Florian Blöchinger guitars in the world.
