Henrik Ballowitz is a Danish classical guitar maker in Copenhagen, trained at the European Institute of Guitar Making in Granada with Stephen Hill and Graham Emes, and a former pipe-organ builder. He won third prize for classical guitar at the VIII Antonio Marín Montero competition in Granada (2025).
At a Glance
- Nationality: Danish
- Workshop: Copenhagen, Denmark
- Training: European Institute of Guitar Making, Granada (2017), with Stephen Hill and Graham Emes; internship with José Vigil (2025)
- Before guitars: six years as an organ builder with Frobenius
- Prize: 3rd Prize, classical guitar, VIII Antonio Marín Montero competition, Granada (2025)
- Known for: Bouchet-inspired bracing and a unified, plump and creamy sound
From Electric Guitars to the Spanish Tradition
Danish luthier Henrik Ballowitz began his journey into lutherie at 18, when curiosity led him to build an electric guitar. Over time, his interest shifted towards the Spanish guitar tradition, and in 2017 he attended the European Institute of Guitar Making (EIGM) in Granada, Spain, where he had the great privilege of learning from Master Luthier Stephen Hill and Graham Emes. Since then, Henrik has returned regularly to Stephen's workshop to keep learning – not only from him but also from the wonderful community of makers that surrounds his shop.
Six Years as an Organ Builder
Before focusing fully on guitar making, Henrik worked for six years as an organ builder with the Danish company Frobenius, restoring and building traditional pipe organs for churches across Denmark and Scandinavia. This experience taught him a great deal about craftsmanship, acoustics, and working with wood in a very precise and thoughtful way – skills that naturally carry over into guitar making.
Granada and José Vigil
In early 2025, Henrik spent two months doing an internship with José Vigil in Granada, a great opportunity to deepen his understanding of the Granada guitar-making tradition and refine his approach even further. Today he is fully dedicated to building classical guitars and tries to approach each instrument with care, patience, and respect for the tradition, while always listening and learning to improve his craft.
The Ballowitz Sound
Henrik's guitars are braced in the spirit of a one-off Robert Bouchet (#55), the first Bouchet with an under-bridge brace while still using seven fans. The result is a remarkably unified sound from the lowest bass to the highest treble – lush, rich and creamy, with a responsiveness that makes his guitars very hard to put down. His rosettes, inspired by Vicente Arias, use rounded, almost serpentine designs.
Prize Winner in Granada
In 2025 Henrik Ballowitz was awarded third prize for his classical guitar at the VIII Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Making Competition in Granada, Spain – where we met him and acquired the prize-winning guitar.
Henrik Ballowitz Guitars at GSI
We look forward to many more guitars from this talented young maker. 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 Henrik Ballowitz?
A Danish classical guitar maker in Copenhagen, trained in Granada with Stephen Hill and a former pipe-organ builder.
Has Henrik Ballowitz won a prize?
Yes – third prize for classical guitar at the VIII Antonio Marín Montero competition in Granada (2025).
How are Ballowitz guitars braced?
In the spirit of Robert Bouchet's guitar #55, with an under-bridge brace and seven fans, refined in each new guitar.
