2018 Vladimir Druzhinin SP/AR

This 2018 Vladimir Druzhinin is a classical guitar with a spruce top and African rosewood back and sides, built near Moscow, Russia, with a Torres-inspired plantilla; in excellent condition.

Meeting Vladimir Druzhinin

During a visit to Russia a few years ago we met several of the leading young makers, and in our opinion the young builder Vladimir Druzhinin showed exceptional promise at that time. Years later we were able to visit with Vladimir once more, in Germany, and test his current work - we were remarkably impressed all around, immediately placed an order, and continue to marvel at his work with each guitar he sends us.

Just a look at this instrument reveals a very tasteful and skillfully executed style, highlighted in his classic rosette, elegantly carved headstock and beautiful selection of materials.

In the Spirit of Torres

Vladimir's appreciation of the masters of the past - particularly Torres - is evident in the overall shape: dimensions, plantilla and so on. Also in the spirit of Torres, the guitar is lightly and efficiently built, with a very focused and fast attack to every note. The quality of sound is beautiful - singing, lyrical trebles with smooth, lush yet firm basses - and the volume is excellent for any concert setting, solo or with an ensemble. We are very pleased to be working with this fine young maker as his exclusive representatives in the US. Although used, this guitar is in excellent condition with only some modest wear in the finish.

Photos of this guitar taken during construction

Vladimir Druzhinin: From Physics to Guitar Making

Vladimir Druzhinin was born in 1983 in Novosibirsk, Russia, into a family of scientists. He earned his Bachelor's (2004) and Master's (2006) degrees in physics at Novosibirsk State University, specializing in accelerator physics, and worked at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics from 2002 to 2008. At the same time he studied the double bass at the Novosibirsk Music College and played in the local philharmonic big band, on the city's jazz scene and as a studio musician.

Timofey Tkach and the Moscow School

In 2010 Vladimir moved to Moscow, where he was accepted as an apprentice guitar maker by Timofey Tkach (1966–2026), considered the leading teacher of lutherie in Russia, and from 2011 he worked in the Liuteria workshop, a luthiers' union founded by Tkach. Today he builds in his own workshop in Sereda, outside Moscow. His focus is the classical Spanish school, which he approaches both historically and with a physicist's understanding of how sound is produced. GSI is his exclusive dealer in the USA.