Tom Ribbecke has been building guitars for over thirty years. He is one of the premier archtop builders in the world, with a considerable waiting list and many different models of guitars and basses employing carved top and back technology. He also makes conventional steel string and classical guitars to order. His tools and fixtures, and plans, are offered by several luthier supply houses. Tom has consistently brought innovation to his chosen field. Recently the patented "Halfling” guitars, a hybrid between archtop and flattop guitars, have been an area of keen interest.
Tom’s guitars have been displayed at The Smithsonian, and the MOMI (Museum of Musical Instruments in Boston). He is a former 10 year director and board president of A.S.I.A. (Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans) and has been published extensively in American Lutherie Magazine.
Ribbecke Guitar Corporation is dedicated to building the finest production instruments possible. Incorporating groundbreaking designs, the finest woods, and expert hand-made-in-USA manufacturing supervised by Tom Ribbecke, these superior instruments have no compromises in playability, quality, craftsmanship and tone.
The Halfling bass and guitar designs were completed in 2003 as a result of the joint visions of Tom Ribbecke, bassist and composer Bobby Vega, and guitarist/entrepreneur Paul Szmanda. The Halfling's patent pending concept is derived from Tom's initial proprietary guitar work melding flattop and archtop concepts in one instrument.
Ribbecke Guitar Corporation Halfling
Picture a guitar that could replace both your, D28 Flat-top and L5. An instrument where your hands and pick attack as well as your string selection, be it flatwounds, roundwounds, electric or bronze and combinations thereof, can take you to all those familiar places while delivering a level of exquisite tone and clarity superior to what you've had before.
After five years in development the Kiso-Ribbecke, a collaborative effort between Tom Ribbecke and Kiso, is now available through Ribbecke Guitar Corporation & Destroy All Guitars.com! We are pleased to announce that we are the only authorized United States dealers!
"THIN IS IN!" The Thinline is an offshoot of the HJG-1 "Halfling Jazz Guitar" which is the result of over 25 years of Tom Ribbecke's unique understanding of carved top design. True crossover instruments, they combine the sensitivity of steel string guitars, with their flatter soundboard on the bass side, and the articulate sound of true jazz guitars.
Folks, it's with great excitement that we introduce the Pin-Bridge version of the Ribbecke Guitar Corp's "Halfling". This is no ordinary guitar but rather one that takes the incredible Halfling sound and technology and shifts it's focus one step further to the Flat-Top side of the tracks. We are expecting the first, limited run of 5, to be ready for a late June / early July delivery.
Ribbecke Corp.
