| | ~ Scharpach Guitars ~ Theo Scharpach was born near Vienna, Austria. He has been making guitars for almost 25 years. Currently, the Scharpach workshop is in Bergeyk, in the Netherlands. Theo was trained in the fine art of wood handcrafting. In addition, he also graduated as an antique furniture restorer. The Scharpach guitar-shop opened in 1976. Scharpach never had the intention to produce copies of guitars that are already on the market. He wanted to develop guitars that added something to the history of guitar-making. He certainly doesn’t deny the history of guitar-making, rather he is very interested in the history of the guitar, simply because that is knowledge we get for free, but Scharpach feels we can, and should, move further. He appreciates for example, the guitar of Torres, but would not make a classical concert guitar by copying Torres. Still, he is able to value that sound. Thus, Scharpach is simultaneously an old world style luthier and a progressive modernist. For instance, never understanding why other makers often narrow their product line to such extremes, he does not limit himself to constructing either nylon strings, archtops or steelstrings. He feels this would not be in the tradition of the art of instrument making. A violin-maker often makes cellos as well. Even Stradivarius made guitars and other instruments but this is often not known. The craftsmen of the 18th and 19th century were very versatile. In the beginning, Theo made all kinds of instruments; many South American guitar-like instruments like: Tiple, Cavaquinho, Requinto Charango etc... He also did some cisterns and mandolins. He has made double necks, long necks, 8-strings, 8-strings long necks, harpguitars etc... All these experiments in the past gradually made the name of Scharpach represent a guitar that delivers a new, recognizable, high quality and unique sound. He is most grateful to all his clients of the past, for putting their trust into his hands. They helped him to build what has become an incredible career.  | Theo’s partner, Menno Bos Grew up among church organ and choral singing. As such, the guitar is not the most obvious instrument you would expect him to be attracted to. It took until Menno was about 16 years old before he was touched by the sounds of the classical guitar. Menno feels the fascination is probably due to the intimate character and the innumerable possibilities of sound colors this instrument has. Menno started the study of classical guitar with full dedication and after some years of private lessons went to the conservatorium in Arnhem where he concluded his schooling successfully in 1987. During Menno’s study he was also absorbed in the historical development and the structure of the instrument. The moment he took the chisel in his own hands and set off to work by himself might be due to the fact that his father built his own sailing boats. The type of guitars Menno Bos built before he started to work with Theo Scharpach are: - the vihuela,
- the baroque guitar, the flamenco guitar,
- the classical guitar,
- the acoustic bass guitar,
- the electric bass guitar, the electric guitar and
- the acoustic guitar.
Menno has worked with Theo Scharpach since 2001 and claims it has been an incredible experience. It was never Menno’s intention to improve the guitar as an instrument - he always relied on the experiences of the famous builders. Theo Scharpach however, during all the years as a guitar maker, has tried to further develop the guitar - he gave the instruments their own identity without ignoring the history and the experiences of other instrument builders. The hundreds of instruments Theo has built and his consequent experience, have constituted a solid basis for the instruments they produce together now. | | |
Scharpach
