Johan Sarens

Johan grew up in a world filled with music, visualisation, creating, building and constructing. His father is a guitarplayer, his grandfather was a luthmaker.  He combined studying jazz guitar at the royal conservatory of Brussels with guitar construction at  CMB (Centre for musical instrument making, Puurs - Belgium). Being both guitar player and builder gives him the advantage of an intimate knowledge of the instrument. 

 

He has built several types of guitars, including steelstrings and solid-bodies. Nowadays Johan specializes in classical and Flamenco-guitars, using the technique of the Spanish masters. Everything that will define the sound of the guitar is done by hand and the use of machines is limited. All the guitars are finished with French polish.  

 

He received the "Gouden Bootschaaf 2017" - golden fingerplane 2017. This prize acclaimes instrument builders for exceptional craftsmanship and for their honoring and spreading the knowledge of the instrument building craft. 

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Since 2021 he teaches classical guitar making at the CMB.