Hi - wondered if I could canvass opinions on the best luthiers in South Africa, across different types of guitar.

I am new here and only know of Maingard and Casimi for steel string and van den Berg for classical. Also heard of the Stellenbosch Guitar Co. but don't know their reputation. Casimi guitars are selling from time to time at a dealer in London (UK) for eye-watering prices (well over R200,000), which puts them up against the world's very best. Are they that good ?!? Never tried one.

Would be really interested in your knowledge and opinions.

Thanks

Berg Guitars a beeeg +1 ?

There is a thread for this under the discussion tab, guitar setup and repair section. Cant link to it now cause I am using my phone via tapatalk.
Go check it out!

Guitarstar wrote: Hi - wondered if I could canvass opinions on the best luthiers in South Africa, across different types of guitar.

I am new here and only know of Maingard and Casimi for steel string and van den Berg for classical. Also heard of the Stellenbosch Guitar Co. but don't know their reputation. Casimi guitars are selling from time to time at a dealer in London (UK) for eye-watering prices (well over R200,000), which puts them up against the world's very best. Are they that good ?!? Never tried one.

Would be really interested in your knowledge and opinions.

Thanks

Without a doubt, Casimi compete with the best guitars in the world.

Our own lapdawg on this forum is a wonderful Cape Town builder of solid-body electric guitars. His attention to detail and his love of tradtional woods is top-notch. One day when I'm feeling super-rich (despite his guitars coming in at less than the gold-standard "custom-shop" electrics from big manufacturers) I'm going to commission that custom guitar from him.

I guess it depends on your definition of best. Best sound, best design, best looking, best for a particular application ...

have just been through a very comprehensive review of classical guitar luthiers in south africa for the purpose of commissioning a guitar build (upgrade to my existing yamaha). this included taking references from most of the professional classical guitar players in the country, speaking to most (but not all) of the luthiers, detailed correspondence with a shortlist of the luthiers (including quotes and details), listening to the sound quality of different luthier's guitars (initially from sound clips and then live, listening to professionals play the instruments and then playing them myself). also chatting to customers of the luthiers. i just about got 'analysis paralysis' in the end but have eventually come to a decision and my guitar will be done early next year. anybody who is going through the same quandary, i would be willing to share feedback and information to save you the trouble. obviously not going to crucify any luthiers here or share quotes publically (because they are quite touchy about that) so that would have to be covered in pm. it is safe to say that we have some excellent local guitar luthiers and the quality of the instrument that you will get from them will far exceed most factory-made guitars, in my assessment. with some notable exceptions, prices are relatively affordable for what you are getting and certainly significantly less than an equivalent luthier-made guitar abroad.

Guitarstar

Kerry Calaghan from Calaghan Music. Highly processional! He`s in Durban on 031-7184968
He has done setups on all my guitars. He was also a manufacturer of electric guitars for many years.
His knowledge of guitars is amazing.