zeal guitars

While growing up in Kaiserslautern, Germany, at age 13, the idea occurred to Bastian Kanbach that making guitars for a living must be one of the greatest professions ever. But as a high school student destined to attend university, the idea of becoming a luthier also seemed irrational and unimaginable to him since, at the time, he thought there was no money in making guitars and that being a luthier was a job for passionate idealists. However, as graduation approached, his interest in guitars and music grew, and he started acquiring books, wood, and tools to build his first electric guitar in his parent’s basement. It was then he realized that even if there wasn’t a lot of money in making guitars, he was an idealist and this was his passion.

In 2003, Kanbach moved to Klingenthal where he spent three years in instrumentmaking school and as an apprentice before going to work for respected builder Siggi Braun. Kanbach built more than 100 custom guitars in two years under the guidance of Braun then returned to his hometown where he started to build on his own. Shortly thereafter, he met another passionate guitarist and gifted craftsman, Oliver Reich, who became his business partner in launching Zeal Guitars.