the
gitarren­werkstatt

The gitarrenwerkstatt is a unique combination of a guitar and stringed instruments specialized shop with an online store as well as a professionally equipped workshop. As skilled luthiers we have been specializing in making, repairing and reselling. Our shop in Freiburg and our online shop offer a wide selection of guitars and string instruments for beginners up to professional musicians, children up to grownups. When deciding our suppliers for instruments we first focus on the highest possible standards. Then each instrument goes through our quality check both when entering and leaving our storage. Each instrument is tested according to playability and fine-tuning is performed, since intonation is crucial to all string instruments. This has become our standard procedure and has guaranteed a maximum of reliability. For the musician it simply means effortless playing.

We offer all variants of guitars: children's guitars, electric guitars, classical guitars, acoustic guitars, flamenco guitars, archtop guitars or exotics like octave guitars as well as acoustic and electric basses, amplifiers and accessories.

On our premises we also offer repair and adjustment services according to your needs. For us it doesn't matter if your instrument simply needs minor fine-tuning or mayor surgery. Changing strings up to building from scratch- we can do it. With more than 35 years of experience of building and repairing guitars we find a solution to almost any problem.

We do repairs on any type of guitars and similar instruments, be it structural repairs, fret dressing, refretting or a completely new fretboard, all adjustments, minor finish retouching, french polish, guitar electronics etc. For larger finishing and amplifier repairs we have partners. Please call us.

We will evaluate your guitar and provide you an estimate of the repairs needed if we receive it during our workshop service hours. We do need to actually see the guitar (not just photos) in order to provide an estimate. We'll contact you if a deeper analysis of the problem shows higher costs. After the repair we contact you by phone or SMS. Please fetch your instrument as soon as possible then.

Krause guitars stand for finest handmade classical and flamenco guitars since the very beginnings of the gitarrenwerkstatt in 1985. It takes at least 160 hours and a high level of ambition, perfection and workmanship to make instruments of highest standards. If you have always dreamed of the perfect instrument, my custom made instruments are for you. Please get in touch with me and let me help making your dream come true.

I only use woods that I have selected myself and stored for decades under controlled conditions. With the exception of frets and tuners, I manufacture all individual parts myself from raw materials, including sound hole rosettes and purfling. I rely on proven methods and knowledge of classical Spanish guitar making. Finally, a genuine shellac french polish brings out the beauty and depth of the woods used to optimum effect. The result is a unique, individual instrument.

At the moment I'm making my most curly guitar. Images on facebook.

The sound of my instruments was described as brilliant, orchestral, bell-like, beautiful, sustainable, with an extremely easy response, very distinct, perfectly formable, equal to the great masters of the 1920s. The instruments are praised as very easily playable, it is possible to produce a beautiful sound without much effort.

Erik Krause

Hardly any other instrument offers so many possibilities for modification and optimization as electric guitars and electric basses. And hardly anything can replace the direct experience as a musician.

I am happy to share this experience and my extensive knowledge of pickups, hardware, setup and everything else, whether you want to buy an instrument or have one individually assembled. I am happy to offer individual advice on electric guitars to help you get closer to your favorite electric guitar.

Moritz Erk

Erik Krause (repairs / guitar-making / web development)
was born in 1961. Inspired by Tibor Ehlers he started making instruments in 1979. Since 1980 he was responsible for the repairs in a small music shop in Pforzheim. In 1983 he met Rolf Eichinger, who taught him the basics of Spanish guitar making. Shortly afterwards he met Franz Butscher and founded the guitar workshop in Freiburg with him. Franz Butscher now lives in Orgiva, near Granada, where he builds beautiful guitars in his own workshop.

Moritz Erk -Moe- (electric guitars, electric basses, modifications)
born in 1988, grew up in a music and guitar worshipping household between records, CDs, music videos, guitars, amplifiers and related magazines. A passionate music consumer from an early age, he started playing the guitar at the age of 15 after the drums and soon developed an interest in all the parts that make up electric guitars. Over the years, he has acquired a good feeling and knowledge about adjusting and modifying or optimizing guitars and is happy to be able to pursue his passion here.