luthier in South East Asia ?

[gitarremania]

I know Mr.Kim Hee Hong personally. He is a gentleman and a very good luthier.
He learned guitar making from Robert Ruck in early 1990s. But he became famous
with his "Nomex" top. Many of looks including rosette are derived from
John Gilbert's. His tuner mechanic is also Gilbert's.

His "Nomex" spruce guitar has a great projection and sweet treble.

Recently, he is experimenting with "Smallman" type guitar.

He has been a major sponsor of Thailand International Guitar Festival for
many years.

In Thailand, Rungson Termpittayavej (Gob) is the most prominent luthier,
studying with Jose & Liam Romanillos for 2 classes. His guitars are raved by
local world class guitar collectors to be similar to Jose Romanillos in both
look and sound. [I haven't tried his, hence I must use others' comments. But
I know a guy with a true Jose Romanillos who owns 2 of Mr.Rungson's
guitars.]

His webpage is here : http://siamguitarra.890m.com/gobguitar.html

There are quite a few other luthiers in Thailand. They are quite good.
Most of them studied with Yuichi Imai, Karl Rommich, & Kim Hee Hong.

I threw away my Thomas Humphrey, playing the Rungson guitar. Who else? My professor, Adam Holzman is also in the waiting list of Rungson now.
I believe that he made one for Yand Xue fei??

I'm no kidding about the quality of the guitar...just great...

[Tom]

I know Mr.Kim Hee Hong personally. He is a gentleman and a very good luthier.
He learned guitar making from Robert Ruck in early 1990s. But he became famous
with his "Nomex" top. Many of looks including rosette are derived from
John Gilbert's. His tuner mechanic is also Gilbert's.

His "Nomex" spruce guitar has a great projection and sweet treble.

Recently, he is experimenting with "Smallman" type guitar.

He has been a major sponsor of Thailand International Guitar Festival for
many years.

In Thailand, Rungson Termpittayavej (Gob) is the most prominent luthier,
studying with Jose & Liam Romanillos for 2 classes. His guitars are raved by
local world class guitar collectors to be similar to Jose Romanillos in both
look and sound. [I haven't tried his, hence I must use others' comments. But
I know a guy with a true Jose Romanillos who owns 2 of Mr.Rungson's
guitars.]

His webpage is here : http://siamguitarra.890m.com/gobguitar.html

There are quite a few other luthiers in Thailand. They are quite good.
Most of them studied with Yuichi Imai, Karl Rommich, & Kim Hee Hong.

I threw away my Thomas Humphrey, playing the Rungson guitar. Who else? My professor, Adam Holzman is also in the waiting list of Rungson now.
I believe that he made one for Yand Xue fei??

I'm no kidding about the quality of the guitar...just great...

For Yang Xue Fei... no way man...! find out how much she is getting to play for Ramirez before Rungson eveb dream of her playing his guitar.

Tom

[Subun]

There is another Thai luthier that I would like to mention.
He is Narongsak Visesnut. His website is

http://web.me.com/visesnut/VisesnutGuitar/Welcome.html

He only made about 5-6 guitars a year. Since I played his
first guitar a few years ago and later last year I played his
8th and 9th, I can say that his luthiery skill has improved
tremendously.

He won the first prize in Russian Guitar Maker Competition
earlier this year.

[Tedi]

Thanks syj. Since I am in Thailand I ought to try his guitars.

[Dragonbones]

Information on luthiers in Taiwan would also be appreciated; please see this Taiwan-specific thread.

[djajasoekarta]

As far as I know, there's 4 classical guitar luthier in Indonesia. I add some info from the first page

1. Yosefat Wenardi Wigono (Secco Guitar)
He's the most prominent luthier here in Indonesia. Located at Jl.Tanjung, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. He has been making guitar since 1999. His work based on Torres, Hauser & Fleta. He also have a small brand called Secco that made several student grade classical guitar & student-professional grade custom steel string guitar. His concert class Classical guitar was made under YOSEFAT GO label. He got an experience by visiting some spanish luthier in Granada such as Antonio Marin, Jose Marin etc. His waiting list up to this time are around 6 month

2. Fernandez Setyahadi Chandra
He's the most experienced luthier in Indonesia. By his background as the National Guitar Championsip in Indonesia, he made only a Profesional guitar. Located in Surabaya, East Java.

3. Hanief Palopo
Located in Jakarta. He made a various classical guitar in spanish Style. His new work inspired by Contreras Dobule Top guitar. The other guitar based on Ramirez. His distinctive design can be looked by the out-of-the-box style in making bridge, multiple soundhole & arm rest. He also made the first Indonesia School of Luthier in his workshop in Jakarta

4. Zakki Luthier
Located in Jl.Sariwangi, Bandung, Indonesia. He's one of the last luthier that come from Bandung. Learn some aspects of guitar making from Mr.Yosefat Go, he made his own workshop around 2009. His work is very close to Mr.Yosefat. One of his work is made out of Maple. Very Nice Guitar

Thanks

[Michael Thames]

How exciting to see some guitar makers in Thailand. I'm seriously considering moving to Bangkok in the next year or so and opening a shop, as well as keeping a shop here in Santa Fe.
http://thamesclassicalguitars.com/

[djajasoekarta]

Mr.Thames, do you made the guitar in USA & made a partner in Thailand ? Or you really concentrated in Thailand after this ?

Thanks

[Michael Thames]

Mr.Thames, do you made the guitar in USA & made a partner in Thailand ? Or you really concentrated in Thailand after this ?

Thanks

I'm not sure yet. I was questioning the ability to even have a shop in Thailand due to the high humidity, but seeing Mr.Visesnut's work shop in Bangkok has inspired me. I sell quite a few guitars in Singapore, and India, and think it would be better to make them in that environment for that part of the world.

I had a shop in San Francsico years ago and found the humidity to be too high there as well, so I bought a de-humidifier which worked quite well, later I moved to New Mexico and ended up needing a Humidifier instead. I sold my old de-humidifier to Ken Hill for his Paracho operation years ago.

My other fear is disappearing off the face of the earth over there, and loosing my USA connections. Being married to a Thai women has it's advantages, but, doesn't allow me to work in Thailand unless I employ four Thai's, so that takes some planning. It's a dream at this point, but a very workable one. We will see what happens.

[Tom]

Mr.Thames, do you made the guitar in USA & made a partner in Thailand ? Or you really concentrated in Thailand after this ?

Thanks

I'm not sure yet. I was questioning the ability to even have a shop in Thailand due to the high humidity, but seeing Mr.Visesnut's work shop in Bangkok has inspired me. I sell quite a few guitars in Singapore, and India, and think it would be better to make them in that environment for that part of the world.

I had a shop in San Francsico years ago and found the humidity to be too high there as well, so I bought a de-humidifier which worked quite well, later I moved to New Mexico and ended up needing a Humidifier instead. I sold my old de-humidifier to Ken Hill for his Paracho operation years ago.

My other fear is disappearing off the face of the earth over there, and loosing my USA connections. Being married to a Thai women has it's advantages, but, doesn't allow me to work in Thailand unless I employ four Thai's, so that takes some planning. It's a dream at this point, but a very workable one. We will see what happens.

Michael, it is interesting to learn your affliation with Thailand because you married a Thai lady. It is also interesting I find out they are quite few guitarists in Singapore even without a so-called dealer or agent representing your guitar. I guess is the result of words of mouth with the quality of your guitars.

[Michael Thames]

Michael, it is interesting to learn your affliation with Thailand because you married a Thai lady. It is also interesting I find out they are quite few guitarists in Singapore even without a so-called dealer or agent representing your guitar. I guess is the result of words of mouth with the quality of your guitars.

Tom thanks for the kind words. Actually Mr. Matthew Matthew imports my guitars in Singapore. He is a pilot for Singapore Airlines who also dabbles in guitar repair. He came to stay with me for a couple of weeks and made a guitar in my shop.

[guitarrr]

My teacher, Adam Holzman is getting his guitar from a thai maker, Rungson..isn't it amazing?

[Tom]

My teacher, Adam Holzman is getting his guitar from a thai maker, Rungson..isn't it amazing?

I am actually not surprise with this.... in today's musical industry, there are many deals like this could happen because of some form of mutually agree term and condition in those transaction. I will not want to ellaborate this further...people familiar with the industry game rule will understand what I am saying.

[guitarrr]

My teacher, Adam Holzman is getting his guitar from a thai maker, Rungson..isn't it amazing?

I am actually not surprise with this.... in today's musical industry, there are many deals like this could happen because of some form of mutually agree term and condition in those transaction. I will not want to ellaborate this further...people familiar with the industry game rule will understand what I am saying.

It's not like that. He tried my guitar I got last year and he found that it got very wonderful sound and ended up order one.

[soulsight]

Can anyone give me the phone number or contacts of these Luthiers/guitar makers in Indonesia as i am currently looking for them? A PM with this information would be appreciated.

Fernandez Setia hadi Chandra
and Zakki Luthier

thanks,

Reza.B