dennis tolz (Germany)

Dennis Tolz has built his reputation on guitars that blend traditional Spanish construction with a deeply analytical approach to tone and responsiveness. Rather than treating lutherie as a purely intuitive craft, he studies the acoustic behavior of each component during construction, adjusting thickness, stiffness, and vibration patterns with scientific precision. The result is an instrument that feels alive under the player’s hands.

One of his most distinctive contributions is his double-top design. By reducing the mass of the soundboard while preserving its structural integrity, Tolz creates guitars with exceptional projection, quick response, and a surprisingly broad dynamic range. Players often note how easily his instruments speak, even with the lightest touch, without sacrificing fullness of tone.

He has also introduced innovations like the WaveGuide, a structural feature that lowers the main air resonance of the body. This extends the bass response and gives the guitar greater depth and power, but without the muddiness that often comes with darker instruments. Clarity remains a defining characteristic of his sound.

Every Tolz guitar is built by hand from carefully selected woods, typically spruce or cedar for the top and rosewood or similar dense tonewoods for the back and sides. His finishing work is clean and understated, prioritizing resonance and playability over ornamentation.

Concert players are drawn to his instruments for their balance of warmth, articulation, and projection. They handle both intimate passages and concert hall performance with equal ease. What sets Tolz apart is not just innovation for its own sake, but his ability to refine classic design through careful measurement and tonal intent.