Andreas Kirmse balsa DT No 102 2025 – Germany

Andreas Kirmse is based in Leipzig, and his balsa double-tops incorporate elements of the German double-top school and American lutherie – notably from the great luthier Gregory Byers. Power and sonic beauty are the hallmarks of Andreas’s guitars. His double-tops are among the great German DTs, in the same league as those by Matthias Dammann, Gernot Wagner and Dennis Tolz, but with a more natural but just as powerful colour.

This guitar by Andreas Kirmse is quite different from the German double-tables. Here the sound colour is resolutely traditional, and it’s impossible to tell on first hearing that this is a double-table. The sound is reminiscent of the great German guitars, with powerful lows and crystal-clear highs. A certain clarity allows this guitar to carry its voice into very large spaces. The tuning is exceptional and the craftsmanship delicate. The balsa core brings a natural tone colour.