People often ask me how I came to guitarmaking. In fact it started when I was very young and discovered 'Meccano' and 'Lego'. This started a 'constructional' life. Over time it evolved to model airplane building, small cabinetmaking and even, when I was about 14 years old, a first 'guitar'.

Also, being son of two classical musicians, I was musically educated. At the age of 12 a guitar came into our house and I picked it up. My interest changed to electric guitar when I grew older and I modified my first electric guitar.

Third important influance is the love for Quality and Crafts I was given by my parents. Old time techniques and materials and observing them were important issues. Later for me Pirsig's 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' became a sort of bible.

Then the serious years came with relation and children. Doing all kinds of jobs I still kept 'making things'.  At my 30th I got a professional training in cabinetmaking so after that I knew what I was doing! At first thinking of piano restoration it took a few years before I realised I had to make guitars. I started with a course "make your own classical guitar". This first guitar turned out quite good which made me enthousiastic. I made a few more.

Then my brother Dick pointed out the Selmer types and the difficulty of getting good ones. So I decide to go for that. It took about 10 guitars before I reached a certain point of satisfaction about the sound. I learned that certain aspects of the sound can only be achieved by the 'old' techniques. Of course this means more work but in the end it pays off. Naturally, by repeatedly building the same guitarmodel, I improved in the later years, in constructional and finishing aspects but for the most important thing of a musical instrument, the sound, it seams to mean: back to the roots. This doesn't mean I don't use powertools but only if it doesn't affect the sound.

Having reached a high standard quality at this moment it still is a surprise for me myself how the newly build instrument sounds. It's not a question of good or bad, but it's about difference and accepting that every piece of wood has it's own character. And there is always this 'Moustache' sound, open and loud.

Last year I started a new project: flattop steelstringed guitars. Something new and a lot to find out. Having made a few now the guitars turn out very well.

Breda, November 2006
Thijs van der Harst