Koenke guitar in progress, unfinished archtop with f-holes in workshop

Steve’s guitar building philosophy

While many modern guitars are assembled using prefabricated components and automated processes, Steve handcrafts each of his signature guitars. This hands-on approach allows him to shape the tonal characteristics while delivering exceptional consistency in quality, playability, aesthetics, resonance, and musicality.

Steve’s guitar building philosophy is rooted in precision, craftsmanship, and ergonomics. He carefully selects premium and exotic tonewoods from the finest raw lumber, then seasons each piece for months or years to achieve optimal moisture content and stability. He joins each part of the guitar, ensuring maximum tightness of the neck joints and seamless bookmatched top and back plates. Using proprietary fixtures he designed himself, Steve precisely machines each truss rod channel to minimize sympathetic vibrations and preserve the natural voice of the instrument. His goal is to create guitars that honor the integrity of each instrument and the artistry of traditional lutherie.

Custom hand-wound pickups

Steve builds premium hand-wound pickups for electric guitars and basses, each one carefully crafted by hand for exceptional tone and character. If you're chasing superior tone or a unique sound, he can help you achieve the desired tone for your guitar as well as pickup rewinds.

Curious about the pickup winding process? Watch Steve wind a pickup by hand using his trusty Mojotone pickup coil winding machine.

“I’ve been completely immersed in the craft every day for the past 28 years. I love the entire guitar building process — procuring the finest tonewoods, creating new designs, making sawdust, sanding, and spraying finishes. I’m not trying to compete with the big manufacturers. All I want to do is make guitars that are exceptional in aesthetics, sound, and playability.”‍ ‍

— Steve Koenke