Sabolovic Guitars Luthier Interview 1 Background

Sabolovic Guitars Luthier – For those who don’t know you yet, can you tell us about your background? Did you go to Luthiers school? Did you follow a training with already established Luthiers? And, if you don’t mind my asking, what did you do before embarking on this adventure? Were you a musician before becoming a luthier? Or did you do anything else? And, by the way, do you still find time to play music with your work as a Luthier ?

The relationship that I have with the guitar is not new. I got my first instrument at the age of 6.

I studied classical guitar for several years then continued to play in different musical groups. When I was a teenager, I started to work on my instruments. The first step was to customize them.

Quite quickly I was attracted to the violin making. Skillful with my hands and attracted by the fine workmanship of the materials, I immediately fell headlong into the Luthiery as an autodidact. I made my first guitar when I was 16.

It was around the age of 20 that I specialized in making Jazz arch top guitar.

I have been making them for almost 25 years today. This is my life path, my mission on earth.

Sabolovic Guitars Luthier – Apart from creating custom instruments, we know that you do all types of repairs and maintenance on guitars and basses, can you also take care of other types of plucked and bowed stringed instruments?

Yes, even if manufacturing is my main business,

I also take care of everything that is repairs, restorations … Plucked string instruments but also quartet instruments.

It is also always a pleasure to receive clients at the workshop,

the relationship that I have with my clients is very rich.

Sabolovic Guitars Luthier – Can you tell us about your current flagship models? Do you have a range that you do regularly? Do you also make unique custom models ? How did you proceed to create them ? What were your choices and your creation process? What kind of musicians do you cater to?

Each instrument is the result of an original creation and a long elaboration.

Each model has its own identity, sound and aesthetics, it is unique.

Among the models I offer:

Billie,
Dinah,
Nina,
Esther
and Ella are the jazz models.

They are proposed in a “traditional” version with a wooden tailpiece, suspended pickup or more electric.

The models Club and Princesse evolve in a registry more blues – rock.
Finally our little acoustic masterpiece is called Gypsy heart.

My clientele is very varied, ranging from professional musician, to simple amateur via collector. I sell a lot abroad and especially in the USA.

Many musicians seem to abandon brands like Gibson, for artisanal luthier guitars. Like an awakening of consciousness.

Sabolovic Guitars Luthier – Computer has become everyone’s daily life, regardless of their profession. Do you use special computer tools in the field of Luthiers? Can you tell us about them?

The computer and the networks allowed me to make myself known on an international scale.

In terms of manufacturing, all the work is artisanal, for example I do not use a CNC. All the building process adheres to the historic traditions and is performed by hand.

My guitars are made with passion they have a soul.

Sabolovic Guitars Luthier – Those who know you know that you are a great lover of beautiful woods, how do you help your customers to choose the woods of their future guitar in relation to the sound they have in mind? Can you easily find wood in your networks? If so, can you name some of your suppliers ?

My clients participate in the manufacture of their instruments.

They can choose many options including wood species.

In the case of the Jazz guitar we mainly use maple and spruce.

Apart from exotic woods, the species I use are European.

These are the ones used by Italian luthiers for centuries.

Sabolovic Guitars Luthier – There is a huge selection of aftermarket parts. Do you work with regular suppliers or are you always on the lookout for new suppliers who can offer you something new? Do you have any examples to give us?

I have a few very talented craftsmen who work for me, for example my mother-of-pearl logo engraved in French Polynesia.

I also have my original Sabolovic tailpiece made from bronze. Then 90% of the instrument is handcrafted in the workshop.

I especially do not want to lose this artisanal side and sell my soul to the devil !

Sabolovic Guitars Luthier – How do you choose the pickups for your electric instruments according to the demands of your customers? Or electro-acoustic sensors? Do you have any secrets or wiring habits? Have you ever had any very special requests, or requests that seemed strange to you from customers with special needs?

My clients have the choice of the pickup. By default, I use Ibanez Super 58s or Benedetti Jazz. This is the ideal pickup for jazz.

I don’t use electro-acoustic sensors on jazz archtop.

Varnish… Nitrocellulo, P.U (polyurethane) or “pad” varnish? What are your choices and why?

I mainly use cellulosic varnishes for their quality and high gloss.

I also sometimes use water-based varnishes or do oiled finishes.

Sabolovic Guitars Luthier – How do you help your clients choose the woods for the fingerboard of their instrument in relation to the sound they want to achieve? Can you tell us how this choice affects the other woods used in the construction of an instrument?

Each piece of wood, even the smallest, will have an impact on the sound of the instrument.

An ebony fingerboard sounds different than a rosewood fingerboard. A X or vertical brace also has a considerable role.

The most important element remains the thickness of the soundboard. The thinner it is, the more the low frequencies will be highlighted and the high frequencies in case of a thicker soundboard.

In the case of the arch top guitar, Each soundboard and backplate is carved in massive wood and calibrated tenth millimeter close to reveal all their acoustic qualities, providing the instrument the best sound possible.

All these aspects are defined during the development of the instrument with the customer.

I always try to advise and guide my clients as well as possible to have the desired sound.

Are you also interested in making amps and effects? And, if not, are you going to go in that direction like many other luthiers ? Or do you prefer to leave this part to others? (If you know the names of friends who are in this field, can you name some of them? 😉 )

I stay focused on making the jazz guitar.

It takes a life, I don’t have time to devote myself to amplifiers, effects … A lot of craftsmen do that very well. Its perfect like that.

Do you have any advice for future young luthiers? Can you give them advice on training courses? Do you know of any special schools?

The lutherie calls on many trades with innumerable facets.

There are more than 10 different trades. The job takes time, it takes a minimum of 3 years before starting to control a production, it is a job where you are constantly learning.

I’m still learning after 25 years.

You have to be patient, humble. Being a good handyman is not enough. The knowledge to be acquired is numerous, a long experience is essential. I think you also have to develop your own talents.

Basics in cabinetmaking may be welcome but the best school in my opinion is to learn directly from luthiers.

I myself offer training in my workshop. I am not convinced of the schools today.

The profession of Luthier is a trade that requires a significant material investment to start its activity. What would you advise a young luthier to buy to start? The minimum required? And, the maximum to be in a comfortable working environment?

As said previously, it is a lot of different trades which suppose a lot of very diverse material.

My workshop is an alibaba cave.

Equipping takes time, years, decades … You can’t start all at once.

A few machines like a drill press, a routeur, a few good wood chisel and obviously some first piece of wood is a good start.

Look at Stradivarius’ very sketchy tooling and the wonders he built !

You can contact Vatroslav Sabolovic through the contact form
on his personal page on Luthiers.com here:

https://luthiers.com/listing/sabolovic-guitars/

Sabolovic Guitars Luthier Interview 1 Background – You can contact Vatroslav Sabolovic through the contact form on his personal page on Luthiers.com – Click on the picture 😉

We also invite you to follow him on his various social networks:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SabolovicGuitars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabolovicguitars/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ZlkyWlI3kzDWxlDNf5tbA
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabolovicguitars/
Website: http://www.sabolovicguitars.com