Jialan Chen

China

Jialan Chen is a Chinese luthier who established the Jialan Guitar Workshop in 2013. In 2014 he met the Italian makers Andrea Tacchi and Paolo Coriani, and he subsequently traveled to Italy to study with them, receiving blueprints and production materials from both mentors. During his travels in Europe he studied and measured original guitars by historically important makers and visited the workshops of prominent builders, absorbing techniques from multiple schools of construction. That firsthand study of great instruments remains the foundation of his work today.

Chen builds traditional concert guitars distinguished by careful material selection, tonal refinement, and elegant appearance. His models include a Bouchet model, an Impressionism model, and the Coclea Thucea, a striking three piece soundboard design built in homage to his mentor Andrea Tacchi. The Tacchi influence runs deep: a colorful palette, long sustain, surprising volume, and a sensitivity that rewards an expressive right hand. The Swedish guitarist Per-Olov Kindgren has performed on Jialan concert models since 2016, a testament to how far the workshop's reputation has traveled.

Homage instruments often disappoint us, but the 2024 Coclea Thucea Fibonacci that came through our shop was a delightful exception. Having played an original Tacchi Coclea Thucea, one of our favorite instruments ever, we found Chen's guitar remarkably close in character. It produced a beautiful, natural, round sound that filled the room with striking ease, and the rounded neck, raised fingerboard, and low action made it a pleasure to play. We look forward to handling more of Chen's work, and our expert team is happy to discuss availability.