Tobias Braun

Gaaden, Vienna Woods, Austria

Tobias Braun was born in Germany in 1960 and has spent most of his life in Austria, where he builds in his workshop in Gaaden, in the Vienna Woods south of the city. He came to the craft in his early twenties, first teaching himself from books, and in 1984 attended José Luis Romanillos's inaugural guitar making course in Zürich. Those formative weeks with Romanillos laid the acoustic and aesthetic foundation for everything he has built since, and he has become one of Europe's most respected makers of traditional Spanish inspired concert guitars.

Braun's commitment to the craft is total. He selects standing trees in the forest that will one day become soundboards, and he remains involved at every stage, from wood selection and storage through each individual component to the final hand applied French polish. His guitars follow the Romanillos school closely, with seven fan bracing, Romanillos inspired rosettes and bridge detailing, and meticulous hand voicing, executed in materials of exceptional quality. Alongside building, he teaches his own guitar making course and has lectured on the restoration of Spanish guitars.

The Brauns that have come through our shop show why the Romanillos lineage matters. A 2023 spruce and Indian rosewood model balanced warmth, clarity, and power, with basses that linger supportively under every phrase. A 2026 instrument in aged European spruce and flamed maple, built specifically for us, is one of the finest Romanillos inspired guitars we have encountered: every note blooms, with cello-like depth in the bass and lyrical, expressive trebles. These guitars feel alive in the hands, and we encourage anyone drawn to the Spanish tradition to try one in our showroom.