Carsten Kobs, 2025

Few modern makers are as admired as Carsten Kobs of Hamburg, Germany. His instruments are played by artists such as David Russell, Zoran Dukić, and Aniello Desiderio, and his waiting list is among the longest in the world. Each guitar he builds is a complete artistic statement, filled with refinement, color, and presence.

This 2025 model is a spectacular example of his recent work, featuring a cedar Nomex double top paired with Brazilian rosewood back and sides. The construction is incredibly lightweight, yet the guitar feels alive with energy the moment you touch it. Even while speaking near it, the top begins to resonate. It represents the absolute peak of Kobs’ modern double top design, combining the sensitivity and tonal palette of the best traditional guitars with the effortless power of a modern concert instrument.

Specifications

Luthier: Carsten Kobs
Year: 2025
Top: Cedar/Nomex doubletop
Back & Sides: Brazilian Rosewood
Construction: Doubletop
Scale Length: 650 mm
Tuners: Scheller (engraved)
Strings: D’Addario XTC45FF with normal tension nylon first string
https://ddar.io/guitar-collection
Condition: Excellent

Construction & Design

The guitar features a raised fingerboard for easy upper-position access, a C-shaped neck profile with low, comfortable action, and a dark rosewood bridge with a generous adjustment range. Scheller engraved tuners and a Brazilian rosewood headplate veneer complete the elegant presentation.

Sound

The sound of this guitar is nothing short of mesmerizing. It has a haunting mix of depth, warmth, and crispness that makes every note feel alive. The first thing that stands out is the clarity of the fundamental combined with a remarkable overtone structure. You hear not only the note you play, but a halo of sympathetic vibrations that enrich it from every direction.

The basses are thunderous and deeply tuned, with a main air resonance around low E, producing a wide and open sound that seems to expand as you play. When tuned to drop D, the power becomes nearly orchestral, recalling the very best guitars by Matthias Dammann, Michel Brück, and Jakubiszyn. The trebles are sweet, lyrical, and endlessly colorful, allowing for profound control over tone color and dynamic shape.

This guitar encourages you to explore every subtle nuance. The sensitivity is so high that you can lean into a note or let it ring untouched and it responds beautifully either way. The sustain is long and singing, never decaying abruptly, and the guitar projects easily without losing its intimacy or refinement.

About the Luthier

Carsten Kobs is known not only for his refined design and masterful execution, but also for his obsessive attention to the final voicing of each instrument. After completing construction, he carefully adjusts tiny tonal aspects of every guitar by hand. He listens for balance, sustain, and response, then fine-tunes the top and braces until each note rings exactly as he envisions. This extra level of individual refinement gives his guitars their unmistakable character and explains why players so often describe them as living, breathing instruments.

Carsten’s work continues to evolve with every guitar he builds. This 2025 model captures his unique approach to tone and craftsmanship in its most complete form, representing a modern concert guitar that is as beautiful to look at as it is to play.

Excellent.