Why I love ARK New Era guitars
Tony Klassen is a gifted and unique luthier. He retired from a career in graphic design several years ago and began his new journey: building guitars inspired by some of his favorite vintage builders, including guitars from the Chicago-based Larson Brothers, Bacon & Day and others.
He has built stunning reproductions of Prairie State, Euphonon and Maurer guitars, based on pieces from his own collection. He has also done some early Gibson designs including this model, the Kel Klassen. The Kel Klassen is his take on the 1930 and ’31 Kel Kroydon guitars, a rare Gibson offshoot.