I am Balazs Prohaszka, a luthier from Hungary. I have been building musical instruments since 1994. I believe that a musical instrument can represent beauty or harmony only insofar as it is perfectly functional with flawless playability and rich sound.

My path as guitar builder began at a Hungarian school of lutherie where I learned to build and repair guitars, violins, and lute type instruments. Afterward, I worked in my teacher's workshop crafting all sorts of instruments with main focus on violins. In 1997 I went to work for a double-bass workshop where I built and restored double basses, many made be the best European makers dating as far back as the 17th century. The experience serves me well: few instruments are as diverse in music as the double bass—except the guitar.

I set up my own workshop in 2000 in a small Hungarian village and built mainly archtop guitars. Simultaneously, I worked for the well-known German bow maker Bernd Etzler. In 2003, I went to work for Lowden Guitars (now Avalon Guitars) in Northern Ireland and gained experience in every aspect of guitar manufacturing. After a while I developed several new designs and custom projects.

I continue to build my own guitars with a distinctive sound, design and building approach. Every guitar is an individual design to achieve a specific look and sound. All of my guitars are the result of individual discussion; every aspect of the guitar can be customised; and there are no limits to design and vision. I refuse any compromise in quality and vision.

Learn more about Balazs Prohaszka in his interview at GuitarBench.com.