„What drives me is the conviction that the electric guitar, if built properly, is just as sophisticated and noble an instrument as its acoustic siblings.“ – Oliver Baron
The Designer
Fascinated by the interplay of form and function, Oliver began studying design at the University of Applied Sciences in Münster, graduating with a Dipl. Des. degree in 2003. During that time, he created numerous album covers, corporate designs, websites and — of course — guitar models. His motivation to make every design perfect and timeless can be seen throughout his work.
Over more than 10,000 hours of guitar-related CAD work, Oliver has developed a remarkably keen eye for the instrument’s aesthetics and how small differences can make or break a design. As a consultant and guitar designer, he makes this expertise available to guitar makers and manufacturers. Oliver’s LinkedIn-Profile.
The Luthier
Having worked with wood from a very young age, Oliver naturally began bringing his guitar ideas to life and developed a deep affection for the craft. He turned his passion into a business in 2004. Over the years, he designed and built a whole range of guitar models from classic to eccentric, developing a strong intuition as well as a deep understanding of the underlying physics. The chase for the perfect sound has always been the driving force behind all his efforts. He was never content just building „a cool axe“, and it shows in every instrument he has built over more than two decades. Among the admirers of his craft are players like Billy Gibbons, Pat Metheny, Julian Lage and Gilad Hekselman.
The Engineer
For a perfectionist, available components are rarely good enough. So, of course, Oliver began engineering his own, starting with his wraparound bridge in 2007. Electronics followed, leading to the unique „Charles“ pickup of the Model 1 and, more recently, to a range of T-style single coils and the P-90-sized „Variato,“ which combines the best traits of different constructions into one distinctive musical blend. The introduction of CNC machining pushed the boundaries of what’s possible for a small business, allowing the development of beautiful ebony covers, guards, knobs and much more. A new stainless-steel T-style bridge and new pickups are on the way.
The Artist
If he can find the time, Oliver also creates art. Since his first solo exhibition of paintings in 1997, he has explored all kinds of techniques and media, always reflecting his stage of life and perception of the world. His portfolio includes large hard-edge paintings, abstract sculptures made of leftover parts from his craft, several series of digital paintings and much more.
