Lukas Schmidt 15 3/8 Archtop British Racing Green

Lukas Schmidt is a German guitar maker working from his workshop in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, where he builds handcrafted archtops and steel-string guitars featuring many unique details. In doing so, he combines traditional elements from concert guitar, lute, and violin making with modern construction techniques and materials.

Schmidt obtained his Bachelor's degree in Instrument Making in Markneukirchen in 2019, after which he also passed the Master's examination in String Instrument Making. Here, he not only demonstrated the right theoretical knowledge but also impressed with his built guitar, which was voted Best Instrument of the Year.

The Model 15 3/8 is a medium-sized, lightweight archtop that owes its name to the size of the body; the lower bout is 15 3/8 inches. The guitar lends itself perfectly to various musical and playing styles, but is naturally an instrument par excellence for jazz music. Thanks to the use of excellent quality woods, the guitar also looks beautiful; The solid Alpine spruce top is finished in British Racing Green and is paired with a mahogany back and neck, while Schmidt has used rosewood for the bridge base, tailpiece anchoring, fingerboard, and headstock for beautiful natural details.

The guitar features a set of Kloppmann HB 58 humbuckers that effectively convey the airy acoustic character and the complex, responsive tone in the amplified sound. The electronics are also supported by the guitar's construction; due to the absence of a sustain block, the guitar strikes a balance between a full-fledged jazz guitar and a typical semi-acoustic guitar, with the top thickness and parallel bracing designed to acoustically complement the electronics.

Additionally, the adjustable soundport is a powerful tool for adjusting the character of the sound. A remarkable feat of engineering wrapped in a stunning design!