Okenica GuitarsSave Shop

Fine, handmade early romantic and modern classical guitars,
period, ecological and custom-made guitar cases.

About us...

Luthier Martin Okenica ['mʌrtin 'ɔkeˌɲitsɑ] and guitarist Marek Cupák ['mʌrek 'tsupɑ:k] have been friends for many years now. They met back when Marek, besides his university studies, taught classical guitar at local music elementary school in their hometown of Holíč in Slovakia, and one of Martin's sons begun to attend the classes. By that time, Martin, being himself a self-taught hobby guitarist, already had some luthier experience, which was primarily focused on building electric guitars for his own needs and passion.
First suggestions in the direction classical and period guitarmaking came shortly after. Ever since, their cooperation was beneficial to both Martin's guitarmaking and Marek's playing, as this constant, bilateral feedback encouraged professional growth and brought further suggestions, ideas and improvements to both of them. Martin's experience and Marek's support cumulated to a point, which turned the guitarmaking into full-time occupation, practiced in a completely equipped, full-featured workshop, supplied by an own, carefully kept store of quality woods and material, backed-up by a considerable knowledge-base, including a library of professional literature and building plans.

From the legal point of view there was a two-man private limited company established for above mentioned purposes, named Hexachord Studios s.r.o., which covers activities of both participants.

Our philosophy...

A well built and properly looked-after instrument will last far longer than a single human lifetime. Therefore, we see our guitars as our investments. Investments into knowledge, skills and craftsmanship, which we want to make as valuable and as durable as possible, and simultaneously keep them accessible and their values transferable to our customers by offering a fair price.

We do mind our environment and we do see the astonishing value in resources it provides. Hence, we very much prefer domestic wood species to exotic ones, which often are nowadays considered threatened or vulnerable in the first place, and also pose extra burden to our planet by being transported over huge distances. Sure we can use them, yet there is enough domestic, European species providing excellent acoustic performance, highly aesthetically pleasing look and are very practical to work with. Spruce, maple, walnut and pear are the most common, but only a few examples to name. Furthermore, instruments made this way do not require any CITES certification and can be shipped all over the world without any restrictions.

Our own-developed and own-built, customizable, plastic-free guitar cases let us underline this attitude.

We also avoid using synthetic lacquers - polyurethane, nitrocellulose and alike - being artificial and often thick in layer, we think they diminish acoustical capacities of the instrument by dampening wood vibrations to an unnecessary extent. Natural oil varnishes and shellac are used instead.

There are no "student models" - every guitar is built with the best intention in mind and none should be inferior to any other. We support students by offering price reductions, split payments and long-term rentals. For more information please visit our homepage okenicaguitars.com

Last but not least, a phrase Martin uses to say: "What's done hastily, can't be any good."

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