Biography of Barry S. Densch

In the winter of 1977, I made my first classical guitar under the apprenticeship of master luthier, A. Osman Tilev. After working with Mr. Tilev for one year, I opened a small shop named Astrid Guitars in downtown Chicago. Eventually my business became an authorized warranty repair center for C. F. Martin, Gibson, and Ovation guitar companies. My greatest joy came from working with my customers.

After eight years of making and repairing fretted instruments, I made the decision to lay down the tools of my craft in consideration of alternative career opportunities. In the summer of 1986 I closed down my business. Soon afterward I started working as a research technician at Northwestern University.

In 1995, I pursued the potential plume of information technology work. Two years later I moved to Minneapolis, where I continued my professional IT career until the end of 2005.

When the doors to Astrid Guitars closed for the last time in the summer of 1986, I began a journey back to a place where I once belonged. At the beginning of 2006 my path came full circle. A new door opened, and I am once again a full-time luthier.

From one fellow traveler to another, I hope to see you at that door.