RAYMOND KRAUT GUITARS
THE BEST ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY
“An optimally responsive guitar is not one thing, it is all things.”
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The Nouveau Style
THE PLAYER’S GUITAR
My work is influenced by the renowned and innovative Bauhaus art school, which was established in Germany from 1919-1933. The school's philosophy of creating useful and beautiful objects with exceptional craftsmanship at the core resonates with me. I view my guitars as functional works of contemporary art, which is a crucial aspect of my work as an artist and craftsman.
My "Nouveau" guitar line challenges the traditional norms of what we expect from a responsive musical instrument. By incorporating several small sound ports and modifying the rosette to reflect my minimalist design vision, I am moving away from conventional aesthetics. Despite these unconventional choices, my guitars are incredibly comfortable to play and offer a surprising tonal range. This modern approach to lutherie is intended to inspire our creativity and change our perceptions of how we perceive and experience the instrument.
CR GUITARS
CRAIG SNYDER POSTS A KRAUT OO NOUVEAU FOR SALE
SOLD!
CRAIG'S REVIEW | Something remarkable happened when Ray Kraut created this fabulous guitar - both in the way it looks (which you can plainly see in the photos) and its stunning sound. Ray has stepped up and created a next-level build for me, a modern 00 monster of a guitar. This beauty is a guitar that enhances whatever you play without limits. Strum like a madman, and it will roar with every strike. Brush with your fingers, and she'll whisper in your ear. Sonically, it's a 3-D experience. The unique and elegant
sound ports surround the player with an honest and woody tonal mist.
The Nouveau's wood choices are sublime, and Ray's artistic design is a perfect setting for this uber-fantastic set of Tree Mahogany back and sides. Ergonomically, it's a joy to hold. The playability is beyond excellent. I love smaller guitars, I love Ray's work, and I love this instrument. Everything comes together in this remarkable, brilliant Raymond Kraut Nouveau 00.
Photo courtesy of CR GUITARS
2023 Woodstock Invitational Luthiers Showcase
Raymond kraut guitars attended
The Woodstock Invitational was an amazing success and I was grateful to be a part of it. My Nouveau guitars sold immediately and seemed to be the center of attention as something new and interesting in the industry. It was important for me to allow people to hear the excellent sound of my new designs first-hand.
Don Latarski
Discover the sound of my nouveau style guitar
I had the pleasure of guitarist Don Latarski performing a demo of my Nouveau Style guitar.
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MY LATEST NOUVEAU
Port Ortford Cedar & Swiss Moon Spruce… Join my email list to find out more about this awesome new design.
TOOLING
Each month, I will feature a new tool or machine of which I have refurbished and insight as to how and why I use it for luthiery.
DESERT LANDSCAPES
Get a look inside where I live and work in the Sonoran Desert; a most unique and stunning region.
GUITAR MODELS
I offer three styles
All three models can be customized through my Nouveau Style.
COMMISSIONS
Please contact krautguitars@gmail.com for more information on how to begin the commissioning process.
You may also contact my dealers directly as there might be a guitar available that suits your needs:
Photo by Taylor Noel Photography
RAYMOND KRAUT
A STORY OF LIFE AND WORK
I currently live and work on desert acreage near the Tortolita Mountain range in Marana, Arizona. In this beautiful landscape, I have built two workshops; one solely dedicated to luthiery and one dedicated to larger woodworking and welding projects. I love sharing the world of luthiery with my family. My wife Ashley and stepdaughter Colette, enter my workshop on a daily basis. Colette is already interested in learning the craft and Ashley (a woodworker and furniture designer) helps me from time to time. To live a life where I get to wake up, see a desert sunrise, walk into my shop smelling the shavings of Rosewood from the prior’s day tasks, and be surrounded by my family, is all I need as an artist these days.
My journey as a luthier began in 2004 when I attended the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery - a great school and experience that clarified that I wanted to further my education in the field and pursue luthiery as a career. In 2004 I was accepted as the third apprentice to Ervin Somogyi following a week-long interview in Oakland, CA. The next two years would forever shape my life and work.
Responsiveness in guitars is what Ervin pioneered, mastered and wrote about in his published series titled, Making the Responsive Guitar. Of all the apprentices he took under his wing, I consider myself the one who took the mastery of responsiveness to a new level while staying true to my studies with the master himself. The physics behind a contemporary acoustic guitar, as developed by Ervin Somogyi, allows for a resilience and flexibility in the voicing and structure of the guitar. He developed an unprecedented ability to make a truly responsive guitar and I follow in those footsteps with dedication and progress.
What does responsiveness mean? To some it is feeling, some it is tone, to some it is measurable, to some it is instinctual. All of these factors come into play with the experience of the guitar. An optimally responsive guitar is not one thing, it is all things. It brings all these attributes and characteristics together: aesthetics, engineering, sound, feeling.
My Nouveau Style & Model marks a new chapter in my career as a luthier. It is my aesthetic without comprimise and a culmination of all that I have learned in life and work.
To get the conversation going, I will need to know what model you are interested in
We will engage in a series of conversations to discuss the details and specifications of your guitar. The spec sheet (which I will email to you) clarifies all choices and pricing. The general design (as in material and colors) of the rosette will be discussed, but as the artisan, I require artistic freedom to create a beautiful design I stand behind and a creative process that flows.
TIMELINE | PAYMENT | SHIPPING
My instruments start at $18,000.
I offer a wide variety of customizations and will email prospective clients a detailed spec sheet with pricing.
A $2,500 deposit is due upon agreement of terms of your build.
A 50% remaining balance is due upon the start of construction. The remainder is due at the end of the build before the guitar is shipped.
All instruments come with a flight case.
Shipping is not included in the price of the guitar.
THE NOUVEAU STYLE
The Nouveau Style can be added to any of the three guitar models I offer - Mod-D, OM, & OO. Clients who are interested will be able to determine the species of wood but all remaining artistic decisions will come from my own process. The Nouveau Style starts at $25,000.
WARRANTY
My instruments have a limited lifetime warranty to their original owner. This warranty does not cover any damage due to extremes in humidity or temperature, alterations or modifications, accidents or improper handling and misuse, and normal wear and tear.
SHIPPING
After payment has been received in full, the instrument will be shipped. Shipping and handling are not included in the guitar price.