Nylon string guitar players deserve more than just mass-produced instruments. They deserve craftsmanship, care, and a connection to something real—something borne of tradition. That belief has always guided my work, and it’s exactly what drew me to Kremona Guitars.
Kremona had been on my radar for a while, but it was Brendan Morse, their U.S. sales rep at the time, who brought them into focus. Over the years, Brendan reached out several times, encouraging me to take a closer look. At first, I passed. I was confident in the guitars I was already offering.
But things started to shift.
As I reassessed my relationships with other manufacturers—many of which had become increasingly impersonal and rigid—Brendan’s approach stood out. He wasn’t pushing product. He was listening. He wanted to understand what I needed from a builder. That alone was rare—and it mattered.
What followed was a conversation grounded in mutual respect and a shared love for the nylon string guitar.
Through that dialogue, I saw something deeper: Kremona wasn’t just making guitars—they were honoring tradition, embracing quality, and putting integrity first. Just like I try to do.
Neither of us is interested in “selling boxes.” We’re here to serve players—seriously, thoughtfully, and without compromise. That’s the kind of partnership I can stand behind. And I’m glad I took that closer look.
When Brendan and I first started talking seriously, I was struck by the openness of the conversation. He wanted to know what I needed from a manufacturer, and he was willing to listen. That alone was rare. But what came next truly sealed the deal.
Throughout several conversations, I was invited to build a direct relationship not just with sales staff, but with the guitars themselves. Brendan opened the door to the Kremona USA warehouse, giving me hands-on access to the instruments and the opportunity to begin hand-selecting guitars based on tone, playability, and visual appeal. Being able to evaluate guitars in person—rather than working from spec sheets or photos—was a turning point, and it fundamentally changed how I could serve my customers.
This type of access is almost unheard of in the nylon-string guitar world. Most manufacturers put a wall between the build and design process and the dealer. You don’t get to ask questions. You don’t get the opportunity to make suggestions; you get what you get. With Kremona, it’s a different story altogether.
Their willingness to continue the dialogue, to evolve the relationship, and to offer ongoing access and transparency has carried this partnership forward in meaningful ways.
That openness wasn’t limited to a few conversations—it turned out to be a reflection of how Kremona operates at every level.
What began with Brendan extended naturally to the people now guiding Kremona’s presence and production: Sean Henry, Kremona USA’s Brand Manager, and Nikolay Iliev, owner and CEO of Kremona Guitars in Bulgaria.
Their willingness to continue the dialogue, to evolve the relationship, and to offer ongoing access and transparency has carried this partnership forward in meaningful ways. The same spirit of openness runs deep throughout Kremona’s identity. It’s not a sales strategy—it reflects an old-world mentality rooted in craftsmanship, pride, and respect for the work itself.
Founded in 1924 by Dimitar Georgiev, a Bulgarian luthier trained in Markneukirchen, Germany, Kremona has quietly upheld the European tradition of handcrafting stringed instruments for over a hundred years. What began as a small workshop rooted in discipline and pride has carried forward through generations.
These are not anonymous factory workers. They are skilled craftspeople—each with a specialized role in the process—whose combined experience allows Kremona to produce nylon string guitars that stand comfortably alongside the best being built anywhere in the world today.
Nowhere is Kremona’s philosophy more clearly expressed than in their Luthier Series guitars. These instruments sit at the intersection of tradition, experience, and deliberate refinement—built not to chase trends or fill catalog gaps, but to represent the highest level of work the workshop is capable of producing.
Each guitar in the Luthier Series reflects a deep respect for classical guitar tradition, paired with a willingness to incorporate modern refinements where they genuinely serve the instrument. Materials are carefully selected, voicing is deliberate, and attention to detail is consistent from one build to the next.
What sets these guitars apart is not a single feature or specification, but the cumulative effect of skilled hands working within a shared philosophy. They are instruments built by people who understand what nylon string players listen for—and what they expect to feel under the fingers.
Here are the three voices of the Luthier Series—shown front and back—each with its own personality, but all built with the same underlying discipline and intent.
 100th Anniversary
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 Calista
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 Rosa Lucia
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Click any guitar above to view the full product listing with specifications, pricing, and availability.
Here are the three voices of the Luthier Series—shown front and back—each with its own personality, but all built with the same underlying discipline and intent.
Click any guitar above to view the full product listing with specifications, pricing, and availability.
Since that first real conversation with Brendan, my relationship with Kremona has continued to deepen. That trust has opened doors—not just to their standard offerings, but to their best luthier-built nylon string guitars, instruments that stand comfortably alongside far more expensive, boutique builds. More importantly, it’s given me a clear view into how these guitars are conceived, built, and refined, and why they feel the way they do in the hands of a player.
I’m not the one building these guitars—but I know what I hear, and what I feel, when I play them. As a luthier, I recognize the thought, care, and discipline that go into instruments like these, and I pay close attention to how that work shows up in sound, response, and consistency. Through Marfione Guitars, I’m able to open that door for my customers as well—sharing what I’ve found, being transparent about the process, and connecting players with a group of builders whose commitment to the craft is evident the moment you sit down with one of their guitars.
What began as a long courtship and a thoughtful conversation has become one of the most meaningful partnerships I’ve formed in this industry. I’m proud to offer Kremona nylon string guitars to my customers, and just as proud to call the people behind them colleagues and friends. Because when a nylon string guitar is made by people who care, you can feel it. And when it’s offered by someone who knows the builder, the story—and the instrument—carry that much more weight.
