moews Guitars is one of Germany’s top guitar makers. Det Moews’ tapping technique is legendary when it comes to the careful selection of his tonewoods, which enables him to optimally match the components tonally in the later creative process. The January 2021 issue of Guitar Special – Made in Germany II features a profile of the Bielefeld-based guitar maker and his team. The interview was conducted by Stephan Hildebrand, editor-in-chief of guitar & guitar acoustic.
Why did you start building instruments?
A love of nature and proximity to wood as a living material have been with me since my earliest childhood. I grew up in a densely wooded area, the Solling and Harz regions. Our family has traditionally been involved in the timber industry for generations. I practically absorbed the aromatic scent of freshly cut wood with my mother’s milk. I often accompanied my father into the forest, where he felled trees with powerful draft horses. I learned early on about the different types of wood and their diverse properties for processing. My family was also very musical. My sister sang in the church gospel choir. The electric guitar became my instrument at a young age. But I didn’t just want to learn to play this instrument virtuosically, I also wanted to understand it in its innermost essence and recreate it. My intuition for wood and my innermost drive for perfection have driven me on and continue to do so today – for 40 years now.
What was the craziest customer request you ever had?
That was probably the wish of the CEO of a Swiss company. One day, he sent us an email with a great story. He had been invited to a Stones concert by his friend for his 50th birthday. They both had VIP seats, and when Keith played the Micabwer, he was blown away by the design and sound of the instrument. And now he wanted to have exactly this guitar replicated. Every scratch in the finish had to be in exactly the right place; the guitar had to sound indistinguishable from the original. What can I say? We fulfilled his wishes in every detail. Even Keith wouldn’t have noticed the difference. (laughs)
Made in Germany – How does the development and construction of a guitar work for you?
The design and development of a new instrument is teamwork. A joint project, so to speak. This naturally refers first and foremost to the inner circle, i.e. our team. Together, we develop and shape our ideas, write them down, discuss them, and construct them. We constantly look at OUR project from different perspectives, weigh up the benefits and advantages and disadvantages, go into detail, and begin to carefully select the woods. This is important so that the components match each other tonally in the later processing stage. This selection process is one of our most important skills.
The Outer Circle is also an important part of our guitar manufacturing process. This refers to the experience I have gained over decades, through the thousands of guitars that have passed through my hands. An instrument that brings a wistful smile to the guitarist’s lips when playing, thanks to its harmonious tonality and ergonomic handling, has served its purpose. And that makes us, as electric guitar builders, happy.
Who do you think is the best guitar maker in Germany?
Honestly? Me (laughs). I like Frank Deimel’s guitars. First of all, Frank and Cora are really nice people, and secondly, I like the fresh, artistic approach to guitar design.
When you build guitars without a specific customer order, do you have a target group or an “ideal” customer in mind?
What do a manager, a specialist doctor, a bank executive, and an entrepreneur have in common? The tough everyday life in business, where they cannot afford to show weakness? A stressful 60-hour week? Having to make far-reaching decisions at any time, without fail? Relaxing after a hard day’s work with a glass of wine and his moews guitar to bring a positive end to a dreary day.
What has changed for you since 2020? Challenges and opportunities.
2020, also known as the year of COVID-19, was special for us in many ways. The uncertainty at the beginning of the pandemic also reached our guitar factory in the heart of Bielefeld’s old town. How would the pandemic develop? What effects could we expect? Didn’t people have other things on their minds than having guitars made? Especially since artists had lost their livelihoods due to the virtual ban on their profession. For us, things turned out better than expected. We wanted to take the time to rethink established structures and develop new concepts. We didn’t get around to it. Instead, more and more construction orders came in. Added to this were the guitars we sold through Just Music (now Musik Center Dortmund) and Music World Brilon. From February 2021, the waiting list grew longer. However, we wanted to revitalize our creativity, experiment, and develop further. So we finally stopped taking new orders until May 2021. In retrospect, we see the Corona year as an opportunity to devote ourselves to things we enjoy, such as the development of our Offset project, which is very close to our hearts.
Name your three favorite bands/artists!
Rival Sons, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin
And your three favorite guitar models, whether vintage or modern?
My first love was the Telecaster, and it still is today, in every way. Richie Blackmore got me excited about the Stratocaster, with all its pickup variations. The offset guitar is my latest passion. It combines the best of both worlds (Tele and Strat).
Who are we? – The team
Det – The creative mind and founder of moews Guitars.
René – Almost there from the very beginning and Det’s right-hand man.
Michaela – handles all aspects of corporate communications: press, marketing, and social media marketing.
The interview for the Guitar Special Made in Germany was conducted by Stephan Hildebrand, editor-in-chief ofguitar & guitar acoustic
The Guitar Special Made in Germany II is available online as an e-paper or in selected magazine stores as a print edition.