A VOCATION
EARLY
Vatroslav's passion for the guitar was revealed at the age of six, when he received his very first instrument. That childhood guitar became far more than a toy — it opened the doors to a world of sound, form, and emotion. Soon, the gentle vibration of its strings shaped his daily life and nurtured a profound connection with music.
Yet beyond playing, it was the instrument itself that fascinated him. Drawn to the union of wood and resonance, he quickly developed a desire to understand the guitar's hidden soul. At sixteen, guided by his love of noble materials and his relentless curiosity, he dared to build his first guitar.
Self-taught, he relied only on instinct, perseverance, and an early sense of precision. Each attempt was a discovery, each gesture an exploration. Though imperfect, that first creation revealed an undeniable truth: lutherie would become his path. From that moment on, he devoted his creativity and passion to transforming instruments into true works of art.
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LEARNING
IN THE PURE TRADITION OF CLASSIC LUTHERIE
A guitar begins with wood — carefully chosen, patiently selected, and deeply respected. Very early, Vatroslav understood that the soul of an instrument emerges from an intimate dialogue between the luthier and the material.
From the spruce forests of Eastern France, Switzerland, and Italy, to the flamed maples of Eastern Europe, and even the exotic Gabon ebony, he learned to recognize, feel, and listen to the wood long before shaping it. Each tree carries a memory, each grain vibrates with promise. The luthier, as a messenger, must reveal this hidden essence and give it voice.
Every piece of wood is unique, and from this singularity arises an instrument unlike any other. Behind each Sabolovic guitar lives the tree it came from — its story and its character — extended into the hands of the musician. It is always a meeting: between the forest, the craftsman, and the artist.
Lutherie is a complete art, requiring the skills of cabinetmaking, sculpture, acoustics, marquetry, varnishing, painting, and even electronics. But above all, it is the work of a poet — a poet of wood and sound, giving life to music through matter.
THE SPECIALIZATION
THE ARCHTOP GUITAR
Why the archtop guitar?
For Vatroslav, the answer is simple: it embodies the very essence of the guitar. With its carved forms and unique vibrations, it produces a singular voice that has shaped the history of jazz.
Its tone — soft, mellow, and velvety — has been celebrated by the greatest guitarists: Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, George Benson. The archtop is not just another guitar: it is a sound universe of its own, immediately recognizable, deeply expressive, and endlessly inspiring.
Its construction demands the same rigor as a string quartet instrument. Like a violin or cello, an archtop is built with a hand-carved top and back, designed to unleash the full acoustic potential of the wood. Spruce, maple, ebony — each species is carefully selected to reveal its unique mechanical and vibratory qualities.
But an archtop guitar is more than an instrument: it is a work of art. Vatroslav gives as much importance to its aesthetics as to its sound. Each guitar receives a unique, refined design, blending tradition and modernity, created to withstand the test of time with elegance.
A Sabolovic guitar is thus much more than a musical tool. It is a rare piece, a collector's object, a creation bearing the signature of a master — uniting acoustic perfection with timeless beauty, admired by musicians and collectors around the world.
25 YEARS OF BUILDING
UNIQUE AND EXCEPTIONAL GUITARS
For over twenty-five years, Vatroslav Sabolovic has devoted his life to fine lutherie. This patient, demanding journey has made him a true master of the jazz archtop guitar with hand-carved top and back, recognized worldwide by musicians and collectors.
Every instrument leaving his workshop is unique, carrying its own sonic and aesthetic identity. Each guitar tells a story, embodies a character, and becomes for its player a true musical soulmate.
Customization lies at the heart of his work. Choice of woods, finishes, inlays, and decorative details — everything can be tailored to match the musician's vision. Beyond guitars, the workshop also creates other carved-top instruments such as basses, mandocellos, cellos, or cavaquinhos, all crafted with the same pursuit of acoustic excellence and timeless elegance.
Vatroslav also dedicates his skill to the restoration of instruments, returning their original beauty and resonance with utmost respect for their integrity and soul. Whether it is to craft a masterpiece from raw wood or to revive an instrument steeped in history, each creation and restoration bears the same hallmark: that of a master craftsman, deeply in love with wood and sound.