"When I’m in the shop selecting materials for a guitar, I have an idea of a particular guitar in my head and what I want it to sound like."
~ Per Marklund (via the fretboard journal)
It all started with a 1937 D-18.
While visiting a local guitar shop, a young Per Marklund was handed something special: a well-loved pre-war Martin. The sound stuck with him. He didn’t have the means to take it home, he was a student at the time, but the impression it left never faded. The warmth, the character, the way it responded… it lit a fire.
He searched for that sound everywhere. And when he couldn’t find it? He decided to build it.
A visit to a design teacher, a chance encounter with a student luthier, a pile of wood from a local music store - that’s how it all began. Six months later, Marklund had finished his first acoustic guitar. That was in 2011. Today, he builds for players around the world, each instrument a reflection of that very first spark: chasing tone that moves you.
Marklund Guitars are steeped in tradition, but never trapped by it. The designs nod to the golden era of acoustic guitar building, while embracing a distinctly personal feel. We’re thrilled to share them with you.
(photos: the fretboard journal)
Golden-Era Inspiration, Swedish Quality
Marklund guitars are deeply influenced by pre-war Martin builds - particularly the mid-1930s D-18s - but interpreted through a fresh lens, using exacting craftsmanship and a modern ear for tone.
Responsiveness & Resonance Above All
Every Marklund guitar feels light, alive, and expressive in your hands. They’re built for dynamic players who want nuance and power - the kind of instrument that rewards a light touch but can also dig in.
Handbuilt in Small Batches
Per builds just a few guitars a year from his shop in northern Sweden. Each instrument is a one-person build, start to finish, no assembly lines, no compromises, which means tight tolerances, consistency, and a strong sense of voice.