"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.
Per Marklund Guitars FAQ
Common questions about Per Marklund acoustic guitars - the builder, the instruments, and how to get one near Boston.
Where can I find a Per Marklund guitar near Boston?
The Music Emporium in Lexington, Massachusetts is an authorized Per Marklund dealer. Per builds in Arnasvall, Sweden - a few guitars per year, entirely by hand - making these among the rarest instruments we carry. No Marklund guitars are in stock at the moment; contact us directly to discuss availability, wait times, or upcoming builds we have access to.
How did Per Marklund start building guitars?
It started with a 1937 Martin D-18. Per encountered one in a local guitar shop as a student, was handed it to play, and was immediately struck by the sound - the warmth, the character, the way it responded. He couldn't afford it at the time, but the impression never left him. He searched for that sound everywhere, and when he couldn't find it, he decided to build it. A design teacher, a student luthier, and wood sourced from a local music store later, he finished his first guitar in 2011 - six months after he started.
What is the tonal inspiration behind Marklund guitars?
The pre-war Martin D-18 of the mid-1930s is the explicit reference point - the workhorse dreadnought of the golden era, widely considered one of the definitive sounds in American acoustic guitar building. Per builds in that tradition while interpreting it through his own Swedish sensibility and modern ear: instruments steeped in tradition but never trapped by it, responsive and light-feeling, with nuance and power in equal measure.
Who is Per Marklund and where has his work been recognized?
Per Marklund is a Swedish luthier based in Arnasvall in northern Sweden. He has been building since 2011, producing a small number of instruments per year entirely by himself, and his guitars have been featured in the Fretboard Journal - the leading print publication for serious acoustic guitar players and builders. Being featured in the Fretboard Journal is a meaningful mark of credibility in the boutique acoustic world.
What are Marklund guitars like to play?
Marklund guitars are built for dynamic players who want both nuance and power. They feel light and alive in the hands, responding sensitively to a light touch while also rewarding a harder dig-in. Per builds with tight tolerances and a strong sense of voice - each instrument is a complete one-person build from start to finish, with no assembly line and no shortcuts, which translates directly into a consistency and depth of tone that players notice immediately.