Today I devote a few minutes to contemplate the Master Mind behind the alto guitar, Georg Bolin. He was born on February 24:th 1912 at Hestings farm in Guldrupe, on the Swedish island Gotland.
Bolin was trained to be a cabinet maker in Visby and then moved to Stockholm where he met the well known Swedish furniture and interior designer Carl Malmsten. Bolin worked closely to Malmsten and assisted him in the founding of two renowned woodworking schools, Carl Malmstens Verkstadsskola in Stockholm and Capellagården in Öland. For a number of years Bolin was one of the teachers and later the headmaster of the school in Stockholm. Luckily for us, lovers of the alto guitar, he decided to devote himself to guitar making on a full time basis in the late 1960s and shortly after that the alto guitar saw the light of day.
From 1982 and for nearly ten following years, I had the privilege to work closely to Georg Bolin, first as his student and later as his assistant. His impact on me, both as a professional and as a human being, can not be overrated and his ability to think “outside of the box” is a source of daily inspiration.
After fighting cancer for some time, Georg Bolin passed away in 1993.

Peter Bengtsson, Master Luthier, Sölvesborg, Sweden

Hello Peter,

thank you for posting this biography.


If you remember some workshop funny stories & anecdote
with Georg Bolin, we would read them with great pleasure !

best regards,

Christophe

Let me get back to you on that, Christophe...

BR
Peter

Hello Peter,

Thank you!
I agree with Christophe that we would really appreciate more information from you, e g anecdotes.

Best regards,
Sten