verso Instruments
EST 2020 | Germany
Guitar | Baritone | Bass
“Verso means the back of the paper – and this is how I see my instruments: inspiring for players who want to create something new.”
robin STUMMVOLL
industrial designer | Luthier
It is crucial for me to take a big step back and ask questions that are essential but often overlooked or ignored due to tradition or expectations. In order to ensure that local instrument manufacturing remains competitive against low-cost mass production, it makes sense to simplify processes, reduce components and concentrate on the internal production of almost all individual parts.
By using “unheard” materials and implement new usage, the expectations of and about guitarists can be changed – creating instruments that create a new space for ideas. Verso means the back of the paper – and this is how I see my instruments: inspiring for players who want to create something new.
Verso | cosmo
demo
This track has been written and performed by Ephraim Giepen live in the Verso Workshop. Every loop, including drums, is made with the Verso Cosmo. For this rather dark mood with chords reminding of deep house, Ephraim uses the Verso HB1 pickup, a Boomerang Phrase Sampler and different FX like the Strymon Timeline, EHX Pitchfork+, Lehle Mono Volume and a Fairfield Circuitry Long Life Parametric EQ. Recorded directly through a Strymon Iridium into a Zoom Recorder.
A PLayful Approach | To Guitar Design
Robin Stummvoll’s Playful approach to designing his newest guitar.
Join Boutique Guitar Showcase Curator Jamie Gale, as he explores Robin Stummvoll’s playful approach to guitar design.
Verso | Sine
demo
Sine is a solid body electric guitar built around one idea: Playfulness.
It redefines your interaction with sound. Featuring the innovative Sine Pad and a freely movable pickup system, it allows for precise, mechanical control over volume, adding a new layer of expressiveness to your playing.
in the words of the maker
Luthier, Robin Stummvoll talks about Verso Musical Instruments from his own perspective.
travelled the world with the
boutique guitar showcase | en tour
2022 - 2023
Bgs | en tour 2023
Bgs | en tour 2022
Robin Stummvoll, Luthier
verso musical instruments
“It is crucial for me to take a big step back and ask questions that are essential but often overlooked or ignored due to tradition or expectations..”
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He started playing guitar at six and joined bands at thirteen. At fifteen, inspired by Ben Harper and John Butler, he built an electric Weissenborn-style lap steel guitar.
After graduating with a degree in graphic design in Ulm, he worked for two years in an agency. During those years, he also delved into building longboards, learning about material properties and experimenting with fiberglass, carbon, and vacuum molding. These skateboards pushed his interest into product design, leading him to study industrial design in 2009.
At the School of Arts in Kassel, he fell in love with design, inspired by Ray and Charles Eames, Konstantin Grcic, Dieter Rams, Ettore Sottsass and many more. During an internship with furniture designer Steffen Kehrle in Munich, he deepened his understanding of formal language and the poetry of simplicity in design.
In his studies, he oftentimes explored the history and traditions of objects to intentionally break the rules. Robin learned that expectations and categorizations can be transformed into an inspiring antidote for creative work. He developed a thesis based on this thought, resulting in the prototype of a bent sheet metal guitar called Cosmo, his final project in his studies.
After graduating with a diploma in industrial design in 2018, he began refining many details of the guitar, improving his instrument-making skills, and setting up a workshop while partially working as a designer and photographer. By November 2020, he was ready to open the doors of Verso Instruments.
From there, his growth was both steep and steady, gaining attention and clients from all over the world. His characterful sheet metal guitars were featured in numerous design, technology, and guitar magazines, including Wired, Wallpaper, and Guitar.com. In 2022, he was invited to exhibit at NAMM within the Boutique Guitar Showcase, marking an important step in his journey. Since then, he has collaborated with world-class musicians such as Lionel Loueke, Kate Bush, Henry Kaiser, and Maroon 5. Robin remains dedicated to making instruments outside the box.
life with strings attached | podcast
Robin Strummvoll & Ulrich Teuffel
Robin Stummvoll, Ulrich Teuffel & Jamie Gale talk about industrial design, on location in Germany, at the Teuffel’s workshop.
Robin Stummvoll of Verso Instruments was recently explaining to me how big an influence Ulrich Teuffel was for his guitar designs. And when it became clear that the two had never met – despite coming from the same region in Germany – I felt I had to change that. Luckily, they agreed, and I had the pleasure of bringing the two guitar innovators together in Uli’s workshop to discuss design, entrepreneurship and how new guitars inspire new music. It was fascinating to take on these topics with Robin and Uli, and I’d like to thank them both again for taking part.
gallery | verso instruments
