I am Juuso Tornberg, graduate of guitar building in Ikaalinen College of Crafts and Design in Finland. Before enrolling in the school, I had built my first steel-string acoustic guitar in a community college’s course of guitar making. At the time, I fell in love with the steel-string acoustic guitar building. I wanted to learn more and decided to pursuit the art of lutherie. I’ve always loved to work with wood and hand tools. At present, after 15 years of office life I feel alive again while building guitars.

My passion is the steel-string acoustic guitar building so I will try to explore it the most. I developed my own model JT-00 which I have build four guitars so far, Nr. 4-7. Scroll down to have a look at some of the guitars I have built before and in school.

I will update my website about ordering and availability later this year. I start by offering two models, small bodied JT-00 and bigger OM-sized model which is under development at the moment. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

JT-00 models number 6 and 7 are for sale at Kitarapaja in Helsinki. Go check them out, it is a nice change to try out some Tornberg guitars.

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Number 4

Small bodied JT-00 model steel-string acoustic guitar.

I was accepted in Ikaalinen College of Crafts and Design in Finland to study guitar building from August 2019 to May 2021. The second assignment was an acoustic guitar. I chose a small bodied steel string guitar based on Martins 00-model. I changed the upper bout into a bit smaller and rounder one to please the eye. As a result of these modifications, the model JT-00 was born. I left the bracing as it was in the plan: X-brace with two tone braces below it. For now at least.

As I had already built a steel-string acoustic guitar, I decided to change the structure a little. Instead of bending sides from a single layer of wood I laminated the outer layer with full width kerfed spruce liner. I picked up this idea from the Canadian luthier Dion James, dionguitars.ca. As a result, I got very stiff sides with only a little added weight. Stiffer sides allowed the top and back to be build lighter and more responsive. I left the top a bit heavy though, which I found out as the guitar was finished.

I took a lot of measurements at various stages during the build. In my opinion, good record keeping is essential to one’s growth as a luthier. For instance, the notes of this guitar helped me to build the next guitar close to this one with some variations.

Specs:
Sides and backIndian Rosewood
TopEuropean Spruce
NeckMahogany
FingerboardEbony
RosetteIndian Rosewood
BindingFlamed Maple
SaddleEbony
FinishNitrocellulose gloss
TunersGotoh
Scale length24,9″ (632 mm), 14-fret
  • Number 4 rim
  • Number 4 finished top and back
  • Number 4 neck joint
  • Number 4 backstrip
  • Number 4 rosette
  • Number 4 headstock
  • Number 4 finished
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Number 5

Small bodied JT-00 cutaway model steel-string acoustic guitar.

Last assignment was to build an instrument to submit for the degree. I chose to build another steel-string acoustic guitar. The model was the same as number 4 with couple of variations. The top was built slightly lighter and voiced to allow more monopole movement. I also added a Florentine cutaway for practise in my mind.

I started my internship with Ari-Jukka Luomaranta at AJL-Guitars during this build. I finished this guitar in his shop. Number 5 turned out to be lighter and more responsive version of number 4. Good for fingerstyle guitarplaying.

Next up, I will try a slightly different bracing pattern. And I will build two guitars at the same time.

Specs:
Sides and backPau Ferro
TopEuropean Spruce
NeckMahogany
FingerboardEbony with Pau Ferro binding
RosettePau Ferro with red-black stripe
BindingPau Ferro with red-black purfling
SaddleEbony
FinishNitrocellulose gloss
TunersGotoh
Scale length24,9″ (632 mm), 14-fret
Nut witdh43 mm
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Number 6

Small bodied JT-00 model steel-string acoustic guitar.

I further developed the model JT-00 as I build number 6 and number 7 at the shop of AJL-Guitars. Number 6 was build for flat picking in mind. Emphasizing the treble and brightness of the sound.

I kept the structured sides but added one more layer in the inside. Additionally the neck has carbon fiber reinforcement rods to keep the neck more stable.

Number 6 is available through Kitarapaja in Helsinki.

Specs:
Sides and backMahogany
TopCarpathian Spruce
NeckMahogany with carbon fiber reinforcement
FingerboardEben
RosetteMahogany with red stripe
BindingMahogany with b-w-b purfling
SaddleEben
FinishNitrocellulose gloss
TunersGotoh 510
Scale length24,9″ (632 mm), 14-fret
Nut width44 mm
  • JT-00 number 6 glossy side
  • JT-00 number 6 rosette
  • JT-00 number 6 curves
  • JT-00 number 6 headstock
  • JT-00 number 6 end graph
  • JT-00 number 6
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Number 7

Small bodied JT-00 model steel-string acoustic guitar.

I further developed the model JT-00 as I build number 6 and number 7 at the shop of AJL-Guitars. Number 7 was build for fingerstyle in mind. The top is very light and responsive. It has wider neck and low action so its easy and comfortable to play.

I kept the structured sides but added one more layer in the inside. Additionally the neck has carbon fiber reinforcement rods to keep the neck more stable.

Number 7 is available through Kitarapaja in Helsinki.

Specs:
Sides and back Mahogany
Top Carpathian Spruce
Neck Mahogany with carbon fiber reinforcement
Fingerboard Eben with flamed Maple
Rosette Mahogany with green stripe
Binding Mahogany with b-w-b purfling
Saddle Eben
Finish Nitrocellulose satin
Tuners Gotoh 510
Scale length 24,9″ (632 mm), 14-fret
Nut width 45 mm
  • JT-00 number 6 body
  • JT-00 number 6 headstock
  • JT-00 number 6 upper bout
  • JT-00 number 6 end graph
  • JT-00 number 6 rosette
  • JT-00 number 6 guitar

Order book is open.
Enquire available slots to build your own dreamguitar.

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    Contact

    Juuso Tornberg

    Luthier

    If you have any questions or inquiries, please feel free to contact me.

    juuso@tornbergguitars.com

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