About Unquendor Guitars
Unquendor
/ˈun.kwe.n.dɔr/
Noun
Quenya
- Meaning: "Hollow Land", a neo-Quenya term coined to translate the often perceived etymology of the name "Holland" (interpreted as "Hollow Land").
- Entymology: Derived from Quenya ‘unqua’ ("hollow") and ‘ndor’ ("land, country").
- Note: While the term “Unquendor” reflects a mistaken folk etymology for "Holland" as "Hollow Land", the correct etymology of "Holland" is believed to be derived from Old Dutch “holt land” meaning "wooded land."
At Unquendor Guitars, it’s about more than just creating an instrument – it’s about bringing a personal story to life. Every handcrafted guitar I make comes from a vision, realised through craftsmanship and attention to detail to reflect the needs, wishes and often a long cherished dream of a guitar player.
The process of making a bespoke guitar is a collaboration. From the first sketch to the finest detail, I work closely with a musician to select wood, hardware, and all the details that perfectly match their personal style and musical vision. This involvement makes each guitar not just unique, but also a true reflection of the player.
Inspired by classic designs and enriched with a modern twist, my guitars combine tradition with innovation. The result is an instrument that not only sounds and plays exceptional but also tells a story – a story of passion, collaboration and craftsmanship.
My Story
Hello my name is Daniel and I’ve been obsessed with guitars since I was a kid.
While other children had teddy bears, I had a toy guitar in my crib.
While visiting the local library I found a children’s book about making simple instruments.
The one that caught my eye was a very basic electric guitar made from a wooden slat for the neck, a cardboard body, a single-string and a self wound pickup that connected to a hi-fi stereo.
I had to build it.
But growing up in the 80s, in a small village in the Netherlands, there was no easy access the parts and materials, and with no internet or online stores, I couldn’t get what I needed to make that guitar.
That guitar never came to be, but it marked the start of a journey that would take many years.
I got serious about playing guitar, played in several bands, and spent al lot of time sketching and designing guitars, though I never built one.
When it was time to choose a career, I didn’t know guitar building was an option.
As far as I knew guitars came from factories in America and Japan.
So I did the reasonable thing and took a ‘real’ job and became a plumber.
Years later, a guitar I was playing started to fall apart and I decided to try repairing it myself.
A deep dive into online tutorials and YouTube videos reignited that childhood spark.
Soon, I was building my first guitar.
As soon as that first guitar was finished, I knew it wouldn’t be the last one.
I’ve been building ever since, improving my craft with each new guitar.
And so, Unquendor Guitars was born.
Welcome to my Workshop
A behind the scenes look into my little workshop.
My workshop is a cabin in the back of the garden just big enough to hold a small woodworking shop, but there is plenty of space to make great instruments.
In the last couple of years I've filled it to the roof with the tools and equipment needed to build my guitars and do some general woodwork as well.
In this video I will show you 'around' the workshop and give you a impression on the tools I use to create my guitars.