About

My passion for repairing and working with instruments began early on, growing up in a household where everyone played something and old instruments were hiding under beds or hanging on the walls. I learned to love and appreciate music and become fascinated by these objects producing it. To my parent’s great annoyance as a child I also had a great interest in taking things apart to see how they work and  that I had the opportunity to ‘repair’ them. My father an electrical engineer soon harnessed this ‘gift’, taught me basic circuitry and a way around soldering iron and got me to help repairing all the things i broke.

In my upper years of schooling I chose to study Engineering, Construction and Technology at the Academy of Technology in Zvolen, Slovakia.

I gained valuable theoretical and practical skills in wood and metal working, electronics, design, technical drawing among others.

Once I had completed my studies I travelled to Galway, Ireland where I had the opportunity to learn and work under Luthier Paul Doyle. This gave me great insights into day to day running of an established workshop, further developing my woodworking skills and vastly expanding my knowledge of fine woods, specific tools and techniques used in luthiery.

After meeting my Australian partner i followed her to Melbourne determined to continue where I left off. However studies and starting a family took priority and while i carried on working on guitars for me and my friends, it wasn’t until 2014 when i was finally able to establish my first workshop in Wollongong.

Another move to Brisbane in 2017 saw me establish my company Mastena Guitars in Morningside which has now evolved into its permanent home in Camira.
I’m constantly in a process of expanding my knowledge of the vast field of Luthiery, most recently joining The Luthier’s edge courses by renowned master luthier Tom Bills so far obtaining certificates in:

The art of guitar design

Guitar physics and design

How to make a Fanned fret guitar

Fretwork Mastery part 1 and 2