Handcrafted Excellence
Built To Inspire
Welcome to Furlan Guitars, where craftsmanship, innovation, and your unique vision unite to create exceptional, one-of-a-kind instruments. Each handcrafted guitar is designed for rich tone, effortless playability, and lasting beauty. Using the finest tonewoods and premium materials, I meticulously shape every detail to ensure both stunning aesthetics and superior performance.
Working closely with each client, I customize every aspect - from design to the final hand-polished finish. Whether you're a professional musician seeking the perfect sound or a player/collector looking for a timeless work of art, a Furlan guitar is more than an instrument - it’s an heirloom built to inspire.
About
Crafted for Tone, Built for Life
As a dedicated luthier and member of the Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans and the Guild of American Luthiers, I uphold the highest standards of craftsmanship. My guitars blend the time-honored traditions of the 1950s and 1960s with modern precision, ensuring exceptional tone, feel, and longevity.
Using traditional hand-building techniques alongside CNC technology for precise rough milling (±0.005 inches), I focus on the artistry of shaping, assembling, and finishing each instrument, paying close attention to the details that truly matter. The result is a premium guitar that looks stunning, plays effortlessly, and resonates with unmatched clarity - built to inspire and last.
Gallery
Artists
Christian Lembach
Christian Lembach is the guitarist and lead singer of Whores, a powerhouse band known for their heavy, gritty blend of rock, noise, and industrial influences. Rolling Stone Magazine named their album Gold one of the Top 20 Metal Albums of 2016, alongside legends like Black Sabbath and Metallica. They did it again in 2024, putting War on the Top 20 Metal Albums list with heavyweights like Judas Priest and Opeth, cementing Whores’ place among the genre’s elite.
Furlan Guitars’ build for Christian Lembach was featured in Premier Guitar Magazine’s Rig Rundown.
To quote Christian: “I want to say thank you to John of Furlan Guitars, who built this guitar. This is without question, the nicest guitar that I’ve ever owned in my life.”
John Schmersal
John Schmersal fronts Brainiac, the legendary Dayton, Ohio band that defined ’90s experimental rock. Fusing punk, noise, and warped electronics, they pushed boundaries and influenced countless artists, including Trent Reznor, who cited Brainiac’s work as an inspiration for Nine Inch Nails’ With Teeth.
Brainiac’s story is told in the 2019 documentary Brainiac: Transmissions After Zero. After its release, the band reformed and is touring again.
To quote John: “I got to debut the stunning custom guitar built for me by John of Furlan Guitars which did not disappoint anyone who heard or laid eyes on it. It is truly the most versatile tone machine I have ever had the privilege of playing and oh! does it play like a dream.”
In addition to founding the bands Enon, Vertical Scratchers, and Crooks on Tape, John Schmersal is also the touring bass player in Caribou. Furlan Guitars built John a 5-string bass for his work with Caribou.
About his bass, John said: "It sounds amazing & feels so natural! It’s been such a trip playing this straight away on big stages through in-ears in the Caribou live show. The nuances in tone are shocking. I can’t wait to put it to the test through an amp at home when the tour is over.”
Donna Diane
Donna Diane fronts Djunah, a fierce blend of noise rock, post-hardcore, alternative metal, and punk - who one reviewer described as: “If early ’90s PJ Harvey went harder and heavier while processing a traumatic event in real time.” Djunah’s Femina Furens was named one of Bandcamp Daily’s Best Metal Albums of 2023.
Furlan Guitars’ build for Donna Diane is featured in FRET 12 Sessions.
To quote Donna: “John of Furlan Guitars bet he could build a guitar with a neck pickup I loved and oh man did he knock it out of the park … OMG this thing is badass. Body is chambered mahogany. Like magic fairies chambered - this is an incredibly light guitar. Really well balanced. Clear, bright sustain. And real talk, I actually prefer the neck pup. The wood is really spectacular. Beyond grateful to John for building such beautiful instruments.”
Michael McInerney
Michael McInerney leads The Vaughan Building, a blues-rock band that mixes the sounds of garage and psychedelic rock with the tunefulness of folk rock and power pop. They have opened for Blue Oyster Cult, The Guess Who, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, and Al Jardine of the Beach Boys. Their debut album Sockin’ It To Ya! delivers a mix of indie-folk and rock, full of raw energy and heartfelt songwriting.
To quote Michael: "My Furlan guitar fits like a glove in a way I’ve never experienced with another instrument before. When I pick it up, I just know that it can do everything I need it to. John’s attention to detail, and willingness to experiment made this the perfect combination of some of my favorite guitars, as well as something entirely new. It’s got vintage style and sound with modern versatility, and it’s quickly become my go-to instrument live and in the studio."
Get in Touch
John Furlan
Furlan Guitars, LLC
602 N. Park Road
LaGrange Park, IL 60526
630-240-3336
