Kauer guitars

EST. 2008 | California | usa

Electric Guitars

"What do a passion for woodworking, a love of guitars, & a joke about a flying pig named the Bacon Fairy have in common?"

Close-up of a purple Kauer electric guitar headstock with six tuning pegs and strings against a black background.

Doug Kauer | Luthier

  • Every instrument is built by a small, dedicated team that cares deeply about tone, feel, and making guitars that are as fun to look at as they are to play.

    From the sleek Starliner and fire-breathing Banshee to the aerodynamic Gripen and boundary-pushing Draken Bass, Kauer blends modern playability with a nod to the golden era of guitar design—then throws in finishes so bold they could have their own Instagram fan club. Whether you’re into timeless bursts, shimmering metallics, or Baja Blast splatter, every Kauer is unmistakably unique.

    Kauer guitars aren’t built to blend in. They’re built to inspire, to perform, and to stick with you for the long haul. We take the work seriously—but never ourselves—because the best instruments come from equal parts skill, passion, and the occasional dumb joke.

Nathaniel Murphy & Dan Albert | Chicago Music Exchange
Between screaming banshees, incendiary birds, and some of the finest boutique guitars on the planet, this Kauer Guitars showcase is more than just an incredible tone—it’s a testament to innovation, passion, and craftsmanship. And if you stick around until the end, you might even discover how to own a piece of Nathaniel Murphy’s DNA!

kauer guitars

demo

feature

No Doubt

FIRE AID: LA BENEFIT CONCERT

Tom Dumont, guitarist of No Doubt rocks his Kauer Guitars “Grippen” for their appearance at the Fire Aid event, in support of the victims of the LA wild fires.

boutique guitar showcase entour | 2017 - 2025

  • A purple electric kauer gripen guitar with a geometric, angular body against a black background.

    entour 2025

  • Electric bass Kauer Draken guitar with a red angular body, black pickguard, and silver hardware, set against a black background.

    entour 2025

  • Front and back view of a Kauer Guitars Banshee DLX electric guitar, showing details like Spanish Mahogany body, Ziricote top, and Wenge fretboard. Features include Wolfetone KB pickups, and a satin finish.

    entour 2019

  • Front and back view of a Kauer Guitars Super Chief electric guitar. Features include Spanish Mahogany body and neck, maple flame top and back, Wenge fretboard, white binding, TonePro's Tuneomatic bridge, Woltone KB pickups, Switchcraft 3-way switch, and a tobacco burst finish. Includes specifications and pricing details.

    entour 2019

  • Promotional poster for Kauer Guitars, featuring a Super Chief guitar and text about the Boutique Guitar Showcase World Tour 2018, powered by Seymour Duncan.

    entour 2018

  • Close-up of a Kauer Guitars Super Chief model with a teal body and gold pickguard, featuring white volume and tone knobs. Text reads "Boutique Guitar Showcase, Super Chief, Kauer Guitars."

    entour 2017

Doug Kauer | Luthier

If you’re not having fun building guitars, are you even doing it right? Also—don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh at the phrase ‘Bacon Fairy.’

Man, Doug Kauer, holding an electric guitar with a floral design at a convention or showroom.

  • By high school, he was mastering AutoCAD and programming CNC machines—skills that would one day collide with his love of guitar in spectacular fashion.

    Originally headed toward a teaching career, Doug was sidetracked by a dangerously figured piece of maple, a moment of inspiration, and a determination to see if he could build an instrument he actually wanted to play. That “let’s see if this works” attitude became the blueprint for Kauer Guitars, officially launched in 2008.

    Doug’s guitars are unmistakable: modern twists on classic lines, ergonomics dialed in for real players, finishes that range from vintage elegance to “Baja Blast” outrageous, and a build quality that has earned him a loyal following among top musicians worldwide. Along the way, he’s navigated industry challenges, trademark disputes, and the occasional questionable idea that somehow turned into a best-seller.

    Married to Teresa and dad to two kids, Doug juggles family life with running Kauer Guitars, DRS Racks, and even the occasional podcast appearance. Known as “the least serious guy in the room,” he’s living proof that world-class craftsmanship doesn’t have to come without a sense of humor. His philosophy is simple: build the kind of guitars you want to play, have fun doing it, and never be afraid of a little sawdust—or a dumb joke.

life with strings attached | Ep 40

Doug kauer

"We take the craft seriously—but never ourselves. That’s how you build great guitars and still have fun doing it." – Doug Kauer

Guitar maker Doug Kauer shares how humor, hard work, and a love of woodworking shaped Kauer Guitars. In this episode of Life with Strings Attached, we dive into boutique guitar building, creative risks, and why not taking yourself too seriously might be the key to success.

gallery | Kauer guitars

Close-up of a modern Kauer electric guitar with a metallic blue finish and angular body, set against a black background.
Purple electric Kauer guitar with a geometric body shape, two humbucker pickups, a bridge, control knobs, and a bolt-on neck, against a black background.
A Kauer Guitar with a metallic purple surface, angled against a black background, electronic component.
Close-up of a purple Kauer electric guitar headstock with tuning pegs, strings, and fretboard against a black background.
A purple electric Kauer guitar with a geometric, angular body design, featuring two humbucker pickups, a metallic bridge, and control knobs, set against a black background.
Close-up of the Kauer headstock of a guitar showing six tuning pegs, with a signature and the text 'Gripen #123' on the headstock.
Close-up of a purple Kauer electric guitar with a black triangular logo plate reading 'K C INC GRIPEN #123'.
Purple electric Kauer guitar with angular body shape and silver hardware, set against a black background.
A Kauer electric guitar with a geometric, angular body shape and a dark purple color, illuminated by purple lighting against a black background.
Red electric Kauer bass guitar with a shaped body, black pickguard, and silver hardware, set against a black background.
Red electric Kauer bass guitar with a shaped body, black pickguard, and silver hardware, set against a black background.
Close-up of a red electric Kauer bass with black and silver controls and pickups on a black background.
Close-up of the headstock of a Klear brand bass guitar with four tuning pegs and strings, set against a black background.
Red electric Kauer bass guitar with a black pickguard, silver pickups, and control knobs against a black background.
A red, electric Kauer bass guitar with an angular body, four strings, silver pickups, and black control knobs, set against a black background.
Back of a red electric Kauer guitar with a black triangular tag, set against a black background.
Close-up of the headstock of a Kauer bass guitar with four tuning pegs, a brown wood finish, and a signature near the top.
Red electric Kauer bass guitar with a unique angular body and a wooden neck, isolated on a black background.