Teuffel guitars
EST. 1988 | germany
Electric Guitars
“It's my thinking of a guitar.”
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Iconic models such as the Birdfish, Tesla, Niwa, and Antonio have earned a place in world-class museums and private collections, as well as the hands of legendary musicians including David Torn, Kirk Hammett, Billy Gibbons, Henry Kaiser, Ludwig Göransson, and Hans Zimmer.
For Teuffel, wood is the most important ingredient, every component is thoughtfully customized, and each guitar is a deeply personal message from maker to player. His designs invite musicians to reimagine what an instrument can be—breaking boundaries in music, art, and culture.
"A guitar is more than an instrument—it’s a message." – Ulrich Teuffel
ulrich teuffel | Luthier
feature
From the inside
Ulrich Teuffel on guitar design & innovation
Teuffel | BIrdfish
demo
2009 Teuffel Birdfish MIDI Demo | Michael Wagner Plays Ulrich Teuffel’s Iconic Guitar
Michael Wagner demos the rare 2009 Teuffel Birdfish MIDI—Ulrich Teuffel’s award-winning, modular electric guitar. Handcrafted in Germany, the Birdfish features interchangeable tone blocks, adjustable pickups, and a unique aluminum frame for unmatched tonal variety. A true masterpiece of modern guitar design.
Explore More Teuffel Demos here and on our video page
Metallica | Birdfish
Caught on Camera | In the wild!
See Metallica’s Kirk Hammett wield the iconic Teuffel Birdfish, James Hetfield on a Trussart Steel DeVille, and Robert Trujillo with a Tobias bass during this explosive live performance of “The Judas Kiss.” Boutique craftsmanship meets metal power in this unforgettable moment.
boutique guitar showcase en tour | 2017 - 2025
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![A Teuffel Birdfish guitar body and a guitar neck, set against a black background with the text 'Boutique Guitar Showcase enTour 2023'.]()
entour 2023
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![A digital advertisement featuring Teuffel Guitars, showcasing the Birdfish guitar with detailed specifications and pricing.]()
entour 2023
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![Dark, artistic photograph of a Teuffel birdfish guitar with a black body, wooden neck, and metallic hardware, displayed against a black background with subtle lighting highlighting the guitar's curves and details.]()
entour 2022
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entour 2022
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![Stained Birdseye maple guitar neck from a Teuffel Birdfish with a vertically illuminated, textured red and black guitar in the corner, with a dimly lit door handle nearby, captioned 'Boutique Guitar Showcase enTour 2022'.]()
entour 2022
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![Black electric Teuffel Tesla guitar with an angular body and modern design, set against a dark background with reflection. Text reads 'Boutique Guitar Showcase enTour 2021'.]()
entour 2021
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![Red electric guitar with a unique triangular shape, black control knobs, and a brown neck. It is displayed on a black background along with a close-up of a similarly shaped red guitar back and a wooden neck, with specifications and pricing details for a Tesla Teuffel guitar.]()
entour 2019
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![Front and back of a Teuffel birdfish guitar with a maple neck and wooden alder body, featuring blue and silver hardware, with detailed specifications listed below, including body material, scale, fret width, pickups, and finish.]()
entour 2019
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![Poster for the Boutique Guitar Showcase 2018 featuring a birdfish guitar presented by Teuffel Guitars as part of the World Tour.]()
entour 2018
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![A Teuffel birdfish guitar with a unique bridge and an attached duck-shaped headstock, displayed against a black background]()
entour 2017
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![A green electric Teuffel Tesla guitar with a textured finish, positioned vertically on a black background.]()
entour 2017
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![Close-up of a Teuffel Birdfish guitar neck and pickups against a black background with white text that reads "Boutique Guitar Showcase Birdfish Teuffel Guitars." The guitar has a wooden neck, tuning pegs, and a metallic bridge and tailpiece.]()
entour 2017
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![A green electric Teuffel Tesla guitar with wooden accents on a black background, with text reading "Boutique Guitar Showcase"]()
entour 2017
“It's just my proposal for a tiny niche.”
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Born and raised in Germany, he first trained as an automotive mechanic before he began crafting guitars in 1988, and later pursuing studies in industrial design in the 1990s that would ultimately position him at the forefront of contemporary luthiery.
Teuffel lives and works in Neu-Ulm, Germany, in a live/workshop space that once served as the cabinet shop where his close friend and fellow luthier Rainer Tausch once worked. He balances his creative work with a grounded family life, drawing inspiration from both personal relationships and the cultural conversations surrounding music.
Guided by the belief that “each guitar is a message,” Teuffel’s career reflects his conviction that personal expression, courage, and trust in one’s own recognition are essential to artistic integrity. His instruments, while celebrated worldwide, are ultimately his proposals for a tiny niche—crafted not to appeal to everyone, but to resonate deeply with those who understand their language.
"It takes courage to trust your recognition." – Ulrich Teuffel
ulrich teuffel | Luthier
Biography | ulirich teuffel
“Each guitar is a message — a reflection of courage, doubt, and the desire to create something truly personal.”— Ulrich Teuffel
Dive into the life and philosophy of Ulrich Teuffel, the visionary German luthier behind the Birdfish, Tesla, Niwa, and Antonio guitars. In this special Life With Strings Attached bio episode, Teuffel shares his journey, design ethos, and why he believes each guitar is a personal message that challenges tradition and inspires creativity.
A Conversation on Guitar Design and Innovation
BGS Curator, Jamie Gale, sits down with VERSO Instrument founder Robin Stummvoll and Ulrich Teuffel, in southern Germany.
What happens when two of Germany’s most inventive guitar makers meet for the first time? Verso’s Robin Stummvoll and Ulrich Teuffel—creator of the iconic Birdfish—share an intimate workshop conversation on design, risk-taking, and the guitars that change music itself.
Explore More conversations
here and on our video page
