Sandberg Founder Holger Stonjek Chronicles 40 Years of Bass History in New Book
With Sandberg Guitars celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, you can imagine that CEO and founder Holger Stonjek has quite a few stories to tell. Now, he’s done just that with a new book called The Face of Bass, which chronicles the bass brand’s growth “from a cowshed to a global company.”
“The book combines striking, high-quality photography with storytelling, capturing the evolution of the company; from its humble beginnings in a small workshop in Germany to becoming a globally respected name in handcrafted bass guitars,” the Sandberg website states. “Through beautiful images of instruments, workshops, and the people behind them, it highlights the craftsmanship, design philosophy, and passion that define Sandberg.”
Stonjek started Sandberg in 1986 after renting a cowshed in Ehmen, Germany, with his friend Gerd. There they crafted everything by hand.
“Chisels, saws, files, and planes were our best friends,” he writes. “Back then, we didn’t have things like cordless screwdrivers and milling machines.”
The Face of Bass is just as much about the people around the brand as it is the basses. Stonjek “shares personal insights, anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes stories that bring the brand’s journey to life, offering readers both an intimate history and a celebration of bass culture,” the book description explains.
Holger Stonjek’s 154-page The Face of Bass is written with both German and English. It’s available now through Schott Music and Sandberg’s webshop.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
