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The guitar healer

Musicians from all over the world come to Nikola Petrek to have their instruments repaired. The most important thing to him as an instrument maker is the soul of the music. 

Wolf ZinnWolf Zinn, 28.01.2025
Expert plucked string instrument maker Nikola Petrek
Expert plucked string instrument maker Nikola Petrek © Christoph Boeckheler

The smell of wood wafts through the small workshop in a back building in Frankfurt, and you can hear a gentle creaking sound. Nikola Petrek stands at his workbench leaning over a black electric guitar – a 1979 Gibson. His greying hair falls into his face as he works on the instrument with a fine screwdriver. “A guitar is like a patient,” he says quietly. “You have to listen to it carefully before you can heal it.” 

Craftsmanship with soul 

Petrek with one of his hand-built guitars.
Petrek with one of his hand-built guitars. © Christoph Boeckheler

An expert builder of plucked string instruments, Petrek describes himself as a “craftsman through and through”. Even as a child he would repair everything he could get his hands on. Playing in bands himself, he became a passionate “guitar healer” through his love of rock music. “There’s nothing better than bringing an instrument with soul back to life,” says the 53-year-old.  

It’s a job that requires patience and precision. “I have to re-glue the body or straighten broken head plates. I work on the frets to ensure a perfect playing feel,” he explains. With almost 30 years of experience, Petrek has developed outstanding skills. Word has got around: musicians from all over the world choose to have the guitars repaired by him, even from the USA and South America – and they’re often instruments of considerable value. One of them once belonged to Elvis Presley. “That was definitely a special job, there’s no question about it,” he says with a smile. “But actually every guitar is special – each one has its own story.” And as Petrek is keen to emphasise: “A good guitar doesn’t have to be expensive: the importance of fine woods is a marketing myth.” 

Love of detail 

Petrek guitars are a rarity.
Petrek guitars are a rarity. © Christoph Boeckheler

Petrek not only repairs electric guitars, he also builds them, usually from trees he has felled himself. Given his great attention to detail, this can take weeks – everything has to be perfect. A genuine “Petrek” is a rarity. The instruments are created without fixed specifications. “When I build a guitar, I never know 100 per cent what it’s going to sound like when it’s finished. That comes with the process.” He only sells finished instruments if he feels he’s able to part with them. “And then the customer really has to be in love with the guitar. Otherwise it won’t work.” 

A man and his ideals 

Petrek isn’t interested in big money, nor is he bothered about capitalising on his wide reach on social media. Guitar fans all over the world watch Petrek’s repair videos. Time and again, companies ask him to advertise for them. “That's not my thing,” he says, dismissing the idea. 

And he’s discreet about his customers, some of whom are famous guitarists. Nikola Petrek lives for his trade, not for success: “I want to be free and pursue my ideas. Everything else is secondary.”  

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