Johannes Kitselis is a Swedish classical guitar maker and the founder of Kitselis Guitars. He lives and works in Ängelsberg, near Stockholm, Sweden. His passion for lutherie began at the age of 15 in 1984, when he built his first guitar. Although his early attempts were full of trial and error, they became the foundation of his craftsmanship and artistic vision.

In 1990, he studied woodworking under the skilled craftsman Edvin Täubert, which gave him a solid technical background. By 2007, Kitselis had established his own professional workshop and fully devoted himself to guitar making. In 2009, he met Greek luthier Giannis Paleodimopoulos, whose influence helped shape Kitselis’ tonal philosophy and approach to sound.

Johannes Kitselis is best known for his Double-Top classical guitars, developed through years of refinement to achieve a sound that is powerful, balanced, and rich in nuance. His instruments are praised for their tonal clarity, playability, and meticulous craftsmanship. In 2017, his work received international recognition when he won First Prize at the Virtuosi Guitar Festival in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where the judging was conducted blindly behind a curtain.

Today, Kitselis guitars are played and collected worldwide — in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Iceland, France, the United States, Belgium, China, Lithuania, and beyond. He continues to pursue excellence in every detail of his craft, creating instruments that embody both musical depth and the soul of true handcraftsmanship.