Glaesel

The Glaesel family story begins in 1720 during the lifetime of Stradivari and Matthias Klotz. This span of over 250 years exceeds the entire Italian Cremona tradition that produced Stradivari. While the family seat has always been in Markneukirchen, a center for instrument craftsmanship, generations of Glaesels have studied at the famous Mittenwald school.
Kurt G. Glaesel (born 1926) studied at Mittenwald under the direction of Matthias Klotz (a direct descendant of the original), it was Kurt who made his family name nationally known. After working in a number of prominent shops in Holland, Switzerland, and Germany, he came to the United States in 1953. Here he established "shop adjusting," the process by which imported instruments are assembled, finished, and tested for consistency and strict adherence to quality standards.
After a noted 20 year career with Heinrich Roth, Kurt established Glaesel String Instrument Service, Inc. in 1973. The company was soon sold to Selmer, where Kurt remained making his handcrafted instruments for 15 additional years. During that time, Selmer marketed the string instrument line with a strong, worldwide campaign that featured Kurt’s likeness on each ad and brochure.
Today, Conn-Selmer continues the Glaesel traditions the brand produces a wide variety of accessories for stringed instruments.