Ukrainian Manufacturer Bond Guitars: From Founding to Participation in This Year's Global Guitar Exhibition

Bond Guitars is a Ukrainian manufacturer of electric guitars and basses that will participate in this year's global Guitar Summit in Germany. The company's story began in 2009 when its founder, Bohdan Bondarenko, created his first custom guitar. The manufacturer officially opened its doors to the public a decade later, in 2019. Among the users of Bond Guitars are well-known musicians: Tasha S, Axis Moor, Corruption Band, and many others. Read the article on Drive Music Media to learn about the creation of the company, the opening of a hub in Vienna, and the unique features of Bond Guitars' electric guitars and basses.

THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY: THE FIRST STEPS TOWARD ESTABLISHING THE ELECTRIC GUITAR MANUFACTURING COMPANY – BOND GUITARS

In 2009, Bond Guitars' founder Bohdan Bondarenko created his first custom guitar. Although it would be another ten years before the manufacturing company was officially established, this moment is considered the first step toward the founding of Bond Guitars. Following the tradition of musical instrument makers, the company's name was derived from the founder's last name – Bondarenko. Bohdan had a large collection of classic electric guitars and basses that he used during concerts. With his extensive experience and feedback from professional musicians, he decided to create a unique vision for these instruments, aiming for them to have advantages over classic versions. The current team also includes Yevhen Razin, master luthier, expert in woodworking and guitar painting, and Anastasia Bondarenko, operations and marketing manager, content specialist. Thus began the journey to establishing the Ukrainian electric guitar and bass manufacturer, Bond Guitars.

ELECTRIC GUITARS AND BASSES BY BOND GUITARS: DESIGN, CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND THE "SUPPORT UKRAINE" COLLECTION

Bond Guitars' instruments are handcrafted and represented by two product lines: high-quality production models and Custom Shop instruments. The creation process begins with designing and carefully selecting the wood by the head luthier. Once the wood is chosen, the main work process begins, including fret installation and painting. At the final stage, the guitar returns to the head luthier for assembly, electronic wiring, guitar setup, and then it is sent to the customer.

Bond Guitars creates unique guitars, but of course, customers can order a replica of a specific Bond Guitars' production model. Another branch of Bond Guitars, the Bond Custom Shop, is focused on creating one-of-a-kind builds. Occasionally, clients are inspired by existing guitars and order a variation of a previously made custom guitar. As a representative of Bond Guitars notes, the manufacturer is highly open to customer requests, except for those aimed at replicating guitars from other brands, as their products are intended to be as authentic as possible.

The cost of a guitar depends on its design and specifications. Bond Guitars uses premium woods, such as American roasted flame maple for the neck and valuable materials like ebony wood and Richlite for the fingerboards. The choice of pickups and hardware also significantly affects the price. The company uses pickups and hardware from globally renowned manufacturers.

Among Bond Guitars' product portfolio is a series dedicated to Ukraine. The idea emerged following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The "Support Ukraine" series includes six conceptual electric guitars and basses at the Custom Shop level. The bodies of the "Support Ukraine" guitars are painted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag and feature artificial aging that reflects the impact of the invasion on Ukraine and its people.

As noted by a representative of Bond Guitars, the "Support Ukraine" series electric guitars and basses are instruments of the highest level of craftsmanship and specifications. Each one comes with a certificate of authenticity. They were created in Kyiv in 2022, during the active phase of the first year of the full-scale invasion. This status gives them a place in global history, as very few instruments were made under such circumstances. Most of the "Support Ukraine" instruments include a UNITED24 Azovstal badge, made from the last pre-war batch of the legendary Azovstal steel.

GLOBAL GUITAR EXHIBITION "GUITAR SUMMIT-2024" IN GERMANY: WHAT TO EXPECT

For several years, the electric guitar and bass manufacturer Bond Guitars received invitations to the global guitar and bass exhibition "Guitar Summit-2024" but unfortunately could not participate for various reasons. This year, the brand decided to apply and was immediately approved. Thus, from September 27-29, 2024, in Mannheim Bond Guitars will participate in the "Guitar Summit-2024" exhibition. They will present a guitar from the "Support Ukraine" series, which aims to draw attention to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, now lasting over 10 years.

THE OPENING OF BOND GUITARS' HUB IN VIENNA: HOW IT HAPPENED

In 2024, Bond Guitars plans to open its first international hub in Vienna, Austria. This city was chosen because it is considered the global capital of music. This will allow European musicians to test the instruments in person before purchasing. Before opening the hub, Bond Guitars conducted an analysis of countries based on market demand characteristics in their sector, administrative requirements for business operations, and licensing requirements. After selecting the country, Bond Guitars began searching for a location for the showroom and preparing the concept for the interior design of the space. Currently, the plan is for the Vienna hub to feature around 15 guitars and basses, which is roughly the size of a small guitar store.

Importantly, visitors to the showroom will be able to listen to and take a look at Bond Guitars' guitars and basses. According to a representative from Bond Guitars, visitors can bring their own guitars and compare them with the guitars and basses produced by Bond Guitars in terms of ergonomics and sound characteristics. There, they will also see the color palette of Bond Guitars, including various shades in different finishes demonstrated through the available instruments.

On-site, visitors will be able to discuss and choose the specifications for their future instrument and comfortably place their order either via computer or by filling out a special form on paper. Additionally, the hub will feature a small guitar workshop offering basic guitar services: setup, fret repair, soldering, and electronics replacement. If you get a chance, visit Bond Guitars’ hub to take a look at amazing musical instruments with Ukrainian soul in the heart of Vienna.

Pictures were taken by Vojtěch Peša, Bond Guitars