Top Nepali Guitar Brands: The Story Behind Nepal’s Guitar Industry

If you’re a musician, especially one with an appreciation for quality and craftsmanship, you’ll love learning about the rising stars in Nepal’s guitar scene and Nepali guitar brands. It’s incredible how local brands like Manaslu, Sahana, Mantra, and ST Custom are taking the music industry by storm—each with their unique backstory and passion for creating top-notch musical instruments. I mean, who knew Nepal would become a hub for beautifully crafted guitars?

Let’s dive into the story of each of these top Nepali guitar brands and what makes them special.

Manaslu Guitar: Pride of Nepal

Let’s start with Manaslu Guitar, which has quickly become the pride of Nepal. It’s not just about guitars though—they also make ukuleles, strings, bags, and capos. The most remarkable part? All of this comes at a super affordable price!

The idea behind Manaslu is that everyone, from beginners to semi-professionals, deserves quality instruments without breaking the bank. And they deliver on that promise.

Now, you might be surprised to hear that these guitars are crafted in China, but don’t let that fool you. Months of research went into making sure the guitars suit the needs of Nepal’s young, aspiring musicians.

The team behind Manaslu has created instruments that are both affordable and well-crafted, making them a real game-changer for the local music scene. It’s pretty cool to think that a small brand from Nepal could have such a big impact on local musicians.

Sahana Guitars: A Luthier’s Dream

The story of Sahana Guitars is one of passion, dedication, and a little bit of dissatisfaction with the corporate world. Founder Sagun Bhattarai started his career in finance, but the pull of craftsmanship and music was too strong to ignore. He gave up his corporate life to focus on something that felt more meaningful—guitars.

Sagun initially thought about diving into the solar panel business, but it didn’t quite resonate with him. What did stick, though, was the guitar industry. He realized that despite Nepal’s wealth of high-quality wood, good guitars were tough to find.

So, Sagun set out to change that, starting in 2012 by developing his own machines and learning about wood quality. He began producing guitars that combined local materials with international design, inspired by iconic brands like Gibson and PRS.

Sahana Guitars really took off when Apurwa Rayamajhi joined the team. The two were friends and both musicians, and together they created affordable, versatile guitars that fit the needs of struggling artists. Their first hit? The Nyauli, a guitar designed for everyday musicians who needed something dependable yet affordable.

Since then, they’ve created more original designs like the Lampucchre and Danphe, and instead of relying on third-party music stores (who wanted huge commissions), they opened their own shop. Talk about a bold move!

Mantra Guitar: A New-Age Brand

Next up is Mantra Guitar, a newer brand founded by brothers Robin and Anup Sharma in 2017. They had already been in the guitar business for nearly a decade before starting this venture.

The two brothers were disheartened by the state of manufacturing in Nepal, so they set out to create something that would resonate with Nepalese musicians and bring a sense of local pride to their instruments.

The name “Mantra” is actually pretty deep—it refers to a sound or vibration that helps connect your mind, heart, and soul. They’ve infused a lot of Nepali culture and meaning into their products.

For example, their guitars are named Avatar, Prakriti, Moksha, and Karma—all deeply significant terms in Hinduism and Buddhism. It’s not just about the sound; it’s about creating a spiritual connection with the instrument.

ST Custom Guitar: A Rocker’s Dream

Finally, there’s ST Custom Guitar, a brand founded by Sunny Tuladhar, who you might know as the lead guitarist of the band Jindabaad. This guy knows his guitars—he’s played alongside some big names, like Ron Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses guitarist), and has a reputation as one of Nepal’s finest musicians.

What’s really cool about ST Custom Guitars is that they started by making copies of famous international brands like Gibson and Fender. But now, Sunny and his brother Romus are fully dedicated to creating their own line of handcrafted, high-quality guitars. These instruments are not just great for local musicians—they’re also making waves in the engineering and craftsmanship world.

Sunny and Romus’s story is a great example of how passion and hard work can lead to something extraordinary. They’ve shown that it’s possible to create world-class guitars right here in Nepal, and they’re setting an example for other aspiring guitar makers in the country.

Nepali Guitar Brands: Final Thoughts

It’s amazing to see how these local guitar brands are reshaping Nepal’s music industry. From Manaslu’s affordable quality to Sahana’s passion for craftsmanship, Mantra’s cultural depth, and ST Custom’s rocker ethos—each brand brings something unique to the table. They’ve proven that with dedication and a little innovation, Nepali guitar makers can compete with the best in the world.

No matter, you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, it’s worth checking out what these brands have to offer. Who knows—you might just find your next favorite instrument from one of these homegrown talents!

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