Welcome to my world, my passion, my life!

   My name is Kostadin Dimitrov. Since 1997 I have been crafting electric guitars and basses under the brand “KD.” Born, raised and working in Bulgaria, I am inspired daily by a land rich in history and natural beauty.

   In the years before 1997, I worked mainly with metal and only occasionally with wood. I remember having a quiet sense of connection and understanding each time I had the opportunity to work with wood. I will never forget the moment when a close friend asked me to help make a part for his guitar — that was a turning point. From that moment on, I knew exactly what I wanted to do: build guitars and basses.

   Over the years, through experience, practice, and the skills I’ve developed, I formed my own philosophy: to build instruments that combine the perfection of master craftsmanship with contemporary, even extravagant designs, instruments that possess striking visual presence, captivating sound, and convey a feeling of uncompromising quality.

   I’ve always felt drawn to forests and the natural world, and I hold a deep respect for wood as a material. It is a living substance — warm, communicative, expressive in many ways (visual, mechanical, sonic), sensitive. It can speak, sing, share, and even argue, at times displaying a temperamental nature, much like a human being. This is why it is very important for me to first learn the character of the wood, and only then decide what kind of instrument it will be reborn as. I dare say that over the years I have learned the language of wood, and now we communicate freely, and create in harmony.

   I am passionate about searching for and collecting local, rare, beautiful, and old woods. The geographic region in which I live, along with its climate and specific atmospheric and water conditions, has given rise to many distinctive and even unique local wood species. Maple (Balkan Maple), Alder, Walnut, Plum, Pear, Poplar, Elm, Ash, Sycamore, Mulberry, Apple, and many others are ideal for building electric and acoustic instruments.

   Bulgarian Balkan Maple is well known for its specific density and tonal qualities. It is a highly sought-after and valued material, especially among violin makers. There is even a legend that the infamous Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari used Bulgarian Balkan Maple and Spruce in the creation of his famous violins.

   The high quality of the materials I use is a fundamental factor in the construction of my instruments. Every piece of wood or material I acquire is dried and stored carefully, with great attention. It undergoes at least seven years of natural drying before being used. In addition to local wood species, I also work with other popular and less common materials supplied by certified wood dealers.

   While I personally build each instrument, an enormous and essential contribution to the development of the activity and the KD brand comes from my wife, Silvia Nikolova. She handles all marketing activities, organizes exhibitions, creates and maintains the website www.kdbasses.com, manages Facebook and Instagram, takes photographs, shoots videos, and creates advertisements and publications through her own “Yellow Chick Studio.” Her refined aesthetic and distinctive sense of beauty have also given rise to stunning guitar designs, such as the Silvia model in all its variations.

   “I’ve never seen anyone who compares to producing guitars from a single piece of wood like KD does. His deep appreciation for the material is profound. It’s almost as if they speak to each other. I’ve watched him talk to a dying log destined for firewood, see the beauty deep within, and hear him promise that it would live again as a beautiful, newborn guitar.”

   — Silvia Nikolova, KD’s Wife and Marketing Manager