Matti Nevalainen – 50 years of guitar craftsmanship
Matti with his first guitar "Egmond Solid 7", 1963
Matti at his workshop, 1985
"Matti makes handmade guitars", 1984
Matti's artist name in the 70's was Yasef Loveland, 1973
Young "Mr. Flying Finn" ski jumping, 1965
Rocking at Bar Bei Fernando in Hamburg, 1974
Matti Nevalainen (b. 1951) has been making guitars for over 50 years. He made his first electric guitar in 1965 at the age of 14. At the turn of 1989–1990, Matti created his own signature design, the Flying Finn – a guitar which got its name from Matti's childhood years with ski jumping. The American Guitar Player magazine featured Flying Finn in an article in 1994, bringing this Finnish electric guitar expertise also to the international market.
Papa George on the cover of Blues in Britain with a Flying Finn resonator, 2002
"Finnish guitar is selling in USA", Riffi Magazine, 1996
Guitar Player, Bench tests, 1994
Guitar Player, Bench tests, 1994
"Alder resonates and celluloid shines", Rytmi Magazine, 1996
Matti with Louisiana Red in the 90's
Micky Moody with his Flying Finn, photographer unknown
Papa George with his Flying Finn
Phillip Sauce with his Flying Finn
Louisiana Red with his Flying Finn
Matti & Mick Taylor at Matti's workshop
Dr Feelgood & Steve Walwyn with his Flying Finn
Papa George with his Flying Finn
Mick Taylor with his Flying Finn
One week Telecaster building workshop held by Matti
One week Telecaster building workshop held by Matti
Students at Ikaalinen College of Crafts and Design
Järvenpään Puistoblues with Gary Moore and friends, 2002
Matti Nevalainen at his workshop in Tampere, Finland (2025)
Over the years, Matti has built numerous custom Flying Finn guitars for professional musicians and music enthusiasts around the world. In addition to the FF model, Matti has made LP, ST, TL and heavy guitar models under the name FGW – Finnish Guitar Works.
Matti's work combines his colorful and innovative vision, solid experience and professionalism, and his bubbly and energetic personality. Being one of the pioneers of electric guitar manufacturing in Finland, he has also educated many new musical instrument building professionals as a teacher at the Ikaalinen College of Crafts and Design. The spark for making electric guitars is still burning strong, and new instruments are still being made in Matti's workshop.
The body painted by Justin "Nordic Thunder" Howard
The body painted by OCTO
