Old German archtops

Willie

a rather short recording between two lessons at school, with my smartphone and a thin plectrum:

Höfner Dreadnought.mp3

Willie

At the flea market again today. The guy wanted 600 € for this Höfner. Beautiful guitar, very good sound, but too much money regarding the damaged neck (last picture).

Edit: I think it's model 462.

BillDaCostaWilliams

Yes, neck joints can certainly be a headache on these guitars.

Looks lovely though.

Willie

Happy NewYear!

Found pics of interesting guitars on this homepage https://german-vintage-guitar.com/museum/?p=1. They show a lot more, but I focussed on less known brands. Trying to research more information about the luthiers the next days.

Martin Graubner Jazz, 1955

Graubner Rex (Herrnsdorf), ~1955

Kurt/Heinz Seifert, Goldklang-Logo, ~1952

Seifert Jazz, Meinel & Herold label, 50s

Aschado Jazz, Alfred Schaufuß, 1953

August Neubauer, unique piece, 1955

Neubauer Solist, late 50s

Astro Jazz, Georg Strohmer, 1963

Klira Red King, 1962

Klira Lady, 1972

Herbert Wurlitzer 17" Jazz, mid 50s

Soli (Helmut Hanika) Orchidee, 1959

Migma "Showguitar", L. Kerner, 1959

Cremona Luby S. F. Jazz, 30s

Marma Jazz, 1964

Alosa Standard, Alois Sandner, 1952

Herbert Todt/Alfred Schaufuß, early 50s

Herweton, 1959

Otwin Rhythmus, early 60s

Otwin Sonor, late 50s

Tellson 10/S, 60s

Penzel Standard, 1960

... and a little bit off topic:

Hoyer 3063 Western-Gypsy, 1976

Schönbach Hawaii model, 30s

Willie

Martin Graubner, born 1910, worked in Markneukirchen in the GDR, in his private workshop and for manufacturers like Perl-Gold. He developed special lacquer with less health issues for Musima (https://musikinstrumentenbau.eu/viewtopic.php?p=1898).

Quoted from this Reverb page https://reverb.com/de/item/48183184-martin-graubner-rex-1950s-german-vintage-archtop-jazz-guitar-gitarre:

Graubner war einer der vielen großen Meister deutscher Gitarrenbaukunst der Region um Markneukirchen dieser Zeit und baute zunächst in seinem eigenen kleinen Betrieb und später für größere Hersteller, wie Hernnsdorf und co. 

Graubner was one of the many great masters of German guitar making in the region around Markneukirchen at that time and initially built in his own small company and later for larger manufacturers such as Hernnsdorf and co.

Willie

Heinz Seifert, born 1923, learned lutherie from his father Kurt, born 1894. Stefan Lob of schlaggitarren.de regards him as one of the best German luthiers. 1955 he became part of the Migma distribution in the GDR. http://www.schlaggitarren.de/home.php?text=hersteller&kenn=76

Willie

Another Aschado, probably built by Todt/Schaufuß:

Willie

Osbama Tango:

Oswald Bachmann, 1887 - 1982, and his son Heinz, born 1913, luthiers in Markneukirchen. The Tango seems to be their flagship model. In 1955 Heinz fled to West Germany, where he first worked for Höfner. In 1962 he started his own workshop where he mainlyto built celli. http://www.schlaggitarren.de/home.php?text=hersteller&kenn=25

https://youtu.be/tXNPN7Uh7TA?si=OD8aNpguoMGoao8z

Willie

Herbert Wurlitzer probably learned lutherie in the Osbama workshop before he started his own in 1953.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ1cQkccJic&pp=ygUOb3NiYW1hIGdpdGFycmU%3D

Willie

Alfred Gustav Schaufuß, 1904 - 1986. He too was a member of the Migma distribution in the GDR, later he made instruments for Musima. His wife worked in the mother of pearl manufactory, which gave him easy access to the material needed for his opulent embellishments.

http://www.schlaggitarren.de/home.php?text=hersteller&kenn=10