Romantic Guitar
Romantic guitars — instruments in the style of the early 19th century, from makers such as Stauffer, Lacôte, and Panormo — produce a sound unlike any modern guitar: intimate, nasal, fast-decaying, and uniquely suited to the music of Sor, Giuliani, Aguado, and Mertz. Our collection includes original instruments and fine contemporary reproductions.
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Louis Panormo - 1850 No. 1978 63 cm
Price: 11.490 €Unit price per Tax free (0% DE)Construction Type: Traditional -
Luthier: Bernhard Kresse
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Luthier: Bernhard Kresse
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Luthier: Xaver Kerschensteiner
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Frequently Asked Questions About Classical Guitars
How do I choose the right classical guitar for my level?
Choosing the right classical guitar depends on your playing level, musical goals, and budget. Beginners benefit from studio-model guitars from renowned workshops, while advanced players and professionals often choose a handmade master guitar. We are happy to advise you personally and can send detailed sound samples and videos on request.
What is the difference between a master guitar and a studio guitar?
Master guitars are built entirely by hand in the workshop of a single luthier, using only high-quality, well-aged tonewoods. Studio guitars are made in small series, often under the supervision of the master luthier, and offer excellent value for students and ambitious amateur players.
Can I try a classical guitar at home for 14 days?
Yes — every guitar you purchase from us comes with a 14-day home approval period. This complimentary trial applies worldwide to all orders, whether you are in Germany, Europe, the USA, Asia or anywhere else. We ship your instrument fully insured in a high-quality case so you can play it under your own acoustic conditions. If the guitar is not the right one for you, simply send it back and receive a full refund of the purchase price.
Can I try a classical guitar before purchasing?
Absolutely. You are warmly invited to visit our showroom in Karlsruhe, Germany, and test the instruments at your leisure. We are happy to schedule a personal appointment. If a visit is not possible, we send detailed videos and sound samples, and offer extensive consultation by phone or video call.
What payment methods and financing options do you offer?
We accept bank transfer, PayPal, major credit cards, and Klarna. For high-value instruments, we offer individual installment plans on request. Please contact us directly — we will find a suitable solution for every budget.
How do I properly care for my classical guitar?
A classical guitar requires constant humidity between 45 and 55 percent. Store the instrument in its case with a humidifier, avoid direct sunlight and large temperature fluctuations. Change the strings regularly and clean the guitar with a soft microfiber cloth.
You may also be interested Romantic Guitar
The romantic guitar — built roughly between 1790 and 1870, before Torres's revolution changed everything — is the instrument for which the great composers of the guitar's golden age actually wrote. Sor's études, Giuliani's concertos, Aguado's method, Mertz's Romantic pieces: these were conceived for gut strings, ladder bracing, and the intimate, fast-decaying voice of an early 19th-century instrument. Playing this repertoire on a modern guitar is valid — but playing it on a period instrument, or a well-made reproduction, is revelatory.
What Makes a Romantic Guitar Different
The differences from a modern classical guitar are fundamental, not cosmetic. The body is smaller and narrower. The soundboard uses transverse (ladder) bracing rather than Torres's fan bracing. Strings were gut, not nylon — modern reproductions typically use light nylon or specially formulated gut-substitute strings. The tone is intimate, nasal, and quick-decaying: notes speak fast and die fast, which gives music of this period a characteristic transparency that is impossible to replicate on a modern instrument with its sustained, resonant voice.
The Key Makers
Johann Georg Stauffer (Vienna, 1778–1853) built for Giuliani and the young Schubert. His signature features — scrolled headstock, clock-key adjustable neck, elegant Viennese craftsmanship — make his instruments among the most beautiful ever built. C.F. Martin trained in his workshop. René Lacôte (Paris, 1785–1868) built for Sor and Aguado, producing the archetypal French romantic guitar with its brilliant treble and ornate decoration. Louis Panormo (London, 1784–1862) built in the Spanish style, anticipating some of Torres's later principles — his guitars were played by Sor during his London years.
Original Instruments vs. Reproductions
Original 19th-century romantic guitars in playing condition are rare and valuable — instruments by Stauffer, Lacôte, or Panormo in good condition are serious collector's pieces. Contemporary luthiers build high-quality reproductions that capture the acoustic character using traditional construction methods and period-appropriate materials. For most players, a well-made reproduction offers the best combination of playability, authenticity, and value. Our collection includes both.
Repertoire: What to Play on a Romantic Guitar
The standard repertoire — Fernando Sor's études and sonatas, Mauro Giuliani's concertos and sonatinas, Dionisio Aguado's studies, Johann Kaspar Mertz's Romantic pieces — sounds extraordinary on a period instrument. The transparency, the quick decay, and the intimate voice suit this music in a way that no modern instrument, however fine, can fully replicate.
Browse Romantic Guitars
Every instrument carefully assessed and filmed. 14-day home trial, worldwide insured shipping, expert advice. Browse romantic and 19th-century guitars or speak to our team.