Anton Stauffer & Comp. – 1829 No. 1772

Description

Early nineteenth-century Vienna has been a crucial epicenter in guitar-making history. With its organized guilds, the very high number of guitar-making workshops, solid aesthetical identity, and flourishing musical scene, it has been a true golden age for the guitar, both in terms of lutherie and repertoire. Actually, to describe it precisely, one would need a whole book, and luckily Erik Pierre Hofmann, Pascal Mougin, and Stefan Hackl published a fantastic volume called “Stauffer & Co. – The Viennese Guitar of the 19th Century”, which we highly recommend you to deepen your knowledge in this field.

The Stauffer father and son were the most prominent figures in the flourishing scene of the time. Their guitars are highly sought after and recognized among the best romantic guitars ever produced, the absolute go-to period instruments for the romantic repertoire. Johann Georg Stauffer (1778-1853) and Johann Anton Stauffer (1805-1871) were visionaries, and their extremely high level of craftsmanship, cutting-edge designs, and the impressive number of innovations are unique. Stauffer guitars were played by the greatest guitarists of the time, such as Luigi Legniani and J. K. Mertz, and are still played and recorded today.

This wonderful guitar was built in 1829 with the serial number 1772, and bears the Anton Stauffer & Comp label with the original red wax seal. It has a fascinating figure, with an extended viola-da-gamba-shaped back and sides. Despite its almost 200 years, it is in fantastic playing condition, effortless for both left and right hands. It was restored by the expert luthier in this field, Bernhard Kresse, some years ago. Some cracks were skillfully fixed, the bridge was replaced with a facsimilé, and the neck adjustment mechanism was replaced (the original was saved and will be delivered with the guitar). This almost two-century-old guitar is a real treat for the eyes and the ears. Not only is it a touching piece of history, a piece of art, but its tone has a one-of-a-kind personality that can only be found in such original historical pieces.

Watch the presentation video of this particular guitar below, where you can find a lot of additional information about its playability and sound.