Carl-Hermann Schäfer – 2019 “Santos Hernandez”

Description

Carl Hermann Schäfer started making guitars in 1966. He did his apprenticeship under the guidance of master guitar maker Ernest Köröskeny and later studied under master guitar maker Dieter Hopf. After having worked in Hopf’s workshop from 1971 to 1994, he opened his own in Oberneisen and moved to Niederbrechen, Germany, five years later.

This magnificent copy of a Santos Hernandez guitar is a wonderful homage to the Madrilenian luthier of Andres Segovia, Regino Sainz de la Maza, and many other talented guitarists. Like the Spanish luthiers of the 19th and early 20th century, Carl Hermann Schäfer chose this spruce top mainly because of its excellent sound characteristics and less because of its aesthetic perfection. In fact, the German guitar maker has had this top since his beginnings as a guitar maker several decades ago. Always caught in the dilemma of choosing a top with a knot but with extraordinary sound characteristics, he finally decided to use it for this unique instrument. The magnificent rosette of this replica is also a tribute to the late Santos Hernandez rosettes from the 1930s with their colorful geometric patterns. The high-quality machine heads are handmade by Scheller in Germany and are a premium model in the style of Manuel Ramirez with hand engravings on a brushed metal plate. Furthermore, this guitar is in perfect condition with only very slight playing wear.

It is simply amazing how much energy and expression emanates from this guitar. One can clearly find the power and spontaneity of the guitars of Santos Hernandez. The basses have an extraordinary charisma and balance, with a full and complex timbre, at the same time classical and very modern. The trebles have a very round and relatively powerful sound, paired with great elegance. The lightness and comfort in the left hand are reminiscent of the playing feel of 19th-century guitars, which makes it an absolutely fascinating guitar that is very difficult to put back into the case once you start playing it.