Martin Okenica – 2020 “Stauffer”

Description

Martin Okenica is a luthier based in Slovakia. He has teamed up with his guitarist friend Marek Cupák to build top quality guitars, optimized for the comfort of the guitarist, and built with respect regarding the environment. Okenica guitars is the result of this shared passion for the guitar coupled with a special vision. All Okenica guitars are built with non-CITES listed woods, mostly from Europe. Furthermore, their specialty is the replication of historical guitars, and it can safely be said that they have truly become masters in this field. Please not that their guitars are sold with a handmade, plastic-free case.

This guitar, opus 40 built in 2020, comes straight from Martin Okenica’s workshop. It is a faithful copy of a Johann Georg Stauffer guitar (1778 – 1853) from 1829. Even the tuning mechanics has been copied identically and handcrafted by the Slovakian luthier himself.  The fantastic playability and the impressive sound of Stauffer guitars are easily found and matched in this instrument. Moreover, the playing ease in the left hand is enhanced by the possibility of adjusting the height of the strings with a single turn of a key. This is made possible by a mechanical system for adjusting the angle of the neck, which has also been copied from the original guitar. In short, it is an excellent romantic guitar, ready to accompany the guitarist in the discovery of the sounds of the Viennese guitar tradition of the 19th century.