Otto Vowinkel is a Dutch classical guitar maker based in Amsterdam, building since 1984, whose concert guitars are French polished in the traditional way and played by classical, jazz and tango guitarists around the world.
At a Glance
- Workshop: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- First guitar: 1984, self-taught
- Influences: Dutch maker Alex van der Horst (“Alejandro”, 1959–2009)
- Guitars: concert classical, flamenco, quart and fifth-bass (baritone) guitars, plus student models made in Spain under his supervision
- Known for: French polish, and rosettes in the colors of the flag of Amsterdam
- Concert series: “Masters of the Guitar” at the Concertgebouw, with his wife, guitarist Esther Steenbergen
From Restaurant Owner to Guitar Maker
Otto grew up in a family of tailors in the old center of Amsterdam. At 19 he spent two years working in a bar on Mallorca, and back in Holland he opened his own bar and restaurant. That is when he began to play the classical guitar. His teacher, Carlo Mell, also repaired guitars, and watching him at work made Otto want to build them himself.
So he left the restaurant business. In 1984, with a pile of wood, a saw, a chisel, a pot of glue and Irving Sloane’s book Classical Guitar Construction, he started his first guitar in the attic of his house, on an old pool table that served as his workbench. Six months later he had something shaped like a guitar – and he started the next one. He had no teacher, so he showed each new guitar to anyone who played, and built the following one with their comments in mind. It worked beautifully.
Alejandro and the Ideal Guitar
In 1989 Otto met his future wife, the Dutch guitarist Esther Steenbergen, and the Andalusia-based Dutch guitar maker Alex van der Horst, better known as “Alejandro” (1959–2009). Whenever Alejandro was in Holland the two worked side by side, sharing their ideas about the ideal guitar: a flexible tone, a quick response, and quality of sound as the carrier of volume. Over the following years Otto became a maker with a great eye for detail and a strong preference for traditionally built instruments, with clients all over the world.
French Polish and Materials
All of Otto’s concert instruments are French polished, the traditional method of finishing with shellac. He has studied it in depth and is now invited to give lectures and workshops on it. He uses German spruce and Canadian cedar for his tops and different kinds of rosewood – and lately also cocobolo and maple – for the back and sides. His rosettes carry the colors of the flag of Amsterdam.
Flamenco, Quart and Fifth-Bass Guitars
Besides his concert classical guitars, Otto makes flamenco guitars, quart guitars and fifth-bass guitars – an instrument tuned a perfect fifth lower than a standard guitar, with a wider body and a 72 cm scale. It is ideal for ensembles, for widening the range of transcriptions for duo and trio, and for cello repertoire such as the Bach cello suites, which Esther Steenbergen has recorded on one of his fifth-bass guitars. Otto has also designed student models that are handmade in small workshops in Spain under his supervision.
Who Plays Vowinkel Guitars
Classical guitarists playing Vowinkel guitars include the Amsterdam Guitar Trio, Sanel Redzic, Denis Azabagic, Tariq Harb and George Sakellariou. Players from the jazz and tango worlds – Leonardo Amuedo, Ernesto Snajer, Nelson Faria and Julio Cobelli – also love his instruments.
Otto still lives in the center of Amsterdam, where his workshop is on the ground floor of a canal house. Besides building guitars, he and Esther run the prestigious “Masters of the Guitar” concert series at the world-famous Concertgebouw.
In the Workshop
Many Otto Vowinkel guitars have passed through our doors over the years. You’ll find guitars currently in stock by clicking the “Guitars In Stock” button in the header of this page as well as earlier examples in our Museum by clicking the “Guitars In Museum” button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Otto Vowinkel guitars made?
His concert guitars are made in his workshop in Amsterdam. His student models are handmade in small workshops in Spain under his supervision.
How did Otto Vowinkel learn to make guitars?
He taught himself, starting in 1984 with Irving Sloane’s book Classical Guitar Construction, and later worked with the Dutch maker Alex van der Horst (“Alejandro”).
What is a Vowinkel fifth-bass guitar?
A guitar tuned a perfect fifth lower than standard, with a wider body and a 72 cm scale, used for ensembles and cello repertoire.
Who plays Otto Vowinkel guitars?
Classical guitarists such as the Amsterdam Guitar Trio, Sanel Redzic, Denis Azabagic, Tariq Harb and George Sakellariou, as well as jazz and tango players.
