2007 Fritz Ober "Apprentice" CD/IN

Fritz Ober has a long reputation for building exacting and highly accurate Torres/Hauser-style guitars over the last several decades. His style of sound is best described as being reminscent of the "Spanish-style" Hauser I guitars when Hauser was largely under the spell of Torres and Manuel Ramirez. These have the great clarity, balance and transparency of the great Hauser style, but also have a very lyrical, warm quality particularly in the trebles. This guitar has precisely these exact qualities with some added warmth thanks to the use of cedar for the soundboard. It was built in Fritz' small Munich workshop under his direct supervision, exactly to his build specifications with the assistance of an apprentice he had working with him for a short time. Only a handful of these instruments were completed and they are virtually indistinguishable from the guitars entirely made by Fritz himself, and so represent a tremendous value for the price. Many notable players have played Ober guitars over the years, including Wulfin Lieske, Earl Klugh, John Ingwerson, Doug Rubio, Andy Summers, and many other professors and collectors of the classical guitar. Condition is excellent with no damage, only some very minor, respectful playing wear. Gorgeous guitar both to the eye and ear.Orfeo article on Hauser III, Blochinger and Ober