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Museum

1951 Hermann Hauser I SP/CSAR (ex John DeRose)

Year 1951
Top Spruce
Back & Sides CSA Rosewood
Scale Length 650 mm
Nut width 52 mm
Finish French Polish
Country Germany
Luthier Hermann Hauser I

This guitar is no longer available in our inventory. If it interests you, click the ”notify me when available” button to be notified in the event that we re-acquire this guitar for re-sale.

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Description

Built one year before Hermann Hauser I's passing in 1952, this instrument contains all of the most refined qualities of the great style that Hauser pioneered over the course of his long, colorful and productive career. But before we wax poetic about the musical qualities inherent in this instrument, a brief description of its history is in order. This is one of the most exciting Hauser guitars we've had here in a very long time and has a very special story. It has been in the possession of a single family since it was made and so this is the first time it has ever entered the market since it was bought by its first owner, the great jazz and session guitarist, John DeRose in 1951. John was himself a very eclectic professional musician, he accompanied Sammy Davis Jr in his band for many years, played in the "Tonight Show" band during the "New York" Johnny Carson era (when Skitch Henderson was music director), and between New York and Los Angeles did much session work for TV and film. John was also a very established classical player and regularly played recitals with this guitar, performing pieces from the standard repertoire by Antonio Lauro, Fernando Sor, Francisco Tarrega, etc (we also have some audio recordings of John playing these pieces on this Hauser), as he had also been a student of Andres Segovia, who introduced John to Hauser I and which ultimately led to John acquiring this instrument. With this instrument we have copies of many letters from Hauser I to John updating him on the progress of the build as the guitar was being made. Fascinating documents with several small interesting anecdotes and the occasional photograph of Hauser at work. A major highlight in this guitar's history came when John was hired to be the session guitarist for the Academy Award winning soundtrack of "The Godfather Part II" composed by Nino Rota, and this Hauser was the instrument featured on that very recording! Of note, the guitarist for The Godfather Part I was Laurindo Almeida, and for The Godfather Part III, Tommy Tedesco. After John's passing in 1975, it remained with the family until now, and here we offer it for sale.

Now a word about the sound - as would be expected, it has an absolutely beautiful tone, quite complex and extremely expressive. Since this was John's primary classical guitar that he used extensively throughout his career both in recitals and in studio, it has a warm, played-in sound that is simply sublime. At the same time, it possesses the famous Hauser "piano-like" clarity, with precise balance and a strong fundamental with very controlled overtones. Simply a marvel to hear and play. When the guitar arrived to us, it was in very "used" but completely original condition - including the original nut and saddle, finish and Lansdorfer tuning machines, which are still in excellent working condition. But it did have wear throughout and some un-repaired cracks that needed tending to. The original frets were worn to the fingerboard as well, so we had the guitar attended to by German Vazquez Rubio who took the most conservative approach to do the lightest of repairs to the finish, cracks and re-fret so as to preserve the original condition as much as possible. So although it still "looks" worn, this is absolutely part of its history, and yet it is now in perfect working order, ready for many more years of playing and enjoyment. This is a standout instrument for every reason - perfectly preserved and in very original condition, majestic in its of sound and playability, with an amazing history. A real treasure.

Videos

1951 Hermann Hauser I SP/CSAR (ex John DeRose)

Eric Henderson performs his composition "Autumn" on a 1951 Hermann Hauser I SP/CSAR (ex John DeRose)

1951 Hermann Hauser I SP/CSAR (ex John DeRose)

J.S. Bach's "Suite in G Minor, BWV 995: Gavotte I & II" by Grygorii Koval on a 1951 Hermann Hauser I

Guitars by Hermann Hauser I