1935 Hermann Hauser I SP/CSAR

From the Russell Cleveland collection, this 1935 Hermann Hauser I is a Munich classical guitar in spruce and CSA rosewood, built two years before Segovia's 1937 and preserved with no cracks or repairs.

A Supreme Example of the Mature Hauser I Style

Built just two years before Segovia's iconic 1937 instrument, this is a supreme example of the mature Hauser I style at its best. It has the classic curves, compact (yet sturdy) build and the aesthetic features that make this one of the most iconic (and copied) models in the history of the craft.

The Archetypal Hauser I Sound

It also has the unmistakable "archetypal" Hauser I sound that has captivated audiences for nearly a century in the hands of Andrés Segovia, Julian Bream and countless others. One could hardly ask for more from a wish-list of sonic qualities – piano-like clarity in all registers, precise balance and a vast range of color (bright and brassy ponticello, milky and luminous sul tasto, and everything imaginable in between). At the core of every note is a clearly defined, "anchored" fundamental, with very controlled and transparent overtones. For quality of sound and ease of playability, this is an exceptional and rare example of this maker's best work.

Condition: Lacquer over French Polish

As if this weren't enough, the guitar is in fantastic condition – it has no cracks or repairs of any kind. At some point in its history it had a coat of lacquer sprayed over the French polish and a tap plate added – likely to preserve the pristine condition of the instrument and protect it from playing wear. If so, the goal has been achieved, as the instrument has very little wear at all. For those in search of the ultimate Hauser I, this has it all – the elegant and classic Hauser design, superb feel and playability, and most importantly, incredible nuance and subtlety of sound.

From the Russell Cleveland Collection

This guitar comes from the Russell Cleveland collection and is featured on pages 36–37 of the book "The Classical Guitar – A Complete History".

Hermann Hauser I: Master Guitar Maker of Munich

Hermann Hauser Sr. (1882–1952) is best remembered for the remarkable instruments he built in the Spanish style after 1924. In that year, both Andrés Segovia and Miguel Llobet visited Hauser. Segovia was impressed by the quality of Hauser's work and wrote his impressions, noting that he "immediately saw the potential of this great artisan if only his mastery might be turned to the construction of the guitar in the Spanish pattern, as immutably fixed by Torres and Ramirez as the violin had been fixed by Stradivarius and Guarnerius" (Segovia in Guitar Review, 1954).

Segovia, Llobet and the Spanish Model

Segovia encouraged Hauser to build instruments based on his 1912 Manuel Ramírez guitar (built by Santos Hernández) after he examined and made measurements of this instrument. At this time Hauser also had the opportunity to examine Miguel Llobet's famous 1859 Torres, which would also become a decisive influence on the maturing "Hauser" style.