1963 Hermann Hauser II No. 743 SP/CSAR

This 1963 Hermann Hauser II No. 743 is a spruce and CSA rosewood classical guitar from Reisbach – a meticulously cared-for Hauser II in exceptionally well-preserved original condition.

No. 743: Exceptionally Well Preserved

It has been played regularly over the course of more than five decades but was also meticulously cared for – it is in exceptionally well-preserved original condition and is simply a top example of Hauser II's finest handwork. Its label, No. 743, still has the printed "München" crossed out, with "Reisbach/Vils" below it.

Sound

Sound-wise it is a standout. In great Hauser style the fundamentals are bell-like in all registers, with almost perfect separation, and the basses strong, steady and precise – an extremely well-balanced piano with the lyrical charm and sweetness of a great Hauser I. The old, aged top has a deep, honey/amber color in the patina, contributing to the enhancement of the sound thanks to the thicker, crystallized resin in the grain. A near perfect example of the archetypal Hauser II – a dream for either collector or performer.

Hermann Hauser II: Third Generation of the Hauser Dynasty

Hermann Hauser II (1911–1988) – Hermann Hauser Jr. – is considered to be one of the greatest makers of the twentieth century. Grandson of the luthier Josef Hauser and son of Hermann Hauser I, he learned his craft working alongside his father, and after his father's death in 1952 he carried the family's Torres-based "teutonic" style into the second half of the century from the Hauser workshop in Reisbach, Bavaria. His son Hermann Hauser III (the fourth generation) and granddaughter Kathrin (the fifth) still work there today – see Hermann Hauser III & Kathrin Hauser – with many of the same tools and even woods stocked by the earlier generations.

The Hauser dynasty, now spanning five generations, has produced instruments played by countless concert artists including Andrés Segovia, Julian Bream, the Romeros and many others.

The Hauser II Sound

The sound has the attributes of a great Hauser that have attracted great players from Bream to Segovia to the Romeros and beyond – crystal-clear fundamental tones with almost perfect separation, basses that are steady and precise, and at the same time a lyrical charm and sweetness, particularly in the trebles. At its best, a Hauser II is like a loud and balanced piano, with the warmth of a great Hauser I. Playability is easy, thanks to his slender and very comfortable neck shape.

Books on Hermann Hauser II

Orfeo Magazine No. 4 is devoted to the Hauser dynasty, and a 1960 Hauser II is among the guitars shown in Orfeo's "34 Classical Guitars in Life Size":

Orfeo Magazine 1-5

Orfeo – 34 Classical Guitars in Life Size