1969 Hermann Hauser II "Llobet" No. 856 SP/CSAR

This 1969 Hermann Hauser II "Llobet" No. 856 is a spruce and CSA rosewood classical guitar from Reisbach, modeled on Miguel Llobet's 1859 Torres – compact in body, yet with enough volume to fill any concert hall.

After Miguel Llobet's 1859 Torres

This is an elegant and beautifully preserved instrument. It is based on the style of instrument preferred by the great Catalan guitarist Miguel Llobet (1878–1938) – primarily on his 1859 Torres, on which Hauser I and II modeled several of their instruments. Rather than being a strict copy, it also exhibits features more commonly associated with Hauser designs, including the famous "V joint" at the back of the head, as well as Hauser II's normal thicknesses and strutting.

Pure Hauser Sound

As a result, soundwise, this is pure Hauser – it boasts supreme clarity and piano-like balance across all registers. Although it is slightly more compact in body proportions, it has a startlingly large amount of volume – enough to fill any concert hall.

Materials and Condition

Materials are gorgeous, including a very dark, aged top with a generous amount of bearclaw in the cross-grain, and a dramatic, colorful set of CSA rosewood for the back and sides. Apart from one crack in the top (beautifully spliced) and one in the back, it is in excellent condition – it even has the original nut and saddle, which after many years have taken on an orange color. Overall an impressive and charming instrument, even by Hauser standards.

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