1997 Otto Vowinkel "640" CD/IN

This 1997 Otto Vowinkel “640” is a cedar-top concert classical guitar with Indian rosewood back and sides and a 640mm string length, made in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

A 1990s Vowinkel with a 640mm Scale

Here is a fantastic Vowinkel concert guitar from the 1990s. Physically, Otto’s guitars have always been on the light side – among the more lightweight instruments in our inventory, thanks to a slightly more compact body and his efficient use of materials. The 640mm string length makes it incredibly easy to play, and it is ultra-responsive and very powerful.

Rosette, Tie Block and Finish

Its design is understated yet elegant. The rosette is made of concentric rings – a design he still uses for his 2a models – and the same purflings are repeated in the tie block. The workmanship is to the highest standards, giving the guitar a unique aesthetic flair, and the shellac finish was applied with great care by the traditional French polish method, for a beautiful luster.

Cedar Sound and Condition

The compact body and shorter string length produce substantial volume with little right-hand effort; the tone is plump and lively – very lyrical and beautiful at the same time. Although used, this guitar is in excellent condition, with only minor wear in the finish.

Otto Vowinkel: Classical Guitar Maker in Amsterdam

Otto Vowinkel grew up in a family of tailors in the old center of Amsterdam. He came to the guitar as a player, and in 1984 – with no teacher, a few basic tools and Irving Sloane’s book Classical Guitar Construction – he built his first guitar in the attic of his house. He learned by showing each new guitar to every guitarist he could find and building the next one with their comments in mind.

Traditional Spanish Building and French Polish

In 1989 Otto met his future wife, the Dutch guitarist Esther Steenbergen, and the Andalusia-based Dutch maker Alex van der Horst (“Alejandro”, 1959–2009), with whom he worked regularly and shared his ideas about the ideal guitar: a flexible tone, a quick response, and quality of sound as the carrier of volume. Otto builds in the traditional way and is a specialist in French polish, on which he now gives lectures and workshops. His rosettes carry the colors of the flag of Amsterdam.

Concert Guitars and Student Models

Besides his concert classical guitars, Otto makes flamenco guitars, quart guitars and fifth-bass (baritone) guitars. He has also designed student models that are handmade in small workshops in Spain under his supervision. You can read more in our article on Otto Vowinkel.