2015 Otto Vowinkel SP/CSAR

This is a fantastic concert instrument by Otto Vowinkel, made in 2015. His instruments have always been physically light – this one is the lightest we’ve seen yet, likely the result of a slight more compact body size. It is incredibly easy to play, ultra-responsive and very powerful. The extremely dramatic, aged rosewood used on this guitar is a wonderful complement to the great workmanship, giving this guitar a unique aesthetic flair. His unique rosette design features herringbone in the purfling surrounding the mosaic (which is still the motif found in the flag for the city of Amsterdam). The headstock is carved in the style of the building in Amsterdam where Vowinkel works and the MOP dot at the top represents a small light near a window (see photo). The shellac finish, using the traditional French polish method, is done with great care and adds a beautiful luster to the finished instrument. Tuners are Graf. This slightly more compact body size produces what we believe to be his best-sounding model to date – huge volume production with little right hand effort, a plump and lively quality of tone – very lyrical and beautiful at the same time. Although a used guitar, there is only modest wear in the finish and 2 dings behind the bridge, but no cracks or repairs.

Several concert/recording artists play Vowinkel guitars, including Denis Azabagic, Esther Steenbergen, and the Amsterdam Guitar Trio. Ben Verdery recently picked up a baritone Vowinkel which he's been playing in concert. Several competition winners play these instruments as well, including Tariq Harb (1st prize winner of the 2011 Barrios World Wide Web Competition and 2011 Montreal International Classical Guitar Competition), Chia-Wei Lin (a Taiwanese guitarist who won 1st prize at the Singapore International Guitar Competition) and Sanel Redzic (a young Bosnian guitarist who won the Vienna Competition and the Oberhausen Competition using a cedar Vowinkel).