2026 Edmund Blöchinger "Dome" SP/CSAR

This 2026 Edmund Blöchinger "Dome" is a classical guitar built in Dorfen, Germany, with CSA rosewood back and sides and a soundboard of medieval Bavarian spruce salvaged from Munich's Frauenkirche. It is the eighth and final "Dome" guitar (labeled "La Catedral" VIII).

Spruce from the Roof of Munich's Frauenkirche

The backstory of this instrument is absolutely incredible. Although Blöchinger is known for the quality of his materials, this guitar has a very special story, even by his standards. The spruce used for the soundboard has been on a dramatic 800-year journey: from its birthplace in the Bavarian Alps to its centuries-long tenure supporting the roof of the Frauenkirche, Munich's most iconic church, and eventually into the ruins of a Munich devastated by World War II. There it was rescued by a violin maker named Franz Fuchs who, along with his son Gerald, has been the caretaker and preserver of this precious wood for the past 70 years, until it reached the workshop of Edmund Blöchinger and was reborn in this incredible instrument. For a fuller account of the backstory, read Ancient wood finds new life with Edmund Blöchinger.

800-Year-Old Bavarian Spruce

Analysis of the annular rings dates the origin of these trees to about the year 1190. The trees were cut in the Bavarian Alps around 1460 and floated down the river Isar to Munich, where they were pulled out of the water and used in the construction of the church roof, completed in 1492. In other words, this wood is over 800 years old from the dating of its earliest rings, and it supported the roof of the cathedral for 455 years, up to its destruction in 1945.

Centuries of Music in the Wood

During its centuries-long tenure in the roof of the church, the wood was absorbing the vibrations of the music performed in this sacred place – music from medieval times through the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and modern periods. Indeed, this wood has absorbed sonic vibrations from virtually the entire history of Western music! Incredible to imagine the choirs, orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the centuries whose sounds have been gently vibrating, and therefore leaving their voices, in this wood. Also consider the vibrations of human speech – the countless sermons, weddings, baptisms, even funerals that took place in this solemn structure – again leaving their imprint in the wood. And then the terrible destruction of 1945.

The Eighth and Last "Dome" Guitar

Thanks to the courage and vision of Franz and Gerald Fuchs, the wood has been given a new beginning and vibrates once again – not only in the 43 violins, 3 violas and 3 cellos built from it over the last 70 years, but now also in this guitar. The instrument itself is breathtaking, and words cannot describe the richness of sound it produces with so little effort from the player. This incredible wood, with so many stories dwelling in its grain, has been given a second chance at life, and again, words fail to describe just how precious an experience it is to play this guitar. This is guitar making taken to an entirely different level. This very instrument is the last of these that will be built, as the supply of usable wood is now used up.

Orfeo article on Hauser III, Blöchinger and Ober

Edmund Blöchinger: Master Guitar Maker of Dorfen

Firmly established as one of the top living builders, master luthier Edmund Blöchinger (b. 1958) is now in great demand worldwide. He works alone in Dorfen, about 30 miles outside Munich, building around 10 guitars a year, and GSI is proud to be the only dealer of his guitars in the world.

From Torres and Romanillos to the Romero Family

Edmund originally began building his guitars in the style of Hauser and Torres, and in recent years he has been influenced by the great Spanish masters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly Antonio de Torres – a path that began with the José Luis Romanillos master class he attended in Spain in 1989. For years, Pepe and Celin Romero have been great champions of these instruments, and both play Blöchinger guitars regularly as main concert instruments. In Pepe's words, Blöchinger is "one of the greatest" luthiers in the world today. Many other young professional players and competition winners also play Blöchinger instruments.