c. 1830 "Stauffer School, Vienna" SP/MP

This is a beautiful early Stauffer School/Viennese six string guitar (it bears no label inside so its maker is anonymous) and an excellent example of a very popular style that pre-dates the Torres design revolution. These guitars have remained subtly influential in several strands of guitar making tradition, whether in the Hauser tradition or in Martin steel-strings. This particular example has a gorgeous one-piece back of flamed maple, and a bridge of stained maple with boxwood pins. It has a haunting, antique quality of sound, perfect for playing the repertoire of Giuliani, Mertz and Sor. It has no cracks or repairs in the body - the head is restored using modern replacements of the original machines, made by David Rodgers of England and it has been re-fretted.