1989 Otto Vowinkel SP/IN

This 1989 Otto Vowinkel is a concert classical guitar with a spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, made in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, only five years after his first guitar; Minh Nguyen plays Llobet on it in the video above.

An Early Vowinkel Concert Guitar

This is a fantastic early Otto Vowinkel concert guitar. His instruments have always been among the more lightweight of anything in our inventory, likely the result of a slightly more compact body size and efficient use of materials. It is incredibly easy to play, ultra-responsive and very powerful.

Understated, Elegant Design

Workmanship is to the highest standards, giving this guitar a unique aesthetic flair. The design elements are understated yet elegant, with a rosette of concentric rings (which he still uses for his 2a models) and the same matching purflings in the tie block. The shellac finish, using the traditional French polish method, was done with great care and provides a beautiful luster.

Sound and Condition

The slightly more compact body and lightweight build produce substantial volume with little right-hand effort, and a plump and lively quality of tone – very lyrical and beautiful at the same time. Although used, this guitar is in excellent condition, with only minor wear in the finish.

In the Video Above

Minh Nguyen plays Miguel Llobet’s “Variaciones sobre un tema de Sor, Op. 15” on this guitar.

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.