| Luthier: | Anonymous |
| Construction year: | ca. 1900 |
| Top: | Spruce |
| Back and sides: | Indian rosewood |
| Scale: | 620 mm |
| Nut: | 48 mm |
SOLD
| Luthier: | Anonymous |
| Construction year: | ca. 1900 |
| Top: | Spruce |
| Back and sides: | Indian rosewood |
| Scale: | 620 mm |
| Nut: | 48 mm |
This beautiful ‘Romantic Era’ Parlour Classical Guitar was built circa 1900 in Markneukirchen, Germany, the home of C.F. Martin. There is no makers label inside, it would have been lost over the years, but the guitar which is quite Martinesque, is in lovely original condition. The spruce top is beautifully decorated, with a rose-shaped mother-of-pearl inlay and a delicate rosette, and the body is made of Indian rosewood. This guitar has plenty of “character and charm” from many years of use and being over 100 years old, it carries a beautiful and significant patina. There are several professionally repaird body cracks along with the odd, small nibble of sound-hole inlay missing. It has a lovely neck and superb action, all machine heads work fine. The guitar is possiblly built by Richard Jacob (Weissgerber) Weissgerber founder Richard Jacob (1877-1960) is one of Markneukirchen’s brightest lutherie stars. After learning to build zithers, he started making guitars in 1899.
C.F. Martin (1796-1873), founder of the Marin Guitar company, is Markneukirchen’s most famous luthier. He was born in Markneukirchen on January, 31, 1796, and was building guitars by age 15, just like his father, Johann Georg Martin. At age 24 he went to Vienna to work for Johann Georg Stauffer, one of the most respected luthiers of the day. Talented young C.F worked his way up to a position as Stauffer’s foreman. His married a Viennese girl and left Stauffer to work for his father-in-law, who was also building instruments. After a son was born in 1825, the family returned to Markneukirchen, where C.F. opened his own workshop—until emigrating to the U.S. in 1833 at age 37. He settled in New York City—and the rest, as they say, is history!
A little history:
Farmers first settled the Markneukirchen area in the 11th century. In the 17th century, Protestants fleeing religious persecution in neighboring Bavaria settled here as well. These refugees included 12 violinmakers from the Graslica area. In 1677 they established a violinmakers’ guild, which still survives as the world’s oldest. Markneukirchen developed quickly, and by its golden age (1850-1880), 80 percent of the world’s musical instruments were made in the region. The area was home to more than a thousand luthiers during the GDR era,
Despite all the guitars that have been made in Markneukirchen, it’s not a town full of music shops or vintage stores—most guitars are purchased directly from the builders. Most current guitars are high-quality acoustic instruments, both classical and steel-string, such as those from Armin and Mario Gropp (www.gropp-gitarren.de), a typical father-and-son workshop in Breitenfeld. They build classical guitars and historical instruments of utmost craftsmanship in the spirit of Richard Jacob and his Weissgerber guitars.
Payment can be done via PayPal, bank transfer, cheque or cash on collection!
Very important: If paying by PayPal, please note that we will only ship to confirmed Paypal addresses! Please double check your address is confirmed with Paypal!
Feel free to drop us an email for our bank details for SWIFT/BACS transfers and for any international shipping costs.
If paying by cheque, or collecting in person, please contact us on 07932 074096 to arrange.
Our shipping policy is simple: We ship Guitars, Amps and Accessories to the UK, Europe & ROW. We’ve been shipping items to the UK and abroad for many years without any issues, as we always use the best and most reliable shipping companies. All guitars and amps will be shipped insured and tracked. So you can check your shipping status anytime. We always package them to the highest possible standard.
Note: All amps are preferably UK shipping or collection only. We rarely ship amps internationally, due to potential breakage, unless this is agreed separately. If you are outside Europe and are interested in any of our guitars or amps please contact us for a special shipping quote.
We operate a 48hr approval period for on-line mail order purchases only. Customers who buy goods in the RGG showroom can fully evaluate them prior to making the payment, and as such do not have this return and refund option available to them. The 48hr mail order returns period offered is with regard to either a problem with the guitar upon receipt, IE, the goods appear to have a defect that was not outlined in the sale listing or clearly not sold as advertised. If the purchaser wishes to return the goods for any other reason, then there will be a re-stocking fee of 10% of the original sale value & return carriage must be paid by the purchaser, there are no exceptions to these rules.
If you want to return an item please make contact for a returns authorisation. You have 2 days to try the instrument. We offer a full refund minus our shipping costs (including our cost of free shipping if applicable) It is the purchaser’s responsibility to organise the return promptly to the company in the condition it was received, using the original packaging and with a copy of the sales receipt. (We recommend you insure the item in transit). The item must be shipped back via a service comparable with which it was delivered, within 24 hours (Excluding weekends) upon receipt of the return authorization. Goods that have been altered from their original condition in any way cannot be returned.
Any items returned after the 48hr agreed approval period, and not exceeding more than two weeks, are subject to a 10% re-stocking fee, based on of the original sale value of the goods. PayPal, Credit/Debit card refunds will be processed immediately upon receipt of the returned goods and normally take 3-5 working days to show on the customer’s account. Bank transfer and cash purchase payments will be refunded by Bank transfer to your nominated bank.