Altamira Hansen Workshop Vienna II ‘Stauffer’ Classical Guitar Altamira

The Altamira Vienna model is an intimate 19th century guitar honouring the great Johann George Stauffer, the most important historical Viennese luthier. Stauffer was born in 1778 in the Viennese suburb of Weißgerber and studied under the luthier Franz Geissenhof. Initially, he built instruments modeled after the Italian guitar masters Giovanni Battista Fabricatore and Gaetano Vinaccia, he then developed several variants, typical of his own guitar style. This ‘Stauffer’ style features intricate bridge detailing, curved back, use of striking woods and an innovative development of tuning systems and frets.

Stauffer was born in the Viennese suburb of Weißgerber, the son of Mathias Stauffer, a labourer from Weyregg am Attersee. He studied under the luthier Franz Geissenhof, and mentored many early guitar builds, most notably Christian Frederick Martin. At 15 years of age, CF Martin went to Vienna for an apprenticeship with Stauffer, before emigrating to the United States of America, where he introduced the mechanism developed by Stauffer and founded Martin Guitars.

Built entirely by hand in Altamira’s incredible Hansen Workshop, this model has been played in concerts by the world’s leading classical guitar maestros such as Ricardo Gallen and Pavel Steidl. Hanson’s instruments are made with meticulous attention to detail, and tailored to musicians’ exact requirements and specification requests.

Includes a specially-built replica hardshell case, as used on the original Stauffer guitars.

Specs

Solid Spruce top
Lacquered Mahogany Neck
Laminated Birdseye Maple Back and Sides
Hand French-polished Finish
Ebony Fingerboard
Radius Fretboard
636 mm Scale Length