About us
MISSION STATEMENT:
We at German Vintage Guitar believe that a unique guitar industry existed in Germany in the nineteen hundred forties to seventies, growing from the roots of the Bohemian-Saxonian violin making industry around centers like Schönbach or Graslitz.
We believe that a 1965 travelling guitar sounds just as bluesy as a US pre-war parlor. That Artur Lang and John d'Angelico were on the same level. That nobody built premium guitars as efficiently as Wenzel Rossmeisl. That the Framus series production was the world leader in the sixties. That some of the most important and, to this day, most groundbreaking developments in guitar building come from Germany. That the independent design competence of the Bubenreuth or Nauheim manufacturers is beyond compare. That countless extraordinary instruments were created at that time. No matter whether it's a beginner's model or a top of the range instrument - we love German guitars!
We believe that we must do everything possible to preserve these instruments for the future generations. To make sure that they can still be played and that we do not forget who Franz Hirsch, Gustav Glassl, Arnold Hoyer, Heinz Seifert, Walter Höfner, Willi Lorenz Stich and Fred Wilfer were.
That is why we are not simply dealers! Buying cheap and then only reselling more expensive? Throw away a simple instrument because the margin is not right? No thanks. Never a guitar leaves our workshop in the condition we got it. All instruments are always restored to an unrestrictedly playable, but complete original condition according to today's standards. No matter if they cost 400 or 4.000 Euro afterwards. No matter if 4, 6, 8 or 12 strings. Their history will always be respected and existing patina and playing marks will be preserved, as far as this is possible and reasonable. We leave modern optimizations and over restorations to others.
Our job is fundamentally different from that of a "normal" guitar maker. Our focus is on restoring in the old style. To replace defective or missing parts, a worldwide network is needed. And there is no training for dealing with the construction details and materials of that time, only experience, experience, experience.
The old instruments are only borrowed. Our responsibility is to preserve them and pass them on. The benchmark is the condition as at first delivery. An instrument has not survived 60 years, so that we can then modify it!
WHAT WE DO:
We repair, restore and sell old stringed instruments from the 1950s to 1980s, with a focus on German jazz guitars, acoustic guitars and electric guitars.
WHERE OUR INSTRUMENTS COME FROM:
We buy mainly from private individuals and are now offered most instruments directly. We are also happy to take over complete collections and estates, instruments from household liquidations, inheritances and attic finds. Individually or by the dozen. Always at fair prices. And of course we still have a few "secret" sources... ;-)
WHICH REPAIRS WE DO ON CLIENTS BEHALF:
It's simple: Anyone.
Is the string action not correct anymore? Does the varnish need a touch-up? Are the fingerboard and frets worn out? Neck and body cracks? Ripped off the bridge? The electrical system a total disaster? Pickup not working? Original parts missing? We do everything. Of course, our greatest pleasure is a complete overhaul and restoration.
WHO WE ARE:
Günther, our technical manager, has worked for 38 years as a trained carpenter specializing in furniture restoration. He knows all the tricks of the trade in wood, plastic and paint processing and has profound experience with the old materials. Quote: "Better keep your hands off the varnish!"
Marco has been a marketing expert for 35 years and is responsible for sales, marketing and customer service. He has been playing the guitar since 1968 and since then has held countless instruments in his hands. Quote: "It doesn't work, it's not original!"
Together we founded German Vintage Guitar, enthusiastically restored or overhauled more than 500 German guitars and built up a wealth of experience in the field.
We have a comprehensive tool and machine park at our disposal to carry out even the most complicated repairs professionally and expertly. And over the years, our guitar warehouse has accumulated an extensive stock of old instruments and countless original spare parts.
WHICH BRANDS WE WORK ON:
For example Alosa / Aschado / Buchsteiner / Dynacord / Eroma / Esco / Este / Fasan / Framus / Gläsel / Glassl / Goldklang / Hau / Herrnsdorf / Herweton / Hirsch / Höfner / Hopf / Hoyer / Hüttl / Isana / Klira / Lakewood / Lang / Lindberg / Meinel & Herald / Marma / Migma / Musima / Neubauer / Osbama / Otwin / Penzel / Perlgold / Rodebald Hoyer / Roger / Rossmeisl / Schönbach / Shadow / Seifert / Solos / Strohmer / Taco / Tellson / Todt / Voss / Voigt / Wurlitzer and many more.
Of course, there are also many international brands from this period, which we are happy to take care of if it arises. Also a few examples: Asco / Cremona Luby / Egmond / Eko / Epiphone / Gibson / Gretsch / Guild / Ibanez / Fender / Harmony / Levin / Martin / Ovation / Rex / Rio / Schönbach / Silvertone / Stella / Yairi / Yamaha / Zenith and others.
Simply all kinds of jazz guitars, travelling guitars, parlor guitars, blues guitars, slide guitars, classical guitars, concert guitars, archtop guitars, Viennese guitars, junior guitars, electric basses, banjos, mandolins, thinline guitars, solid body guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, etc.
Finally, you will always find contemporary accessories, for example from: ABM Müller / Echolette / Dynacord / Ideal / Rellogg / Schaller / Shadow / Winter etc.