Description
Here we have a Hans Raab Munich Style Guitar built of Spruce, Maple and Ebony during 1916 in Munich, Germany - during WWI.
Hans Raab and his son built many instruments in a wide range of styles, from the mid 1880's to World War II. They were well known for not just the number of instruments built and their variety - their catalog was apparently quite large - but also for the quality of their work. Their instruments were regarded as expressions of the 'Munich School' of guitar building, as distinct from various Italian and Spanish 'Schools'. The shallow body was one of the features of this style. Another contemporary Munich-based builder who did not build in the Munich style was Hermann Hauser, whose instruments are the foundation of many modern classical guitars.
This Hans Raab Munich Style Guitar is in overall good, working condition. The ladder-braced top is likely German Spruce, the sides and back highly figured Maple. The bridge is Ebony with long, delicate extensions over the top. The bridge is of a pin style, as found on most modern steel string guitars. However, the tuning gears have large-diameter rollers for gut or nylon strings, so at the bridge, large knots would be tied into the strings to catch against the bridge plate. The top has had several crack repairs over the 106 years of use, and several cleats are visible.
The neck of the Hans Raab Munich style guitar is also Maple, and may have been thinned at some point; the fingerboard is Ebony with Mother of Pearl position markers. The head uses a 'keyed' joint and was built separately. Unlike the Spanish (and Hauser!) styles where the sides are integrated into the neck, the neck joint can be disassembled and the angle adjusted via a keyed mechanism in the heel. The adjustment tool is long gone.
This wonderful guitar is still in good playing condition and is an interesting example of the work done in Munich, even during the chaos of World War I.
A modern Gator brand hard shell case is included.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: Munich Style
- Instrument Manufacturer: Hans Raab
- Instrument year: 1916
- Instrument Finish: Natural
- Instrument Class: Vintage
- Instrument serial number: 807, dated 1916 at Munich, Germany.
- Country of Origin: Germany
- Instrument Condition: Good
- Right-handed
- CITIES Documentation Required: No
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: No
- Case Type: Hard
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 3.476 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 1.58 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 25.07 in
- Scale Length Metric: 637 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.835 in
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Nut Width Metric: 46.61 mm
- Items in Case: N/A
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 188874
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |