Hermann Hauser I, 1936

This 1936 Hermann Hauser I is one of the rarest, most historically important, and frankly most magical guitars we have had the honor of representing at GuitarCollection.com.

Built during what many consider the most sought-after period of Hauser I’s career, this guitar sits directly beside some of the most legendary instruments in classical guitar history. Julian Bream famously played a 1936 Hauser I, and Andrés Segovia’s celebrated 1937 Hauser was made just one year later. For many collectors and players, this exact period represents the moment Hauser’s mature voice fully crystallized.

This example captures the essential Hauser I recipe from this golden era: a spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, 650 mm scale, 51 mm nut width, and traditional 7-fan bracing. It is an instrument with immense historical gravity, but more importantly, it still feels completely alive in the hands.

Specifications

Luthier: Hermann Hauser I
Year: 1936
Top: Spruce
Back & Sides: Brazilian Rosewood
Construction: Traditional, 7-fan bracing
Bridge: Rosewood
Scale Length: 650 mm
Nut Width: 51 mm
Neck Profile: C-shape
Action: Approximately 5 mm bass / 3.5 mm treble
Tuners: Original Landstorfer
Strings: D’Addario XTC45FF with normal tension nylon first string
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Condition: Very good overall, with several small, carefully repaired top cracks

Historical Context

By 1936, Hauser was deep into developing what would become his famous “Segovia model” guitars. This period followed Hauser’s study of Andrés Segovia’s influential 1912 Manuel Ramírez, built in the Ramírez workshop by Santos Hernández. That instrument fundamentally shaped Hauser’s thinking and helped inspire the Spanish-model guitars that would define not only his career, but three generations of Hauser makers after him.

Because of that, a guitar like this is not simply an old master instrument. It represents one of the most important transitional moments in the history of guitar making: the point where German precision and Spanish inspiration came together into a design language that still influences builders today.

Visually, this guitar displays all of the details collectors dream about: the iconic and understated Hauser I rosette with its restrained color palette and delicate detailing, the unmistakable head shape, traditional V-joint neck construction, and elegant simplicity that makes these guitars feel timeless nearly ninety years later.

Sound

The sound of this guitar is extraordinary: noble, deep, endlessly complex, and remarkably alive. Like many great Hausers from this period, this is not a guitar that immediately gives everything away. It rewards commitment from the right hand. It loves apoyando, movement of the strings, and a player willing to activate the top. Push it properly and the guitar seems to wake up.

There is tremendous headroom here. The harder you lean into the instrument, the more it reveals: more color, more complexity, more overtone content, and more emotional weight. It feels almost as though there is always another layer waiting to be unlocked. When the sound comes together, notes seem to cushion underneath the fingers, almost like landing on pillows of sound. It becomes less about volume and more about texture and depth.

The trebles are especially memorable. Open strings have a beautiful chime-like quality that recalls some of the finest historic instruments. Rather than sounding exposed or harsh, they remain rich, sweet, and remarkably alive. The third string delivers that famously full Hauser character while retaining clarity and definition when asked. Across the middle register there is a silkiness and evenness that makes the player feel completely in control, with notes blooming naturally and arriving together with the same texture and sustain to create an unusually cohesive and bell-like presentation.

The basses are exceptional. The sixth string in particular feels unusually deep and powerful, helped by a main air resonance sitting just above F sharp. When activated correctly, the instrument produces an almost cavernous low end with tremendous depth and overtone content. Certain low notes feel almost as though they emerge from the center of the earth. This is a guitar that rewards continued exploration: small changes in attack, angle, flesh, and color create meaningful changes in response, and the more time spent with it, the more it reveals.

Playability

The neck has a comfortable C-shaped profile that feels immediately familiar and would continue to influence later generations of Hauser instruments. The action is currently set on the higher side at approximately 5 mm on the bass side and 3.5 mm on the treble side, though there remains some room at the saddle should the next owner wish to lower it.

This guitar is in very good condition overall, especially considering its age and historical importance. There are some carefully repaired cracks in the top. They are small, cleanly executed, and difficult to notice. The Brazilian rosewood back and sides are in remarkable condition, with no cracks noted. The original Landstorfer tuners remain present, are working beautifully, and complete what is an unusually original and well-preserved example from this era. The guitar retains all of the unmistakable visual language of Hauser I: the elegant head shape, traditional V-joint neck construction, iconic rosette, and restrained aesthetic that has made these guitars so timeless.