Hermann Hauser® III 1998 No 444 – Germany

We were fortunate enough to spend some time in Hermann & Katherin Hauser’s workshop and tried out many Hausers, some dating back to the 40s. Incredible as it may seem, all the recent Hermann (III) and Katherin guitars we’ve tried carry all the experience of 4 generations of luthiers. Hermann has an in-depth knowledge of all the prototypes and experiments carried out by his father and grandfather. This guitar offers a condensed version of this unique know-how: a pure, sweet sound with a wide tonal palette and impressive sustain. The notes are thick and even, providing a beautiful separation of voices. An immense pleasure.

This number 444 offers a pure, sweet, and mellow singing tone. The sustain and the balance are amazing with a great string separation.

We were used to play Friederich guitars, the overall feeling when playing this Hauser, is the thickness and the evenness of the notes. Although the Friederich offers a great dynamic with a rather clear tone, the Hauser is rounder with very thick notes and long sustain and still a loud sound.

The guitar is in perfect condition with some very light playware and has been refretted with a new bridge saddle by Hermann Hauser himself.

A little bit of history:

The Hermann Hauser® family has been building guitars over five generations :

• Josef Hauser® (1854-1939) was a zither maker and virtuoso who passed on his enthusiasm for instrument making to his son, the famous Hermann Hauser® I (1882-1952).
• The son of Hermann Hauser® I, Hermann Hauser® II (1911-1988) worked in his father’s workshop from 1930. In 1952 he took over the management of the workshop and led the company until 1983, famous guitarists such as Segovia (1937) or Julian Bream (1933-2020) played Hermann Hauser® II guitars.
• From 1974 on Hermann Hauser ® III and his father built guitars independently in the same workshop. Hermann Hauser ® III provided his guitars with his own numbering and signature. Hermann Hauser ® III has a comprehensive knowledge of the past Hauser instruments. Katharin and Hermann III are building guitars in the tradition of the Hauser family.