126 YEARS OF MANUFACTURING GUITARS AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN BAVARIA The history of a great Bavarian family manufacturing instruments since four generations

Josef Hauser |1854-1939| played the zither and manufactured zithers, but he also composed and published music. That´s why he was one of the most versatile and popular protagonists of the Munich music scene. Showing his first zither to Duke Maximilian of Bavaria brought about an upward movement of manufacturing zithers. Duke Maximilian, father of Austrian princess Sissi, probably composed his "Amalien-Polka" on a Hauser zither. Earl Zeppelin also was among the great admirers of Josef Hauser´s zither compositions. Josef Hauser´s social position in Munich and Bavaria is founded on his manifold capabilities and his entrepreneural talent, including writing plays and publishing various magazines and books. He took the title "Purveyor to the court of his royal highness of Duke Carl in Bavaria".

Postcard, Josef Hauser

Coin, Josef Hauser

Catalogue, Purveyor to the court of his royal highness, Josef Hauser, Munich

Hermann Hauser I, the only son of Joseph Hauser, lived in Munich and Reisbach from 1882 to 1952. His affinity was directed at the guitar and its manufacturing. Influenced by the enthusiastic guitarist Heinrich Scherer from Munich and the Munich Guitaristic Movement at the turn of the century, Hermann Hauser I considerably contributed to the development of guitar manufacturing. His patent for the 1920 cover provides special evidence for that. The Guitaristic Movement in Bavaria attracted international guitar virtuosi like a magnet. Names like Miguel Llobet, Luigi Mozzani, Emilio Pujol and especially Andrès Segovia were friends and dialogue partners of Herman Hauser´s, not only playing concerts in Munich, but also intensely dealing with the improvement of the guitar as a solo instrument. The impact of Hauser guitars may be demonstrated by a quotation from the book "Tradition verpflichtet, Große Familien in Bayern" ("Tradition does oblige, great families in Bavaria"), published by Friedrich Pustet:"One of the world´s best guitarists, Andrès Segovia |1893-1987| from Spain,celebrated his greatest triumphs on a Hauser guitar".

Label, Hermann Hauser I

Patent, Hermann Hauser I: the so-called 1920 "patent cover"

Postcard, handicraft business for manufacturing instruments, Hermann Hauser I

Hermann Hauser II |1911 – 1988| got apprenticed at the vocational school for building violins in Mittenwald and at the parental business. After his father had died, he took over his father´s handicraft business in 1952 and the publishing house in 1960. Most notably, Hermann Hauser II expanded the foreign business, and soon Hauser guitars were better known abroad than in Germany. He held up his father´s contacts, keeping company with guitarists worldwide, and he was especially involved in the technical development regarding the changeover from gut strings to nylon strings. In Wels/Austria Hermann Hauser II was awarded a gold medal for his guitars. Great virtuosi, like Andrès Segovia, Julian Bream, Los Romeros (Celedonio, Pepe,Celìn, Celino und Angel), play their concerts and meet with success using Hauser guitars. Quotation from "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (Southern German Daily Newspaper), dated Nov. 9, 1960: "By the way, Segovia, the Spanish virtuoso , plays a wonderful instrument, manufactured at the Hermann Hauser workshop in Reisbach in the Lower Bavarian county of Dingolfing. As usual, being played by the hands of this artist, the richness of the timbre of the guitar is amazing."

Süddeutsche Zeitung (Southern German Daily Newspaper), November 7, 1961:

Hermann Hauser II, workshop Reisbach

Sänger und Musikanten (Singers and Musicians), page 9, 2004:

Süddeutsche Zeitung (Southern German Daily Newspaper), November 7, 1961:

Even the Empress has to wait Persian Empress Farah Diba made her guitar teacher ask Hermann Hauser, how long it would take to provide her with an instrument. The Empress will have to wait one year, as that´s the term of delivery. Hauser manufactures 15 instruments a year. He exclusively applies wood that has been subject to natural drying for at least 30 years and assembles guitars in winter only, when the workshop is steadily heated and has a constant temperature for months.

Sänger und Musikanten (Singers and Musicians), page 9, 2004:

Andes Segovia (1893-1987), legendary guitar player of the 20th century, was the owner of nine guitars manufactured at the Hauser workshop. The first one of 1929 got lost during the Spanish Civil War, the second one of 1931 was stolen from him, the famous third one of 1937 can be viewed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In the years 1956 through 1969, he acquired another five guitars from Hermann Hauser II. Well advanced in years, he acquired his last guitar from Hermann Hauser III in 1979.

Hermann Hauser III, born in 1958, consequently continues his great ancestors´philosophy and family tradition. He took over his father´s business in his younger days, and already at the age of twenty he was a federal, national and guild winner in manufacturing instruments. In 1987 he received a medal of award and in 1993 he received the federal prize of musical instruments in Frankfurt/Main. Just like his ancestors, he keeps company with the most famous guitarists worldwide, especially Pepe Romero. He gives lectures in many countries, including the US, Mexico, Austria and Italy, just to mention a few. And just like his ancestors he is engaged in the further development of the guitar and guitar manufacturing. Even at the age of 86, Andres Segovia purchased and played a Hermann Hauser III guitar.

Hermann Hauser III, examining a terz guitar by Hermann Hauser I, 2004