Sascha Nowak
Luthier

 

Table.
 Cedar or Spruce.
Rosette.
 Natural Coloured Woods.
Back and Sides.
 Brazilian or Indian Rosewood.
Machine Heads.
 Sloane
Finish.
 French Polish.

 

German Musical Instrument Prize Winner 2008

Sascha Nowak’s guitar received by far the highest acoustic rating in the field physical-technical examination with the jury praising the sound provided by the instrument. The jury described its Spanish-dry tone as very balanced, and they expressly praised its good price-performance ratio, as well as its ease of playing and successful overall design.

 

Born 1962 in Duisburg, raised in Siegen, I now live in Freiburg, in the South of Germany, for over 20 years.

My love for guitar music developed already in my childhood, with classical guitar pleasing me as much as guitar sounds from folk or pop music. From the age of 15 I received guitar instruction, and was engaged in different musical styles and playing techniques.

At that time however I did not think the guitar would become the theme and center of my professional life. So after my high school diploma I began studying history, archeology and sociology at the Universities of Siegen and Freiburg, and it was not until 1988 that my interest grew increasingly in the field of lute and guitar construction.

I read some literature about instrument making, travelled throughout Germany and Spain to visit guitar and violin makers in their workshops, and participated in different courses. During this time I built my first guitars. In 1990 I finally founded my workshop and have built about 250 classical and flamenco guitars since then.

A formative influence was the encounter, friendship, and cooperation with two renowned guitar makers, Rolf Eichinger and Kolya Panhuyzen. Rolf Eichinger acquired his methodical knowledge by study trips to Spain and friendships with guitar makers of Granada. Andalusia was and is one of the inspirational and practical centers of Spanish guitar construction with a very alive handcraft tradition. Kolya Panhuyzen learned his profession from his uncle Edgar Moench, who acquired an outstanding worldwide reputation, and in whose workshop some excellent guitar makers were trained.

Methodology and Construction/Design.

The differences in sound and function of classical and flamenco guitars are enormous. The areas wood selection, construction/design, and methodology encompasse an enormous quantity of parameters and options, and because of the coupling of the oscillation system guitar every change in detail can lead to an immense change as a whole.

There exist a great number of possible ways to fashion and glue together the 40 to 50 pieces which comprise a guitar. Each of these in combination results in a unique system which affects the statics, and with it the sound. It leads to physically different results if wood is treated by hand planes instead of power sanders, if pieces of wood are glued together with cord and wedges instead of bar clamps, or if lacquer particles are compressed by hand polishing instead of being sprayed on. The finished guitar however does not visibly show these differences in treatment.

With regards to construction/ design and methodology my instruments are formatively influenced by the traditional handcraft of Southern Spain, especially the Granadinian "School". Over generations builders have developed assembly methods very finely tuned to the instrument. This methodology harmonizes perfectly with the use of hide and bone glues and shellac polish and forms the basis of traditional Spanish guitar construction.

The aesthetics of my guitars also lean towards this Andalusian style. Historically it received strong influences from the Arabic ornamental art. This ornamental style is deliberately very plain, and mostly only a few basic elements are repeated to build up to a myriad of variations.

Sound.

Aside of such important criteria as response, dynamic range, balance, loudness, and projection, I set high value on the modulability and plasticity of sound. By changing the kind of attack and technique, a wide colour spectrum should open to enable the musicians to vary their expression and artistic creation.

To describe in words the sound of an instrument has often proved difficult. For example, what do the terms "mellow, brilliant, or lively" mean when applied to sound? Differences in hearing and taste also add to the confusion. The same sound might be termed "dark" by one, or "muffled" by another. The instrument must satisfy subjective criteria and individual playing style. As such, finding the fitting or ideal guitar can be a drawn-out, difficult process of trying-out and comparing. You are cordially invited to do this at Stafford Guitar.

German Musical Instrument Prize 2008.

Awarded by the Ministry of Economics and Technology, this significant prize of honour is given in recognition of particularly high-quality products from German musical instrument makers. It has been presented since 1991 at the Frankfurt Music Fair, in two varying categories. In 2008 these were Bass Clarinet and Classical Guitar.

To find the prize winner the submitted instruments must undergo a time- intensive three stage trial at the Institute for Musical Instrument Construction in Zwota:
1) their acoustic characteristics are determined objectively, without player input (FFT analysis).
2) five renowned musicians assess the instruments subjectively by playing them.
3) an expert assesses the instruments to gauge their craftsmanship.

Two instruments were considered the best in the field of classical guitar. Therefore the German Musical Instrument Prize 2008 in this category was equally awarded to Urs Langenbacher of Fuessen and Sascha Nowak of Freiburg.

Briefing of the jury's assessment at the Institute of Musical Instrument Construction, Zwota:
Sascha Nowak's guitar received by far the highest acoustic rating in the physical-technical category. It was the sound favorite of the test musicians; they particularly praised the brilliant high range and excellent plasticity of sound exhibited by the instrument. The jury described its Spanish-dry sound as very balanced, and they expressly praised its good price-performance ratio, as well as its ease of playing and "successful overall design".

The guitar presented at Stafford Guitar is based on the awarded model. Other wooden components, tuners, scale lengths, etc will be available by request.

Sascha Nowak