Southwell Guitars

The Scherzer 10 String Guitar 1862

This guitar is a copy of a 10 string instrument originally made in 1862. I was fortunate to document and draw this wonderful guitar, with a 6 string guitar by Scherzer dated 1864, with the kind permission of Matanya Ophee. Later I was asked to do some restoration work on this guitar, that revealed more details to me.

The guitar has a twin neck with 6 strings on the fretted fingerboard at a 64cm string length with a 24 fret range. The 4 open bass strings run over the other neck. The 2 necks are veneered in ebony and join at the same heel. This then fixes to the body via the adjustable neck system common to Viennese guitars of this period. The top is spruce, with a transverse bar pattern. The back and sides are laminates of maple and rio rosewood. It has simple rossette and edging. Another interesting feature is the iron bar that runs the length of the body, inside. This relieves the tension passed on to the top by this design. It also has a second back which shields the guitar from the players body, stopping any possible damping effects.

The guitar is heavy. It is also big by 19th century standards and it sounds amazing.

(click to see large photos of all the details)

HISTORICAL NOTE

Johan George Scherzer

Scherzer was apprentice to the famous Stauffer along with another noted maker C.F. Martin. While Martin moved to America, Scherzer stayed in Vienna and eventually took over his master’s business.

He is known to have won first prize for ‘best guitar’ at the celebrated guitar competition in Brussels 1852 organized by Makaroff.

Revered especially in Russia during the late 19th century Scherzer has remained relatively unknown to modern guitar enthusiasts. Although there are few surviving instruments, his reputation is due for re-examination. Having had the pleasure of studying many of the known examples of his work I feel he should be regarded amongst the very finest guitar makers of all time. The celebrated guitarist, Mertz, is known to have used Scherzer guitars.

This photograph was kindly sent to me by someone in Russia and I wanted to share it with all of you. It is of his grandfather Sergei Alexandrovich Belanovsky holding an original Scherzer. The photo was taken in 1905

Sergei Alexandrovich Belanovsky playing a Scherzer guitar

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Gary Southwell

site created June 2004
Page last changed October 2007