Jochen Röthel - 2022
Jochen Röthel - 2022
Details
Details
Overview
Overview
Shipping important note
Shipping important note
Important: Additional costs such as import taxes and custom duties may occur when importing goods from the EU into your country.
Delivery times are typically reliable and most instruments arrive within the estimated timeframe.
Should any unexpected delay occur, our team will keep you informed and provide support at every step. For all shipping details and exceptions, please see our Shipping Policy.
Details about GPSR
Details about GPSR
Video overview
More details about the guitar
About the luthier
Jochen Röthel was born in 1969 in Kitzingen, Bavaria, and grew up in a cabinetmaker’s household, where he developed an early familiarity with wood and craftsmanship. He trained at Lakewood Guitars in Giessen under Martin Seeliger and formed a lasting professional exchange with Michel Brück. A decisive influence came in 1992 when he attended a masterclass with José Luis Romanillos in Córdoba, which deepened his engagement with the Spanish tradition of guitar making. After receiving his master’s degree in 1997, Röthel opened his own workshop in Oldenburg and later relocated to Sommerhausen. His work is informed by extensive restoration experience and close study of historical instruments by Manuel Ramírez and Hermann Hauser. His guitars reflect a precise and methodical approach within a traditional Spanish construction framework.
About the guitar
This instrument, built in 2022 in traditional construction, features a spruce top and flamed maple back and sides, finished in French polish. The choice of maple shapes the tonal profile decisively. The sound is clear, brilliant, and highly transparent, with strong note separation and a focused projection.
The spruce top provides immediacy and definition, while the maple body supports a bright and articulate character. Trebles emerge with a bell like clarity and refined overtones. The basses are precise and structured rather than expansive, contributing to an overall impression of balance and control. Chords retain their inner structure, and contrapuntal textures remain intelligible even in dense passages.
The dynamic range is wide and easily accessible. The instrument responds sensitively to subtle articulation in softer dynamics, yet it maintains composure and clarity under a stronger attack. Its comparatively light construction enhances responsiveness and creates a sense of openness under the hands. The result is a concert instrument with a lucid tonal aesthetic, well suited to repertoire that benefits from brilliance, transparency, and structural definition.
Condition
The guitar is in excellent condition with normal signs of wear consistent with careful use.
Regular care extends the life of the instrument
Even with careful use, a classical guitar may gradually change in appearance or respond to unstable storage conditions. Have a close look at your guitar regularly and be attentif to changes. If your instrument is suffering from its environement, it will let you know.
Protect Your Guitar: Handle with Care
Be mindful when touching your instrument with greasy or unwashed hands: any skin contact is a small attack on the varnish. Of course, a guitar is made to be played, but taking a few precautions helps preserve its beauty: wash your hands before playing, wear long sleeves, and avoid unnecessary direct skin contact with the body of the instrument.
Pro tip: Avoid playing with a button-up shirt, heavy jewelry, or a belt, as these can scratch the guitar. Also, make sure your guitar case is free of any objects that could damage the instrument during storage.
String care
A good habit to adopt is wiping down your strings briefly after each playing session. This small action significantly extends their lifespan and helps maintain a consistent, comfortable feel under your fingers.
Most importantly, clean strings are essential for keeping your instrument in tune. Corrosion, sweat, and dust can affect the uniformity of the strings and interfere with accurate tuning across the entire fingerboard.
Pro tip: If you're having trouble getting your guitar in tune, it might be time to change the strings. A useful test is to compare the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic with the fretted note at the 12th fret; if there's an unusually large gap between them, your strings may have lost their integrity and should be replaced.
Keep Your Shellac Finish Shining!
Got a guitar with a shellac (French polish) finish? Here's a simple trick: Take a clean microfiber cloth and gently breathe on the surface to create a light mist. Then, softly rub to remove fingerprints, sweat, and grease. That’s usually all it takes to keep it looking great, no products needed!
Pro tip: Every few years, treat your guitar to a check-up with a luthier to keep it in top shape.
Storing Your Guitar: Climate Matters
Your guitar can safely stay outside its case, as long as the surrounding environment maintains 42–55% humidity and a temperature between 18–25°C.
Keep in mind that humidity levels can still fluctuate inside the case, especially during seasonal changes.
- Too much humidity may cause overtightened strings and a dull tone.
- Too little humidity can lead to a bulging top, string buzz, or even cracks.
Avoid placing your guitar near radiators, air conditioners, or windows with direct sunlight.
Pro tip: Always close your guitar case while playing. This helps preserve a stable microclimate inside the case, so your instrument is protected the moment you put it back in.