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.

Jochen Röthel

Jochen Röthel - 2025 - Cedar/Madagascar

Jochen Röthel - 2022