Christof Hanusch
Expert / Collector / Guitar Archive
Christof Hanusch is one of the leading experts in the field of historical guitar making, with a focus on Vogtland guitars of the 19th and early 20th century.
His interest in old guitars developed as early as the mid-1980s. Fascinated by the guitars of Richard Jacob "Weissgerber" (Markneukirchen 1877–1960) he started to research topics concerning historical guitar making.
After studying classical guitar playing in Berlin (1990–1994), Christof Hanusch intensified his research on "Weissgerber" guitars and began to systematically gather information and to build a guitar archive.
From 2001 to 2010 he worked as an employee in the guitar store Wolf & Lehmann, Berlin. During this time he gained essential experience on the subject guitars and their making. In 2002 he built a classical guitar completely by hand.
Research and study of various international and regional schools of guitar making:
- Germany - Thuringia, Prussia, Saxony, Mittenwald, Munich.
- Europe - Austria, Italy, Spain, France, England, Russia
- America - USA, Argentina
Christof Hanusch considers the knowledge of the peculiarities and characteristics of the different schools of guitar making as an essential basis for a deeper understanding in his field of expertise.
Examination of countless historical guitars from private and public collections. Exchange with experts from various other fields.
- Starting in 2005, publication of articles in various magazines (Orfeo Magazine, Gitarre Aktuell, Concertino, Neikirnger Heimatbote)
- In 2007 he began an ongoing collaboration with the Markneukirchen Museum of Musical Instruments for the methodical and scientific processing and cataloguing of the guitars in the collection
- 2011 Publication of his "WEISSGERBER" monograph "Gitarren von / Guitars by Richard Jacob", which was positively received by his peers.
„WEISSGERBER – Gitarren von/Guitars by Richard Jacob“ - After 2011 Christof Hanusch focused his research mainly on 19th century guitar making in Vogtland
- Since 2014 Christof Hanusch is a guest lecturer for historical Vogtland guitar making and "Weißgerber" guitars. (Course of studies - musical instrument making Markneukirchen, West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau - Faculty of Applied Arts Schneeberg).
