This guitar is a commission sale. If you have a high-end or vintage guitar you are interested in selling please contact us.
Here for sale we have an Otwin Melodie Archtop Acoustic Guitar in Natural finish. Otwin guitars have a rich history rooted in the Vogtland region of Germany. The brand was established in 1886 by Franz Otto Windisch and then became a part of the East German state-owned MUSIMA cooperative in the 1970s before eventually closing. The Otwin brand was known for its high quality instruments, with "Old Man Otwin" being one of the first German Luthiers to emulate the style of guitar that was coming out of America at the time.
Although there may not be much information available about the guitars, it appears to consist of a Spruce top, Maple back and sides, a 5-piece Maple-based neck, and a 22-fret Rosewood fingerboard. Other appointments include an adjustable Rosewood bridge, upgraded Open Gear tuners with Ivory buttons, Stripe inlays, and what could be Ivory binding.
The neck plays very well, with a profile which could be described as a rather chunky 'D' shape, with a nicely flattened area to the centre rear which encourages ergonomic thumb positioning across the register. The Rosewood of the fretboard is pleasant under the fingers, and with its 7.25" radius is practical for both chordal and melodic playing styles. The size of the body ensures comfort in the arms whilst the cutaway enhances access to the upper register.
The acoustic voice of the Otwin Melodie is both soft and articulate, perfectly capturing the 'Jazz Box' tone that you would expect from this instrument. Chords sound distinctive and clear, whilst melodic lines are smooth. There is an impressive amount of dynamic range on offer thanks to the large body size, and the Spruce top projects very well, producing plenty of volume to ensure that you are heard within the ensemble. A seriously cool instrument which has a unique look today.
Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.
Otwin Melodie circa. 1950/60s Hollow Body Archtop Acoustic Guitar
Brand- Otwin
Model- Melodie
Finish- Natural
Year- circa. 1950/60s
Made In- Germany
Top- Spruce
Body- Maple
Neck- 5-pc Maple-Based
Neck Profile- Chunky 'D'
Fingerboard- Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius- 7.25"
Frets- 22
Scale Length- 24.75"
Nut Width- 1.75"
Pickups- N/A
Our ID: 1010226177681
Weight: 4.95lbs
Serial: N/A
Aesthetic Condition:
Headstock: Overall good condition, all aspects of the headstock demonstrate consistent scuffing, scratching and indentation. The finish to the sides of the headstock appears to have been removed, and the front face finish demonstrates wrinkling and raised textures demonstrating age related decay. The rear face demonstrates exposed screw holes where the tuners have been replaced. We strongly recommend carefully inspecting the photos for a fuller understanding of the cosmetic condition of the instrument.
Neck: Overall good condition, all aspects of the neck and fingerboard demonstrate consistent scuffing, scratching and indentation. The binding to the sides has been slotted and then filled during a previous re-fret. Excess finish (or potentially hide glue) is apparent around the joint between neck and body. A small filled hole is apparent to the rear of the heel, likely from a strap stud. Excess finish or glue residue is apparent to the upper register of the rear of the neck. We strongly recommend carefully inspecting the photos for a fuller understanding of the cosmetic condition of the instrument.
Body: Overall fair condition, the finish on the body has been mostly stripped, leaving just some remaining varnish behind. The front face demonstrates a crack to the bass side waist, this does flex slightly but due to its location it does not pose major structural concern and appears to have had some repair work done previously to prevent further cracking. A similar but more firmly repaired crack is apparent to the treble side of the lower bout. Excess finish or hide glue is apparent surrounding the heel of the neck connecting to the body. Further cracking is apparent to the sides, most notably on the treble side and also stemming from the endpin. The pickguard holes on the treble side waist have been filled. All aspects of the body demonstrate consistent scuffing, scratching and indentation. We strongly recommend carefully inspecting the photos for a fuller understanding of the cosmetic condition of the instrument.
Condition of Frets:
This instrument has had a re-fret which demonstrates some issues. The frets are not fully seated across the register, and appear to have been fixed in place like this. It is evident some work was performed to ensure playability, but the fret surface is not perfectly even and occasional buzzing is identifiable in several spots throughout the register. There is moderate material remaining for future fret work.
Current Set Up:
Truss Rod: N/A
Hardware: Fully functional with moderate signs of use. The tailpiece may have been repaired, as some resin type material is apparent around the 90 degree bend. The tuners and bridge have been replaced. Pickguard not included.
Structural: Aforementioned cracking to the top is somewhat of a structural concern. It is difficult to determine what extent of repair work has taken place, however the flexing on the bass side waist is very subtle and should be supported on the inside by the original lining.
Height of the string from the 12th Fret-1.5mm - Bass 2mm
Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.
Strings on Guitar - 11-52
Though this instrument demonstrates an extensive luthier report, the playability and acoustic voice of the instrument aren't problematic, and it is quite comfortable to play with a strong acoustic voice.
Electrics: N/A
Case & Accessories
Hiscox Hard Case
Very good condition, showing signs of previous use.