FONZO MUSEUM
COLLECTION

A Concert Instrument of Rare Provenance and Exceptional Musical Authority

Among contemporary classical guitar makers, few names command the same level of reverence as Matthias Dammann. Widely regarded as the father of the modern double-top concert guitar, Dammann revolutionized the instrument through his innovative Nomex-core soundboard construction, creating guitars with extraordinary projection, responsiveness, and tonal complexity.

By 2008, Matthias Dammann had fully refined his double-top concept. Instruments from this era are especially prized because they represent a balance between the explosive projection of his earlier experimental years and the increased tonal sophistication and control of his later work. Many collectors and professional players regard 2008 as one of the “golden years” of Matthias Dammann’s production because it represents a period when his revolutionary double-top design had fully matured while still retaining the openness, power, and individuality of his earlier instruments.

Adding to its significance, this 2008 Matthias Dammann presented here carries an additional layer of distinction: it is an instrument formerly owned and played by Johannes Monno, one of Germany’s most respected classical guitarists and pedagogues. Monno has served as Professor of Guitar at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart since 2004 and is internationally recognized for his refined artistry, deep historical understanding of the guitar, and highly sophisticated tonal approach. Monno is known not only as a scholar of historical plucked instruments and an influential teacher whose students have achieved international recognition but also a concert artist and has recorded several wellknown albums with this 2008 Dammann guitar, such as the "J.S. Bach: Works for Lute" released by Hänssler Classic in 2017. This 2-CD recording is widely considered his signature recording project.

For the discerning collector, this 2008 Dammann guitar is more than an outstanding guitar, it is a meaningful piece of modern classical guitar history combining the legacy of one of the most influential contemporary luthiers with the provenance of an internationally respected artist.