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Otto Vowinkel

Guitar maker Amsterdam

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I.M. Alex, Alejandro, van der Horst

This is Alex van der Horst, better known as the luthier Alejandro. Alex was born in Amsterdam but lived in Spain from the age of 17. He had a small workshop in Torremolinos, near Malaga.

Alex was a great guitar maker and very musical player. He knew every classical guitarist and every classical luthier and could imitate each one of them perfectly. He introduced me to Esther who became my wife. He became a member of our family. He was cheerful, lively and above all, very funny. There is so much to tell about Alex.

Alex and I spent a lot of time together. Sometimes on a trip, abroad, but mainly in the workshop or at home, in Amsterdam. The city where he was born, where he visited his mother, where he made a stopover traveling back and forth between Spain and Sweden, where his Birgitta lived. Amsterdam increasingly became the place where he had to be for his medical treatment and eventually it became the place where he died. Exactly twelve years ago today.

Filed Under: guitarists Tagged With: Alejandro

Otto Vowinkel is a household name in the classical guitar world; a renowned luthier with customers all over the world.

His instruments are physically light, easy to play, ultra-responsive and very powerful. His guitars have outstanding tonal qualities, evenness in sound colour and a perfect intonation.

Otto blogs about making guitars, guitarists who play his instruments, festivals he visits and ‘his’ guitar series Meesters op de Gitaar. He also writes about guitar maintenance.

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Lauriergracht 110-winkel
1016 RP Amsterdam
The Netherlands
t +31 (0)624742403
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