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Stefan Sobell Musical Instruments is a British guitar manufacturer based in Northumberland in the north of England. Luthier Stefan Sobell builds acoustic guitars, mandolins, citterns, bouzoukis and dulcimers. The instruments are hand built with a large degree of interaction between the luthier and the customer over the construction and material content of each individual instrument. Sobell may be considered a boutique guitar manufacturer. Sobell is known for a high degree of experimentation in the design and construction of his instruments with as many as 25% of his instruments being experimental in some way.[citation needed]

History[edit]

Stefan Sobell played guitar and mandolin in the 1960s before starting to make instruments. Among his initial instruments were dulcimers and citterns. From this early work Sobell became a professional luthier in 1975 adding different types of instruments as his techniques developed and his experience grew. By the mid 1980s he was building arch-top and flat-top guitars along with mandolin and bouzouki family instruments.

Influences have included classic pre-war Martin guitars including an arch-top played by Stephan Grossman in Britain in the 1960s.[1] One result is that many Sobell guitars are not flat-tops but have slightly curved backs and tops, helping them to establish a unique tone. Sobell was also influenced by the 12-string Portuguese guitar and ideas about stringing given to Sobell by Barry Dransfield.[1]. These experiences led to his work on multi-coursed instruments including octave mandolin, cittern and Irish buzouki.

Stefan Sobell is well known for his collaboration with musicians to perfect various types of acoustic stringed instruments.

Instrument Styles and Experiments[edit]

Stefan Sobell is known for working with musicians to improve and perfect instruments. Results have included his guitar-body mandolin which was a collaboration with Andy Irvine.[2] Sobell also made the "Andylin" (long scale mandolin) for Irvine.[3]. Other examples include custom wood specifications in a 12 string, large body cittern for Dr. Joseph Sobel (no relation), the Tennessee folklorist.[4]. Sobell's long collaboration with Martin Simpson led to the creation of the Martin Simpson Signature model guitar.

Sobell also had a hand in the revival of the modern cittern in Britain and Ireland which he developed out of the 12-string guitarra portuguesa.[5] He is a source of instrument classification defining four course instruments as octave mandolins and five course instruments as citterns. For a more specialized discussion, see the Wikipedia topics on the cittern and the Irish bouzouki.

Construction Materials[edit]

Sobell uses high quality woods sourced from around the world. The materials are air dried under his supervision and are in his possession for many years before being incorporated into instruments. Wood materials may be over ten years in Sobell's possession before being put to use.[citation needed]

Sobell musical instruments use fine traditional woods and carefully follow proper acquisition procedures with endangered woods such as Brazilian rosewood. Sobell experiments with alternative woods that are plentiful and occasionally finds improved characteristics using the new materials. Examples of woods used in Sobell instruments include:

  • Mahogany
  • Wenge
  • Madagascar rosewood
  • Ebony
  • Brazilian rosewood (CITES-compliant)
  • African Blackwood
  • Maple
  • Adirondack (American Red) spruce
  • Italian spruce
  • Western Red cedar
  • German spruce
  • Koa
  • Port Orford cedar

Sobell is experimenting with Malaysian Blackwood for use on future instruments.

Models[edit]

Guitars

  • Model 1
  • Model 2
  • 7 String Guitar [6]
  • 6 String Arch-top Guitar
  • 12 String Arch-top Guitar
  • The Martin Simpson Signature Model
  • The New World Model
  • D Guitar

Citterns, Mandola, Mandolins and Bouzoukis

  • 5 Course Cittern
  • 4 Course Octave Mandolin
  • Guitar Body Mandolin
  • Guitar Shaped Bouzouki[7]

Other Instruments

  • Appalachian Dulcimer

Notable Users[edit]

Recordings With Sobell Instruments[edit]

This can be heard on Andy's recent Rain on the Roof album and also on the Way out Yonder album, or watch a video clip of The Blacksmith and They'll never believe it'd true from the video files section.

  • Rain on the Roof, Andy Irvine (album)[14]
  • Way Out Yonder, Andy Irvine (album)[15]
  • Medley of Celtic Airs, Martin Simpson (video clip)[16]
  • The Green Fields of America, Martin Simpson (video clip)[17]
  • Kielder Schottische, Martin Simpson (video clip)[18]
  • The Blacksmith, Andy Irvine (video clip)[19]
  • They'll Never Believe It's True, Andy Irvine (video clip)[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Link text, additional text.
  2. ^ [1], Andy Irvine discusses collaboration with Stefan Sobell.
  3. ^ Andy Irvine discusses the "Andylin" by Stefan Sobell, additional text.
  4. ^ http://www.sobellinstruments.com/News2011.aspx
  5. ^ [2], Pat Kilbride on Sobell influence.
  6. ^ [3], 2001 Sobell Instruments Model 2 - 7 String Acoustic Guitar.
  7. ^ http://www.china2galway.com/bouzouki%20style%20guitar%20shaped.htm
  8. ^ http://www.andyirvine.com/
  9. ^ http://www.martinsimpson.com/
  10. ^ "The Boss is a star customer for Stefan", The Journal, Newcastle, October 16, 2004.
  11. ^ http://www.sobellinstruments.com/News2011/News2010.aspx
  12. ^ http://www.michaelwattsguitar.com/stefansobell.cfm
  13. ^ http://www.etsu.edu/stories/facltysobol.htm
  14. ^ http://www.china2galway.com/rain%20on%20the%20roof.htm
  15. ^ http://www.china2galway.com/way%20out%20yonder%20review.htm
  16. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YaX_gwSZss&feature=related
  17. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1MWjOK6aTg&NR=1
  18. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eSOUp8z7hI&feature=related
  19. ^ http://www.china2galway.com/way%20out%20yonder%20review.htm
  20. ^ http://www.china2galway.com/never%20believe.mpg

Sources[edit]

  • "Stefan Sobell", Luthiers Corner by Richard Thomas, Acoustic Magazine, June 2009
  • "What makes Stefan Sobell's instruments sing?", The Master's Voice with Brad Warren, The Fretboard Journal, Spring 2007

External links[edit]

Category:Guitar manufacturing companies

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