Levora #9 – odem Guitars

This Levora is very close to its homeland. At first glance, it appears rather simple and restrained, but closer inspection reveals numerous details that cleverly showcase the cultural heritage of its region of origin.

At the foot of the Ore Mountains, in the town of Oelsnitz, there is situated the workshop of master luthier Roy Fankhänel, who manufactures the guitars of odem Guitars with precision and passion. The town experienced its historical heyday when numerous coal deposits were found in the 19th century and mining of this then so valuable mineral resource began on a grand scale. The instrument tells of this heritage with numerous details.

Central at the height of the 12th fret are the hammer and chisel, the most important tools of the miners of that time, handmade of white mother-of-pearl. For the fingerboard, marbled ebony was chosen, with its contrasting pattern quoting the hard coal mined in this region.

The body and headstock were crafted from old larch planks that were installed in an old railroad waggon used to transport coal in the 19th century. The wood offered an unexpected surprise when, during bookmatching of the top, a mirrored branch united to form a heart. When the workshop light made the heart glow while looking at this naturally grown feature, the idea was born to illuminate this spot with interchangeable LEDs to make the guitar heart beat.

The attention to detail on this instrument is also visible in the polished brass screws used for the body-neck joint, the fastening of the single bridges as well as for the covers of the electronics, because brass was often used for the miners’ tools. The neck made of local cherry, which grew in the garden behind the workshop, completes the homeland reference of this versatile instrument.