Letter: Gittler Guitar

by Anthony D. Blokzyl

Originally published in American Lutherie #19, 1989



I read your request for information on the Gittler guitar with great relief! I have yet to see one of these unique instruments, and hope that they are still being manufactured somewhere.

They were first mentioned, that I know of, in the August 1978 issue of Guitar Player. The Gittler is almost entirely of brushed stainless steel. There is a central “spine” through which are milled, at decreasing intervals, a series of holes that erupt fractionally. Through the holes are friction fitted short rods acting as frets. The inventor remarked in the article that the dowels could be turned to compensate quickly for wear, if such was feared.