ROGER (Rossmeisl)



Wenzel Rossmeisl is one of the top german luther in the 40s-60s era (well-known as the specialist of "unique-carving" for the top of guitars, called German-Carve), and he derived the trademark name in honor of his son, Roger Rossmeisl. (Later, his son - Roger learned the skills from father and he went to America to work for many major guitar company - he made Coronado for the Fender, Capri, Combo and other archtops for the Rickenbacker, also he worked at Kalamazoo of Gibson and Mosrite - the German carve was inherited to the US guitars by Roger). Please see the end of this page. a valuable texts by Mr. John Hall (pesident of Rickenbacker Company). This is the Standard model of the ROGER handcrafted guitars, called STANDARD CUTAWAY. (the LUXUS CUTAWAY or SUPER CUTAWAY could be there as the Top of the line). Solid Spruce top, Solid maples on the sides, and high flamed solid maple woods on the back board with center matching. Fongerboards made by rosewood with The Block positionmark inlays coverd by laquer finishing. Tailpiece shape is very similer with the famous GUILD harpform. But you know the R in the tailpiece means not RICKs but ROGER...... Inside the body There's a sticker with model name and Wenzel's aughtgraph. Probably this guitar was made in late 50s era with small headstock design with painted logo.

ROGER - JUNIOR CUTAWAY (Natural)



The reasonable line of the ROGER guitars (and also well-known, well-sold model), JUNIOR CUTAWAY handcrafted by Wenzel made in early 60s era. In the comparisons with avobe standard model, the binding of the edge of fingerboard were missed, and bar-positionmak inlays instead of block positionmarks. The logo on the headstock was replaced to the plastic logopanel putted on. The shape of Headstock become BIGGER. When I got this guitar in my hands I'm surprised that this guitar has NO HOLES on the side of the body or end of the neck (usually holed for pickup mount or pickguad installing) even though I know This guitar probably refinished to thin-laquering Natural from original sunburst finish by someone. Born as a non-pickguard guitar??? The edge binding of the body were w/b/w/b laminationed. but other Junior Cutaway model usually has a simple single binding (see below 3 other JC). I'm not sure about the difference. But generally in beautiful condition with great open acoustic sound. Great construction. Light weight archtop!!!

ROGER - JUNIOR CUTAWAY (Sunburst)


This one is after-war model by ROGER brand (handcrafted by Wenzel in Germany. Mittenwald era - guessing the late 50s model). well-known (and well-sold) JUNIOR CUTAWAY. Solid spruce top (very thick) with beautiful German-carve, solid maple sides and bookmatched-back (german-carved, too). fingerboard is lacquered-Brazilian rosewood (you can imagine the Rickenbaker) having the perloid bar-inlays. Laminate maple and rosewood neck(dozens of laminate! veru strong). the single coil pickup is mounted at the end of the neck (engraved the ROGER logo-mark). The bridge was made by brazilian rosewood in unique design (hollow!). The pickguard and tailpiece are original parts. Only the machine-heads are replaced with the recent kluson pegs. Accoustically, it sounds deep and beautiful, but not loud. Electrically, the pickup has an excellent vintage warm sound. Nut width-42mm, scale length-640mm, body width-410mm, body depth-90mm. One crack on the top was repaired. 3-tone sunburst finish. Some minor checking.

ROGER - JUNIOR CUTAWAY (Natural)


Same model with above one, JUNIOR CATAWAY in Natural finish. Handcrafted by Wenzel in Germany. Mittenwald era - gessing the late 50s or the early 60s model). The differences with above one are: Logomark of the headstock (Script with simple painting), Lamination of the neck (see photos), the red Tortoiseshell-binding. The Pegs are original (with the ROGER engraved peg). The pickup were missed (Not acoustic model, the output jack is on the side). Nut width-42mm, scale length-640mm, body width-410mm, body depth-93mm. Still keeps in Very Good condition. Action is low. Easy to play. The sound is bigger than above one. Deep and Beautiful. Jazzical tone. Constracted as a Electric guitar but the pickup was aleady missed.

ROGER - JUNIOR CUTAWAY (refinished)


Again, the JUNIOR CUTAWAY model. But many misteries in this one. The tailpiece was missed, So I replace it with old Hofner one. Also the original bridge was replaced with newer one. The Machine-heads are original (Roger-engraved). the logo-mark (made by plactic) is put on the headstock. The body was refinished with ultra-thin-lacquering, The body-depth is 75mm. And the sticker is not available in the body. so I guess this one would be made with old ROGER neck collaborated with newer body (the German carve makes different shape. Of cource). But I think the collaboration was succesfull. The sound is very loud and well-balanced one. Nut width-42mm, scale length-640mm, body width-410mm, body depth-75mm. In Very Good condition. Good partner for the Jazz-cutting. Neck is not thick (not like above 2 JC). Just like Les Paul! Easy to fingering.

A MAIL FROM MR.JOHN HALL
Recentry, I got an mail from a man who wanted to correct my text about the Roger Rossmeisl, He is (WOW) Mr. John Hall, the Chairman of the Rickenbacker Company. Everyone look on this page maybe know about the Roger Rossmeisl left many historic products into the Rickenbacker Company. And Mr. Hall let me know an episode about the relations between Roger and Semie Mosley.

Roger Rossmiesl, while he worked in our factory had Semie Mosely as an apprentice and Semie often told me he credited Roger with everything he knew about guitars. As such I don't believe Roger ever worked for Semie Mosely's later company, Moserite, but Mosely certainly worked directly for Roger in our factory. To my knowledge, the only company that Roger worked for after leaving us was Fender.

According to the book "Electro-Gitarren", Since Fender was sold for CBS, Roger changed to work for MOSRITE. I didn't know if Roger worked for Mosrite or not, but it must be true that the German Carve of the Mosrite guitar was made under the influence of Roger's Work.

For me, One of the most impressioned works by the Roger Rossmeisl would be the Fender Coronado. Manufactured in 1966. In the 70s, you can see the guitar on the sleeve of Phil Upchurch album "Darkness, Darkness", and in the late 80s, you can also find the same model on the sleeve and video of the first hit song "Crash" by the British guitar-pop band Primitives.

Roger also made an archtop for Fender the full-bodied jazz-archtop (with German carve and detouchable neck), but there's a rumor that the archtop was made only 11 piece (I'm not sure).

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