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EnglishWhat instrument models does Lehmann Stringed Instruments offer?
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Lehmann Stringed Instruments, the Rochester, NY workshop of luthier Bernie Lehmann, builds handmade custom guitars and other fine instruments. The site's model listings point to several distinct builds: the Master Model 2000, Model Eclipse, Contempo Archtop, Cadenza, MandoCello, and Model KN Flattops. Each name is tied on the site to a body style, material, or playing context rather than a fixed spec sheet, so the practical way to choose is to match the model family to your playing style, then confirm the details directly with the workshop.
The models named on the site
| Model | What the site associates it with |
|---|---|
| Master Model 2000 | An ebony instrument with a hand-cut pierced rose sound hole |
| Model Eclipse | Built for jazz playing |
| Contempo Archtop | A cinnamon burled-maple archtop; described as suited to a club, a big stage, or a spare bedroom |
| Cadenza | An elegant model aimed at the "deft and classically-oriented troubadour" |
| MandoCello | Listed as its own model category |
| Model KN Flattops | Two flattop instruments described as "the same but ....different" |
How to read the differences
The model names group into recognizable families:
- Archtops — the Contempo Archtop and Model Eclipse sit in the archtop tradition, which the site connects to jazz and stage or club performance.
- Flattops — the Model KN Flattops are steel-string-style flattops, and the site explicitly notes that two of them are built alike yet differ, which is the clearest signal that variation here comes from individual build choices rather than a single stock specification.
- Classical-oriented — the Cadenza is described in classical terms, so it is the starting point if you play in that style.
- Ornamented showpieces — the Master Model 2000 is presented through its ebony body and hand-cut pierced rose sound hole, i.e. its visual and craft detail.
- Other instruments — the MandoCello is a separate category, so the workshop is not limited to six-string guitars.
Because the site describes these instruments in terms of materials, ornament, and intended playing situation rather than published dimensions, treat the table as a map of families, not a comparison of specs.
Custom design is the through-line
The site frames the whole catalog as "custom designed and built" work by a master luthier, and the Model KN Flattops entry — two instruments that are "the same but ....different" — shows what that means in practice: two builds can share a model name while differing in the details a player requests. If you already know your preferred body size, scale, tonewood, or neck profile, that is the information to bring to a conversation about a build, since the model name alone will not pin those down.
Checking a model in person
The site notes that The Artisan Guitar Show in Harrisburg, PA opens April 10–12, 2026, which is a stated opportunity to see the instruments rather than judge them from descriptions. For anything not on display, the workshop is located at 34 Elton St., Rochester, NY, and works with customers on custom instruments — so the next step for a specific model is to ask about that model directly, describing your playing style and the features you want.