Sonntag / Archtop Jazz Guitar J14 / Guitar
The J14 model is designed as a travel guitar. The small body, which size is shrinked down to almost LesPaul-size, is perfectly qualified for guitarists who need to do a lot of travelling. In the course of daily gigging the reduced weight and handiness stand out during stage set-up and unburden arm and hand.
On the plane the J14 fits comfortably into almost all over-heads, even those of the smaller planes on domestic flights.
This guitar still produces a thick, woody archtop sound, however, one may not compare it to the wider range of frequencies of a 17“ archtop. Since the volume inside the body is reduced, the deepest bass frequencies are cut off and the mids are accented. But exactly this effect may benefit a creamy jazz tone through the pickup.
Responsiveness and dynamics of the small 14“-body are very direct and fast which is due to the reduced body mass which you need to make vibrate.
The J14 is available with the outfit and decoration of a Ballade-, Standard-, or Elektra model. Obviously enough the body is constructed for electric use (heavy built body, built in pickup). It can be delivered as well as an acoustic model on demand. Due to technical reasons the J14 comes only with a pointed cutaway.
Sonntag Guitars, Germany 
Stefan Sonntag, Luthier
Formal education
I was born in Augsburg, Germany on October 17, 1964. I began my training as guitar-maker in 1986 at the Violin-making school in Mittenwald, Germany. There I studied the skills and principles of handmade guitar construction.
In 1989 I ended my course of studies having passed my final examinations and went on to work for the Höfner stringed-instrument manufacturing company in Bubenreuth/Germany. There I was able to obtain an insider's view of the guitar making industry.
In 1990 I went to the Strohmer Workshop in Nuremberg/Germany where special-order guitars were made, as well as repairwork and restorations, along with Limited-Edition series.
In 1993 I received my Master's Degree as best in my class and began to set up my own workshop in Augsburg. Since then I not only serve guitarists in Germany but am increasingly becoming well-known in Europe and world-wide.
Self-employed guitar manufacturer
I build archtop Jazz guitars exclusively. Each instrument is hand-crafted here in my workshop. I use no prefabricated wooden parts, all parts are being made personally by me. I use only select woods that I choose myself from special suppliers. These woods are air-dried and stored for no less than five years. Only then do they posses the necessary quality that I demand in order to build my guitars.
