Hans Reichel

Hans Reichel (1949–2011) was a German improviser and instrument builder from Hagen. He built his own guitars — including the daxophone, a wooden instrument played with a bow that produces vocalised sounds — and developed an idiosyncratic approach to extended string performance. Releasing primarily on FMP (Free Music Production), his recordings are simultaneously abstract and lyrical, technically extraordinary and intuitively musical. His daxophone attracted widespread interest and collaboration. He also built custom fretless guitars and instruments from found materials, treating lutherie as a compositional practice.