Chess Set

Designed for Ringo Starr in 1972

Klaus designed this chess set for Ringo Starr, using all different types of hands for the various figures.  There are only five of these original sets in existence.  They were cast in sterling silver with one side gold plated.  Notice the rings on the bishop, king, and queen.

Chess Figures (detail)

Here are close-ups of the pawn, king, knight and bishop. Klaus's original wax figures had even more detail than the final cast pieces. He said that the pawn, in particular, he had made to look like a real workman's hand, with rough skin and broken nails, the flesh of the fingers pushed to one side as it would be just before the finger snaps. Some of this detail was not able to be captured with the casting system used. Klaus said his three favorites are the gauntlet (knight), the king and the bishop.

George's Doorknob (left/right)

Designed for George Harrison's birthday

1972. brass, 3" diameter

George's Doorknob (details)

Designed for George Harrison

1972

Ringo's Doorknob (left/right)

Designed for Ringo Starr

1972, brass, 4"x7"

Klaus made this as a present for Ringo, using Ringo's hand as the model for the doorknob.  Notice the star shaped ring on the forefinger in the photo below left.

Ringo's Doorknob (details)

Designed for Ringo Starr

1972

Mando Diabolo Bass (front)

Designed for Mando Diao

2006

Mando Diabolo Bass (back)

Designed for Mando Diao

2006

Bass Guitar (detail)

2007

Vootar

On this instrument you can play bass and guitar on one neck. Of course that is if you can play the guitar! Four strings bass to a bass-amp and completely separated--four strings guitar to a guitar amplifier. So you can have any effect you desire on the guitar at the same time with no interference--a nice clean bass sound. 

I thought this instrument up in 1965. The first instrument was built by the English firm >Vox<. Today together with Stuart from Cassandra Elk instruments >>Vootar nr 4<< is being developed.

This instrument is particularly useful for when you play in a small band like I did with >>Paddy, Klaus & Gibson<< so you can accompany the guitarist with bass and rhythm guitar whilest the drummer is freaking out.

The picture shows a well known bass player by the name of Reggie Worthy slapping away on my "VOOTAR 4"

K.V.

Amulettes for Klaus Voormann Special Edition Acoustic Bass Guitars

Designed for Martin Guitars

Klaus was asked by the German distributor of Martin Guitars, AMI Musical Instruments, if he would be interested in working with them to create a Klaus Voormann Special Edition Martin acoustic bass. So Klaus designed these amulettes for this very limited edition of only 14.  Each bass has a different amulette embedded into the headstock, making each guitar a one-of-a-kind in this already very limited edition. The amulettes measure 20mm in diameter.

Then each guitar has Klaus’s hand signature on a special custom-designed label that is glued to the inside.

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