Here we have a lovely 1972 vintage Yamaha GC-20D classical guitar with a spectacular Brazilian Rosewood set for the sides and back. The ‘GC’ stands for ‘Grand Concert’ and these models were the top of the line for Yamaha classical guitars, and are seriously good instruments. As the GC-20D, this model was built from 1971 to 1973.
Made In Japan
Always tasteful and visually restrained, the Gretsch G6129 Silver Sparkle Jet first appeared in 1954 as an answer to the Les Paul model. While there are some immediately apparent visual similarities – the single cutaway body of Mahogany with a Maple cap – underneath there were significant differences. From 1954, the original Gretsch Jet models started with a Maple body, routed to provide a number of chambers for resonance and weight relief.
This Masaki Sakurai Concert-R Spruce top classical guitar from 2001 is a good illustration of the higher ends of Japanese guitar construction. Masaki Sakurai is the nephew of the late, renowned guitar builder Masaru Kohno. After taking an electrical engineering degree, he chose to work at his Uncle’s Tokyo guitar shop.
This instrument has sold
MORE →This Yamaha GC-30A no.829 Grand Concert Brazilian Classical, dating to 1982, reflects the upper end of Yamaha guitar production in a concert grade instrument, featuring a pairing of a Red Cedar top and Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. This fine instrument was built during 1982 at the Yamaha home facility in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture and is signed by master luthier Mr. Toshio Kato. The GC or ‘Grand Concert’ line was conceived during the mid 1960s, when Yamaha arranged for three luthiers – Hiroshi Harada, Hideyuki Ezaki and Toshio Kato – to learn from Spanish master Eduardo Ferrer.
The Gretsch Malcolm Young Signature Jet is really something special, based on a 1963 G6131 Jet Firebird with the modifications the late Young made over the years. That guitar can be heard in Malcolm’s hands on almost all of AC/DC’s albums delivering an unmistakable sound.
This instrument has sold
MORE →Here is a BC Rich NJ Eagle, a bolt-on design built under Bernardo Rico’s direction in Nagoya, Japan in an effort to bring his designs to a wider market. This example dates to around 1984, and while it’s not quite the same as the hand-built, through-neck US BC Rich models – which is impressive. This is a really good feeling and good playing guitar.