The M. Sakurai No.8 Cedar Top Classical guitars, indeed the entire line of Masaki Sakurai models, are under-appreciated gems. The set of guitars with labels reading ‘M. Sakurai Supervised by M. Kohno’ are from the period where Masaki Sakurai was still learning the craft from his uncle, Masaru Kohno.
Red Cedar
The Ramirez Model 1a Tradicional, seen here with a Red Cedar top, has been a benchmark of top quality classical and flamenco guitars for over half a century. The 1a designation technically refers to the quality of the materials and workmanship, but has become associated with the Tradicional model.
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MORE →Here’s a lovely Lowden F25c with Cedar and Indian Rosewood built during 2002 at the now-closed Lowden Guitars work shop in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. The F25c is part of Lowden’s Original Series. Lowden Guitars began in 1974 with George Lowden reaching the decision to build professionally. Opening a shop in Groomsport, County Down, Northern Ireland. Orders grew and in 1980 his Swiss distributors sparked a five-year contract to have Lowden guitars built under license by dedicated workers at S. Yairi in Japan as a way of making these models more available.
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MORE →Built from 1997 to 2000, the Martin Thomas Humphrey C-1R offers a Humphrey element normally found primarily on high-end classicals – an elevated fingerboard. Thomas Humphrey was an American luthier who apprenticed for a year with Michael Gurian around 1970, and then opened his own shop.
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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 Spruce 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.
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MORE →From Dmitry Kulakov in Ottawa Ontario, the DK Essence model is based on his slope-shouldered, X-braced ‘Cleopatra’ body, but with a DK custom bridge and tailpiece. The top of the DK Essence is Master-grade Red Cedar with a water-based lacquer finish. The sides, back, headplate, tailpiece and Rosette inserts are figured
Black Walnut.
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