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Masaru Kohno [1926-1998] was born in Mito, Japan, and is the most important guitar maker in the history of Japanese guitars. This is an outstanding example from Masaru Kohno.
In 1948, Kohno graduated from the woodworking department of Tokyo Polytechnic Institute and started his career in guitar making. In 1960, Kohno went to Madrid, Spain, where he studied under the famous guitar maker Arcangel Fernandez to learn how to make high-quality concert guitars. After 6 months of uninterrupted learning , Kohno thought that he had learned enough and achieved his goals, so he returned to Japan to establish his own workshop.
In September 1967, Kohno participated in the International Guitar Competition with 31 participants in Rigo, Belgium, and won the guitar making gold medal. At the time, the French guitar maker Daniel Friedrich could only be second. The jury is chaired by Ignacio Fleta, and the jury includes famous artists such as Robert Boucher, Joaquín Rodrigo, and Alirio Diaz.
This No. 30 model produced in 1981 is an advanced model made by Kohno himself. This model is one of the most sought after by collectors.
Craftsmanship
This guitar uses the structure based on Torres with Kohno’s own inspiration, the top is about 3mm, a bit thicker than traditional Spanish guitar, which brings out extreme penetrating treble and increase the overall body strength, the craftsmanship is top notch, with lush mosaic decoration and very fine details.
Volume
Large, powerful projection and extremely penetrating
Comment
This is a very charming guitar. The playing experience is sensitive and light feel, the sound quality is superb. Its sound aesthetic is different from German and Spanish guitars. And there are still some differences from the new Kohno guitars made today.
The easy-to-hold neck is more suitable for smaller hands than the Segovia, it sounds magnificent, the treble is creamy, bright and clear, and the bass is deep, clear and pure.
Kohno changed guitar history in the mid-20th century by building quality Spanish-style guitars at prices and in quantities that gave Spain a run for it’s money. At his best, Kohno built guitars that won major international prizes and were coveted by the top guitarists of the period. Among them, Julian Bream. Although Segovia introduced the classical guitar to Japan in the late 1920s, it wasn’t until the 60s that demand in Japan for Torres-style classical guitars made it possible for someone like Masaru Kohno to give the growing Japanese market a guitar with slight modifications to Madrid’s larger Segovia-sized guitars—such as smaller necks for smaller hands.
Kohno began his luthier’s conquest of Japan after spending months in Madrid observing Arcangel Fernandez in his studio in the early 1960s. Arcangel was the great pupil of Marcelo Barbero and he welcomed Kohno as a friend and student. The favor was returned to Arcangel, indirectly, when a Japanese dealer in guitars bought out his lifetime supply of guitars.
This 1976 Kohno is Model No. 30, the middle member of Kohno’s line of top concert guitars [15/30/50] that bear his name and signature. The scale is 650 and the bases are strong with clear, lyrical trebles. It was purchased in a retail guitar shop with no accompanying information on its history. It appears to have been refinished as the condition is As New while the faded label reveals the guitar’s 40 years of age.
- Home
- About
- Lessons
- * Classical Guitars
- Classical Guitars Starting Under $200
- Flamenco Guitars
- Guitars $2,000 and Under
- Steel String Guitars
- Recording King
- Steel String Guitars $500 and under
- Rosewood Private Reserve
- Guitar Archives
- * Strings & Accessories
- Sheet Music
- Blog
- * SCGS International Concert Series
- Local Concerts and Events
- Contact and Hours