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Masaru Kohno - 1976 No. 15

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Overview

Masaru Kohno (1926-1998) is an essential figure in Japanese guitar making history and visionary luthier. Born in Mito City, Japan, he started his career as a luthier after graduating from the Tokyo College of Arts and Crafts. In 1959, Masaru Kohno travelled to Arcangel Fernandez’s workshop in Spain, where he stayed six months for an enlightening apprenticeship. A turning point in his career was winning the Gold Medal at the Elizabeth’s Concourse International Guitar Building Competition in Belgium in 1967, which brought him worldwide recognition. The list of players having recorded and performed on Masaru Kohno’s guitar is substantial, and to name a few, Julian Bream, Oscar Gighlia, and Sharon Isbin.

This guitar by Masaru Kohno from 1976 is a wonderful instrument. It is the Model 15, the second highest model at the time, whose name is based on the list price of 150,000 yen at the time. It features beautiful Rio rosewood (CITES certified), which has a particularly beautiful grain, as well as high-quality Gotoh tuners from the 1970s and a fast-responding spruce top. Its condition is very good, with well-earned superficial playing marks and a cashew (honey-colored) finish. The sound is warm, open and piano-like with a wonderful vintage touch, a texture-rich quality and grain that is unmistakably unique to Japanese guitars of this period.

Luthier: Masaru Kohno
Construction year: 1976
Construction type: Traditional
Top: Spruce
Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood (CITES certified)
Finish: Cashew
Air body frequency: G / G #
Scale: 650 mm
Nut: 52 mm
Weight: 1680 grams
Tuners: Gotoh
Strings: Knobloch - EDC 34.0
Condition: Very good
Case: Hardshell
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Video overview

The MYSTERY Luthier 👤 Weekly Guitar Meeting #130 - Tacchi, Ray, Fallah, Kohno, Savarey-Freestone...
Masaru Kohno 1976 No. 15 Classical Guitar Review

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