Masaru Kohno – 1975 No. 20

Description

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 1975 is a wonderful instrument. It is the Model 20, the second highest model at the time, whose name is based on the back then list price of 200,000 yen. 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 well-aged spruce top. Its condition is very good, there is only one repaired crack on the back and some armless playing marks. 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.