RARE - KAZUO ICHIYANAGI 20 1977 - ROBERT BOUCHET CLASS CLASSICAL CONCERT GUITAR

Description: Kazuo Ichiyanagi 20 1977 Although the original label is missing, the original store tag survived. This tag bears Kazuo’s name, model number 20 and date 10/30/1977 (52nd year of Emperor Showa’s reign). As of today, Kazuo Ichiyanagi is unquestionably one of the highest regarded members of Japanese luthier’s elite. Even though Kazuo started as an independent luthier in the mid1960s, he was associated with Fernandes Co., where he was responsible for design and production of classical guitar lineup from 1969 until 1990. During that time, he was making limited number of guitars sold with his own label. Since his departure from Fernandes, Kazuo is running his own workshop until today, currently being helped by his son Kunihiko. Kazuo’s signature guitars are sold in Japan for prices between $5000 (Indian Rosewood b/s) and $15000USD (figured Brazilian Rosewood b/s). Just like many other Japanese luthiers, Kazuo was inspired by great European luthiers like Antonio Torres, Hermann Hauser or Santos Hernandez. This guitar was certainly made based on Robert Bouchet’s blueprints. Its Bouchet’s style headstock wasn't chosen by accident. Even though there might be some differences in construction details, this instrument can easily challenge the “originals”. Guitar you are looking at was priced 200 00 yen in 1977. It easily challenges (priced 50% higher) Masaru Kohno No30 from the same year. This guitar represents the same class as Yamaha GC70 currently priced $18000USD and decisively higher class than Yamaha GC82 sold for $10000USD. In 1977 top of the line Masaru Kohno’s model 50 and Sakazo Nakade’s Master 50 were priced 500 000 yen. For many well-established Japanese makers 300 000 yen models were the top of the line (Yamaha GC30, Mitsuru Tamura 3000, Toshihiko Nakade Master 3000, or Teruaki Nakade C30). For several other makers 150 000 yen was the maximum they could charge for their top models (Ryoji Matsuoka No150 or Kazuo Yairi YC150).As of today, there is no way to get in Japan a brand-new French Polished classical guitar made with solid figured Brazilian Rosewood b/s for less than 15000USD, unless it is made by totally unknown maker. This guitar absolutely deserves to be called a “Grand Concert Guitar”. It offers great volume, super response combined with sweet and somewhat dark tonality, high level of note clarity and separation, all greatly enhanced by great deal of overtones and great sustain. Even though it is made with Spruce top, this guitar offers some warmth and is not as bright as most other guitars from that group. It truly is a beautiful instrument.This guitar remains in “very good for its age” overall condition. While it doesn’t have any structural flaws, its top bears multitude of light dents or scratches, with only few being conspicuous. Its back and sides bear only few light scratches, while all other surfaces are relatively clean. Very importantly its neck is straight, fingerboard and leveled frets in very good condition. Original tuners were damaged and were replaced with new Gotoh set. Specification:Top: Solid Spruce/ShellacBack& Sides: Solid Brazilian Rosewood/ ShellacNeck: MahoganyFingerboard: EbonyNut width: 52mmScale: 650 mmThe action is set to 4.00 mm under E6 and 3.3 mm under E1, with practically no extra room on the saddle. This guitar will be shipped in original used hard-shell case in still good condition. THE ONLY PURPOSE OF THIS CASE IS TO PROTECT THE GUITAR DURING SHIPMENT. I WILL NOT PROVIDE ITS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OR MAKE ADDITIONAL PICTURES, NOR I WILL ACCEPT ANY COMPLAINTS. IF YOU DON’T LIKE THIS CASE YOU WILL NEED TO BUY A DIFFERENT ONE. WHEN YOU BUY ANY GUITAR, YOU MUST ANTICIPATE TAKING IT TO YOUR LOCAL GUITAR SHOP FOR FINAL ADJUSTMENTS CALLED “SETUP”. DEPENIDNG ON YOUR PLAYING TECHNIQUE, THIS SETUP ON USED GUITARS MAY INCLUDE NEW CUSTOM-MADE NUT AND SADDLE. IF YOU HEAR STRING BUZZ IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT GUITAR IS DEFECTIVE. IF YOU PLAY HARD ENOUGH ALL BASS STRINGS WILL BUZZ OVER THE FRETS, UNLESS THEY ARE SUSPENDED VERY FAR FROM THE FINGERBOARD. UNLESS YOU PLAY QUITE GENTLY, YOU CAN’T HAVE LOW ACTION AND NO BUZZES. KEEP IN MIND THAT CELLO-LIKE BASSES ON HIGH GRADE CLASSICAL GUITARS HAVE THEIR NATURAL “BUZZ”. Real Value of Japanese Vintage GuitarsThe key to understand value of vintage Japanese guitars is to acknowledge galloping price inflation (devaluation of Japanese yen) during 1960s & 1970s. This inflation slowed down in the 1980s.During 1960s and most of 1970s model numbers of Japanese guitars were strictly interconnected with their prices in Japanese yen. By the early 1980s and during following decades model numbers were no longer strictly associated with their prices. Some Japanese guitar makers introduced model names instead of model numbers. Others were still using model numbers with the addition of letters and/or other symbols. It is then important to understand that two Yamaha GC10 guitars made 10 years apart are two instruments of totally different class. The same applies to any other Japanese maker/brand. The logical way to estimate the true class of any given Japanese made instrument is to compare its price with the average annual salary of wage workers in Japanese private sectors. This salary was: 450 600 yen in 1965 - 825 900 yen in 1970 - 1 868 300 yen in 1975 - 2 689 000 yen in 1980 - 3 163 000 yen in 1985 - 3 761 000 yen in 1990 - 4 107 000 yen in 1995 - 4 082 000 yen in 2000. Any guitar priced 100 000 yen in 1970 (labelled as No10 or No100) would be priced 200 000 yen in 1975 (relabeled to No20, No200 or 2000), 300 000 yen in 1977 (labelled as No3, No30 or 3000) and 500 000 yen by 1985 (labelled as No50 or 5000). Starting in 1977 Masaru Kohno introduced his new models No40 priced 400 000 yen and No50 priced 500 000 yen. By the early 1980s Kohno started using model names instead of numbers and was steadily raising their prices without changing model labeling. His very top model 50 became model “Special”, and a decade later it became model “Maestro”. Naturally, all other Japanese guitar makers were doing similar pricing (labelling) upgrades.Knowing all of that, you can bet on that Masaru Kohno No50 made in 1982 is practically the same grade instrument as Kohno No20 made in 1972, or Kohno no 30 made in 1975.In the early 1970s the lowest Ryoji Matsuoka (all plywood) model was 10, followed by (solid top) models 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80 and (all solid woods) models 100 and 150. Models 50, 60 and 80 were made with non-solid figured Brazilian Rosewood (double) back and sides and top model 150 was the only one made with solid figured Brazilian Rosewood b/s.In 1980 the lowest Matsuoka model was (all plywood) 20, followed by (solid top) models 30,40,50, 60 and all solid woods models 80,100,150 and 200. By 1990 the lowest Matsuoka model was M40 and the highest was M300. By 2010 the lowest Matsuoka model was M50, and the top model was M270. You can bet that Ryoji Matsuoka model 50 from 1980 is of the same grade as model M100 from 2000, model 100 from 1980 is of the same grade as model M150 from 2000, model 150 from 1980 is of the same grade as M200 from 2000 and model 200 from 1980 is of the same grade as model M300 from 2000.It is important to mention that if modern era luthiers are using 40+ years old woods to make an “all solid” wood classical guitar, its price is minimum $8000.All vintage guitars made with Brazilian Rosewood are especially precious, including those made straight grain varieties and those with non-solid b/s.Because response and tonal properties of Spruce soundboards are improving over time, long seasoned Spruces are far more precious than long seasoned Cedars. It is not very difficult to find out what are current prices of such guitars made by the world’s leading luthiers.When contemporary Japanese luthiers are using 40+ years old soundboards to make “all solid woods” guitar it is priced at least $5000USD. Guitars with artificially aged (“baked”) soundboards are priced at least $4500USD. Solid top models with 40+ years old soundboards are priced at least $3500USD. American, Australian, and European luthiers usually charge 50% more. It is a matter of basic education (not beliefs) to realize that 40+ years old soundboard of this guitar alone is worth at least $2500USD. Return Policy Buyer has the right to return purchased guitar within 2 days from receipt. General TermsItems must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging and no signs of use. Buyer assumes responsibility for all return shipping costs unless the item was not received as described.Fees and ChargesBuyer receives full refund in their original payment method, less any shipping costs.Special conditionsYou have 48 hours of trial after receiving the guitar. 48 hours is enough time to inspect the guitar. 1 hour is usually enough to evaluate the guitar’s tonality and if you don’t like it right away you won’t like it a week later. If you realize that you don’t like the guitar enough to keep it, you have the right to return it. If you find a real problem not disclosed in my description, you are covered by eBay’s Money Back Guarantee. If that problem is damage that likely occurred during the shipment I will file an insurance claim with eBay’s Ship Cover Program. If you decide to return the guitar you must notify me within 48 hours after delivery, pack it and ship it back within 24 hours after "return notification". If you expect to receive a full refund, the guitar must be returned in the same condition as I have shipped it to you. If it arrives back to me damaged, I will not issue any refund but cooperate with you on your insurance claim. It is therefore very important that you ship the guitar fully insured. Victor K.

Price: 4500 USD

Location: Alpharetta, Georgia

End Time: 2024-12-30T13:10:42.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD