I am a Swedish amateur who plays and writes music for the guitar. My goal is to write accessible, yet beautiful and recognizable melodies. I'm also a big fan of older Japanese classical guitars.
Is that so? That is so nice to hear. It's a wonderful instrument. I wish I knew more about Shinpei Ito. I know he built this guitar in the workshop of Sakae Ishii and that he doesn't build anymore. Do have any more info? I'm glad to hear from you. All the best from Sweden.
@@JonRinneby Hi Jon, not much more than what you know. I have heard he had to quit building guitars due to his aethma getting worse by working with wood. According to the seller I bought it from, Ito-san says he wants to come back to lutherie once he gets better. Best, Yuma
Hi John, yes the spruce top is really lovely and actually looks even better in real life. This guitar is also a pleasure to play, very easy on the hands. The sound is even across the fingerboard and the trebles are excellent above 12th fret too. Kind regards from Sweden.
The recording is very well done. It is a beautiful guitar. I see Shunpei Nishino guitars come up quite frequently in Japan Yahoo Auctions at very reasonable prices. From what I can tell they seam very well made with lots of attention to detail. What are your thoughts on these guitars?
Hi Fiddle. Thank you. Yes, I would say that Shunpei Nishino is a very underestimated, or should I say unknown, luthier outside of Japan. I haven't tried hes earlier models from before 1980, but the latter are great, Hauser like. Kind regards from Sweden.
It's my guitar now and resides in the Baltic Sea, Aland isles, Finland. I purchased it off Jon; cypress and nominally for flamenco, but the instrument knows nada about that so it's perfect for classics as well - as you hear in Jon's vid.
I have a '76 Sakurai No. 5 among 3-handbuilts. It's my loudest and richest sounding of all, and my other two sound really good too. It's made of double-plate rosewood, and gorgeous cedar top, It's 660mm scale, and I'd like to get a No. 8 one day for its 650mm scale, as I have smaller hands. The Kohnos and earlier Sakurai's are a great value. I've played much more expensive guitars that sounded dull in comparison. They really sing! I have a 80's Takamine No. 5 with a Kohno-shop top like on the Sakurai No. 5 and it sounds beautiful too. Got it for $600 and you can find them easily for $800-1000. The Sakurai No. 5 cost me $1200. Kohno's will start around $2000 (for maybe his No. 5 or No. 10 if you are lucky). All amazing for what you are getting tonally and otherwise. It's wonderful that Masaki Sakurai is still alive building guitars, though his new ones will go for $8000-$15,000.
Vackert spelat Jon. Det är verkligen någe speciellt med en Bolingitarr; eller en gammal bra Levin för den delen. Det går fram så fint här t.o.m. genom mina pink-pc-högtalare. Känns svenskt på många sätt, alla sätt. Ha det bra /Håkan (Panhuyzen '93, du minns)
I had the joy to play this very guitar for over 20 years. Relentless practice sessions got me through the conservatory in Granada, Spain. After that, the sound of this beautiful instrument is forever engraved in my soul. I hope I get to see you again. ❤
Hi Thomas, believe me I've tired, but without any luck. Never seen the same rosette and there is no trace of any signature inside the guitar. I think it was made in the 70s in Japan at least, probably by an apprentice maybe? My guess is as good as yours. The guitar is now located somewhere in Sweden, a happy owner I presume. Kind regards
I've never seen that rosette on any guitar either. It looks weird and unique also! Wish they would put it up for sale. I would definitely buy it! How much is it sold for?
Indeed. This one is my keeper, its very easy to play and has a pleasing "old" sound. And you are totally right about the "golden era". However, for me personally I liked 1964-65 the best, of the Kohno's I have tried over the years. My first Kohno was actually a No.5 from 1965, very much like this one. Kind regards from Sweden.
Again a nice composition and it does justice to the title, so much needed in this present world. This Kohno has been made in the Kohno workshop to my believe. Too much differences with the later world- wide "factory made" examples of the seventies and eighties.
Yes, this guitar was built by mr Kohno himself, before the workshop grew larger after 1967 or so. It's a very different model (more of a traditional Hauser/Torres inspired), than later ones.
As an investigator around Japanese guitars of the seventies / early eighties I must have to say that these guitars often come from small workshops in factories as Ibanez and Takamine. Only a few very skilled workmen did their labour on these guitars. I am the one responsible for the Blog: "Juan Orozco Dealer ot Luthier?" In a personal letter from Juan Orozco, this salesman stated that Kohno, Sakura and his person ordered guitars from Tama (in fact Ibanez) for the worldwide market. The guitar presented here has about the same headstock as the Hirade labelled guitar of that period. (and about the same rosette!) Those Hirade guitars were made in the Takamine plant. Apart from all that a small group of luthiers took pride in making beautiful high end guitars. I owe a Hirade Concert Arte nr. 15 model that simply is a stunning instrument and indeed on parr with the qualities you are showing here on this Sakurai labelled guitar. Nonetheless not being made by the big name on the label they indeed can be great, sometimes excellent and depending on their price worth every penny!
What a beautiful performance & what a captivating tone. What are your guitar’s specs? I suggest being more mindful of your playing posture going forward.
Thank you kindly John. The guitar is my Masaru Kohno 1965, solid spruce top and indian rosewood back and sides. Regarding my posture I hear you :) Having said that, I like to "lean into the music" and I don't feel comfortable playing the "classic style". Kind regards and feel free to download the sheet music/tabs.
Regards to you as well. I received the Spruce with Madagascar but I’m awaiting for the concert with maple double sides with cedar top and Madagascar back and sides. I also requested the HEADSTOCK on Antonio Picado’s website with carving. I believe ANTONIO PICADO’s GUITAR ARE TRUE HIDDEN GEM 💎
I received my ANTONIO PICADO ESPECIAL. YHE HEADSTOCK IS CARGED AS IN THE WEBSITE IF ANTONIO PICADO. IT US A-CONCERT MODEL WITH CEDAR TOP, MADAGASCAR ROSEWOOD, AND INNER SIDE LININGS OF MAPLE 🍁 IT IS TOO NOTCH
И музыка и видео создают такое чувство, будто я смотрю фотографии давно ушедших и дорогих людей... Тем более, что я знаю, что эта гитара была молодой очень давно... Очень атмосферные у вас видео, люблю их смотреть. Спасибо! )) Привет из России!
Antonio Picado Concierto is a lot cheaper than the Paulino Bernabe M15. I have never played the Picado, but I own PB15. My PB doesn't sound as good as the Picado in this program.
@@JonRinneby I bought my PB15 only two weeks ago. Although it is 2019, it has not been played much by its 1st owner, who bought it as a souvenir from Guitarras de Luthiers in Madrid. I am in the process of breaking it in. II has a new set of Cantiga strings which do not suit it. Since I bought it, the tone quality has been improving every day. It will try to string it with the Aquila Sugar next time. I hope it will remove some wolf notes on the bass strings. The M30 should have the same grade of soundboard as the M15. The difference is only in the back and side which uses Madagascar rosewood and the French polish. Hopefully mine will sound better with the Sugar.
@@johnlay3040 You can always try ordinary Daddario EJ45 for a while, give it a week or two, see how it feels. They are usually quite dark and nice to my ears. I use EJ45 or La Bella 2001 most of the time. I'm sure your guitar will develop in time!
In 1980. when Masaru Kohno was still alive, Masaki Sakurai wasn't highly regarded. It was about the same level as Asturias. I was looking for Kohno in the 80s, but it wasn't available then, so I was offered Masaki for half the price. The dealer who did it had a big smile on his face when he was doing it. As if he was saying: "Sorry, I haven't got what you want, so I have to offer this inferior product". I didn't even bother to try it. But finally, I did get the Kohno in the early 90s, which I am still playing to this day.
