This is a blog to document my growing collection of vintage japanese-made acoustics, some of which i will sell along the way, and to discuss what i learn about the complex guitar making industry in Japan in the 70's. It's both a past-time and a small business idea for what i feel are exceptional instruments that are gathering the attention of collectors and musicians alike.
My interest in these fine old instruments came when looking for another acoustic guitar for alternate tunings; i play in variations of open D quite often and was snapping a few too many strings changing back up to standard. My main guitar was a Guild GAD-40C, which is a mighty impressive instrument that has travelled a little with me and i hope to keep for a long time. I also have a Seagull CW6+ which is terrific for dark folk songs, but not bright or cutting enough for the open tunings i was after.
My first purchase was off gumtree (a local listings website) from a fellow collector down in Edinburgh, who i can blame for getting me intrigued. It was a UK import, rebranded under the name Lorenzo, and had all the pleasing character i was looking for from a more vintage instrument; aged yellowed spruce top, yellowing binding, and a quite beautiful bookmatched 3-piece back of brazilian rosewood and curly maple. I shall have a full entry on it next time.
As of this entry i have some 20 of these vintage guitars from a number of different brands, factories, and ages, and will share photos, information, and videos of them as time goes by. For now i'd just like to welcome any fellow fans of these fine instruments and will hopefully enlighten a few people along the way.
