Friday 16 September 2011

Jagard JD400

As mentioned, here is the follow up the JD300 post, by its big brother, the JD400. Another lovely guitar, but the real interesting question is: what does an extra 10,000 Yen get you back in 1975? That's a considerable amount at the time!

So, again crafted at Terada, the main change is as you expect - better quality tonewoods and some visual enhancements, such as the vertical headstalk logo. In some ways this vertical logo indicates that this JD400 is more a copy of the Martin D41 rather than the D35. This is further supported by the JD400 featuring a 2-piece rosewood back rather than the 3-piece seen on the JD300. Honestly, i prefer the 3-piece backs, but that's a personal thing really. The solid spruce soundboard is a lovely even-grained example, again featuring abalone inlayed rosette and edged binding. The Indian rosewood used on the sides and back are just as attractively grained as seen on the JD300, with again an intricate wood mosaic inlay separating the 2-piece back. The neck again is mahogany, this time with an ebony fingerboard with abalone hexagonal inlay position markers and cream binding. The headstalk is faced with a rosewood veneer and features a quintessential 70s Martin-style vertical logo of JAGARD inlayed in mother-of-pearl, though i am yet to discover what the N and K either side of the J represent. I imagine they are the initials of someone involved with the Jagard brand, maybe time will tell. One of the really pleasing features of looking at these two guitars, is noting that the same QC luthier signed off both guitars on the soundhole label.

Sometimes visual differences really are subtle. Tonally this is a richer sounding guitar to the JD300 though. That soundboard really is worth the extra 10,000 Yen by itself.

Here are some photos to spot-the-differences with:

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket


As ever you can find the full collection of photos here

6 comments:

  1. I love your blog. I really appreciate Japanese acoustics and you have posted some beautiful photos of the best.

    The Jedson guitars are apparently made by Terada. After years of investigation, I made that conclusion. They were only made between 1969/1970 and 1974/1975

    I'll put a link on my site for you
    http://jedsonguitars.net

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's been quite a long time since you posted this -- is the guitar still for sale?

    I'm a T Haruo owner, and the marquetry on that guitar looks identical to the one on my Haruo. (The latest wisdom being that "T Haruo" was in fact Haruo Terada, that makes perfect sense.)

    Best regards,
    David (dfishel (at) yahoodotcom)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Dave

      You are quite correct on the assumption of Jagard being made at Terada, during the same time as T. Haruo brand. As far as the T. Haruo brand, it's not that was Haruo Terada, although they were built at the Terada factory. The T. Haruo brand was intentionally kept low key, as Terada was attempting to show their latest achievements in overall quality and craftsmanship, without blatantly placing their new jewels "in the face" of their large OEM customers, at that time. Further, as the Terada brand has always been associated with guitars lower in quality than this new T. Haruo line, they knew that branding them as Teradas, would hinder them as far as getting what they thought the guitars (the T. Haruos) could bring in the market at that time. It was during this brief era that a few buyers, such as Jagard, stepped in and took advantage of the opportunity. That Jagard is beautiful, and certainly Terada's work. By the way - if that marquetry matches your guitar, you must have a Model 150. Is it for sale? Dee Tatum devallon.tatum@gmail.com

      Delete
  3. Hi David,

    I'm afraid i sold this Jagard a few months ago. That is interesting news about your T Haruo model - that is a new brand to me under the Terada banner. I will e-mail you if i get another Jagard in that i am looking to sell on.

    Best Regards,
    Martin

    ReplyDelete
  4. "I imagine they are the initials of someone involved with the Jagard brand..."

    Martin If we consider Shiro Arai was President and Ryo Matsuoka was chief designer at the Aria company maybe you are on to something. If you look at this Aria headstock from 1977 would the initials (first names) of them make sense?
    http://www.oldguitar.jp/catalog/ARIA/ARIA_77_04_01_0001.jpg

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm interested in some of your guitars. How can I get in touch with you? You can contact me through my blog if you want: http://claescaster.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete