MADE IN 1978 BY TOSHIHIRO KATO - MAJESTIC YAMAHA GC10M CLASSICAL CONCERT GUITAR
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Yamaha GC10M 1978 s.n. 3388
This Yamaha guitar was made in 1978 by Toshihiro Kato, the best luthier Yamaha Corporation ever had. He was one of the best luthiers Japan ever had. If Kato had his own workshop, he could easily outcompete Masaru Kohno or Sakazo Nakade (top elite Japanese luthiers of that era). Thanks to his incredible talents Yamaha's Grand Concert guitars were so highly prized by many international players that Yamaha Co. could price them at the same level as Kohno was pricing his instruments. In fact, Yamaha guitars were often of much higher grade than similarly priced Kohno models.
During early 1970s Japanese guitar makers were still trying hard to win as many international customers as possible. These were they years of significant international recognition of their, soon very highly regarded products. Yamaha was unquestioned leader among Japanese guitar exporters. Their guitars offered the highest possible level of craftsmanship with great deal of attention to even the tiniest details.
Among all Japanese made vintage guitars Yamahas are simply the most Spanish sounding. Yamahas made by Toshihiro Kato were the best. He has proven that the most important factor in making of a great sounding guitar is the maker him/herself. Woods, bracing, and finish are all of secondary importance.
Yamahas GC10 made by Hideyuki Ezaki between 1979-1982 are absolutely no match to Kato's model GC10M. Even Ezaki’s GC15 and GC20 are no match.
These “quality for the price” differences were related to Japanese inflation and changes in currency exchange rates, not Ezaki’s lack of skill. Ezaki was one of the best Yamaha luthiers managing their custom shop from 1987 through 2007.
Although its body bears couple small marks (with very light string burn below the bridge being the only noticeable from a close distance) and there is mild finish cludiness on its back, the overall all condition can be described as “near mint". Excellent condition of the fingerboard and frets suggests that this guitar has been played very little over its lifetime, if played at all.
This truly magnificent guitar offers great volume and response combined with very romantic tonality and great feel of transparency. Its trebles are super sweet, round, yet very crisp. Basses are deep and full of overtones, yet relatively clean. All notes are well balanced, note clarity and separation fantastic, sustain amazing.
It is certainly one of those guitars with “replacement value” much higher than its retail price at any given moment in time. If you’d like to buy similar grade brand new “hand made in Spain” guitar, you will have to spend at least $8000. Similar grade brand new instruments made by top Japanese luthiers are priced no less than $6500. From current Yamaha’s classical guitar lineup only GC82 can be considered better than this Yamaha GC10M from 1978. GC42 is absolutely no match.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Year(s) Sold: 1974-1979
Top: Solid Yezo Spruce/7 braces fan/lacquer
Back & sides: Solid Indian Rosewood/urethane
Neck: Honduras Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony
String Length: 660mm
Nut width: 52 mm
Guitar’s action is set to 3.5mm under E6 and 3.0 mm under E1 with very little extra room on the saddle.
Guitar will be shipped in brand new hard shell case.
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”.
YES, I KNOW THAT “YAMAHA” SOUNDS FAMILIAR TO YOU. BUT IF YOU ARE OPEN MINDED AND NOT AFRAID TO STEP INTO UNKNOWN, YOU WILL BE GEATLY REWARDED.
You should look at few much higher class Japanese made guitars from the same era (all priced 3 times higher than this Yamaha GC10M):
You may also consider this guitar from the same era (priced 50% higher than this Yamaha GC10M):
https://reverb.com/item/68627218-yukio-chai-no15-1980-hermann-hauser-copy-classical-concert-guitar
Yamaha Classical Guitars 1967-1990.
Yamaha started their serious fight for international clients in 1967 with new lineup of classical Grand Concert guitars made according to Spanish blueprints. They were: GC3 (solid Spruce top/ solid Indian Rosewood b/s) GC5, GC7 and GC10 (all 3 models with solid Spruce tops and solid Brazilian Rosewood b/s).
In 1968 Yamaha also introduced their lineup of great Grand Concert flamenco guitars. They were GC5F, GC7F and GC10F. The master luthier responsible for production of these guitars was Toshihiro Kato. He was helped by Hiroshi Harada, who was making classical models GC3 and GC5. Both these luthiers were trained by Eduardo Ferrer, a Spanish luthier from Granada, Spain who being invited (and appropriately rewarded) by Yamaha co., travelled to Japan during years 1964-1967.
It is very important to explain that 1960s and 1970s were years of very rapid devaluation of Japanese yen (hence rapid inflation of prices for all products). Because during those years practically all guitar models had some numbers closely related to their prices in yen, these models were quite frequently upgraded (relabeled) to higher numbers reflecting their higher prices.
For that reason, mentioned above Yamaha’s classical GC guitars lineup, was changed in 1971. New (1971-1973) lineup included models GC3D, GC6D, GC8D, GC10D (all 4 models made with solid Spruce tops & solid Indian Rosewood b/s) GC12D, GC15D and GC20D (all 3 models with solid Spruce tops & solid Brazilian Rosewood b/s). It is worth to mention that until 1974 all Yamaha classical GC models were made exclusively with Spruce tops.
In 1974 Yamaha’s classical GC guitar lineup was changed yet again. In that year, for the first time in its history, Yamaha decided to make classical guitars with cedar tops. This newly introduced GC classical guitar lineup included models: GC5M(S), GC7M(S), GC10M(S), GC15M(S), (all with Indian Rosewood b/s), GC20M(S), GC30A, GC30B (all with Brazilian Rosewood b/s). M=spruce. S=cedar, A=spruce, B=cedar
Yamaha GC15S was priced 150 000 yen in 1975 just like Masaru Kohno model 15. Yamaha Co. didn't compete with Kohno by lowering prices of their guitars. Yamaha GC guitars simply offered more for the same price.
In 1975 Kohno top models were 15, 20 and 30 (all with Brazilian Rosewood b/s). Model 30 was priced 300 000 yen just like Yamaha GC30A(B). In 1977 Kohno changed his lineup adding models 40 and 50 (both with improved looks but sounding no different than his earlier model 30) and changing specifications of model 15 from Brazilian Rosewood b/s to Indian Rosewood b/s. Yamaha's kept their lineup unchanged until 1979. In order to keep their prices at the same level, Yamaha GC guitars made in 1979 were made with somewhat lower grade woods, different finishes and less impressive ornamental extras if compared with those made in 1974. Production of GCM and GCS models ended by the end of 1979. Between years 1980-1985, Yamaha's lineup was being changed at least few times.
In 1985 top models made at Yamaha's Hamamatsu workshop were GC70 (Spruce/figured Brazilian Rosewood, all shellac finish), GC60 (Spruce/figured Brazilian Rosewood, shellac finish top) GC50 (Spruce/figured Brazilian Rosewood, all lacquer finish) & GC40 (Spruce/figured Brazilian Rosewood, lacquer finish top), and GC30 (Spruce/straight grain Brazilian Rosewood, urethane finish).
Correct evaluation of a real grade of vintage Yamaha guitars can't be done just by looking at their model numbers. Yamaha GC10 from 1980 is simply no match with GC10M from 1975. Yamaha GC10D from 1973 is of equal grade with GC15M from 1975. Yamaha GC10 from 1970 is of equal grade with Yamaha GC20D from 1973 and GC40 from 1985
Real Value of Japanese Vintage Guitars
The key to understand value of vintage Japanese guitars is to acknowledge galloping price inflation throughout the late 1960s and 1970s with its peak of 25% in 1974.
During 1960s and most of 1970s model numbers of Japanese guitars were strictly connected with their prices in Japanese yen.
The same class guitar sold in 1970 for 100 000 yen (labelled as model 10), would be sold for 150 000 yen in 1972 (labelled as model 15), 200 000 yen in 1974 (labelled as model 20) and 300 000 yen in 1978 (labelled as model 30). Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised that two Yamaha GC10 guitars made 10 years apart are two instruments of totally different class. The same rule applies to all guitar models made by all other Japanese makers.
Japanese inflation slowed down in the 1980s. 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. For several economic reasons, since 1980s Japanese made guitars were becoming more and more expensive, while their exports slowing down. Today (2025) Japanese high end classical guitar models are priced at $20000USD level.
| Listed | 5 years ago |
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| Condition | Excellent (Used) Excellent items are almost entirely free from blemishes and other visual defects and have been played or used with the utmost care.Learn more |
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