Big Thumb BW-50 – Natural, Custom Order, c. 1980 - PRE-SALE

ATTENTION! The presented instrument is offered as a pre-sale. Luthier work will be performed on it, including, among others, lacquer polishing, hardware restoration, electronics shielding, fingerboard leveling with refretting and/or fret polishing. The final price includes the above-mentioned work.

Big Thumb BW-50 is a Japanese acoustic guitar, manufactured around 1980 at the Terada Gakki factory. The instrument is a replica of classic American Dreadnought designs. The guitar features a solid spruce top plate and rosewood back and sides. According to the information above, the instrument is currently being prepared and will undergo a comprehensive luthier overhaul before the final handover.

Technical specification

• Manufacturer: Big Thumb (Terada Gakki)
• Model: BW-50
• Year of production: c. 1980
• Body: Solid Spruce / Rosewood
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Frets: Medium (Condition: planned new / after polishing)
• Pickups: None
• Electronics: None
• Visual condition: Pre-sale / Visible signs of use (details in description)
• Finish: Natural
• Weight: (to be completed)

Body and construction The Dreadnought-shaped soundbox features a top plate made of spruce, with the back and sides made of rosewood. The two-piece back historically refers to the D-28 style construction. The instrument is finished with a clear lacquer (Natural), and a dark pickguard is placed on the front. A standard glued neck construction is applied. In accordance with the pre-sale conditions, the lacquer coating will undergo a cleaning and polishing process in our workshop.

Neck and ergonomics The mahogany neck is paired with a rosewood fingerboard featuring classic dot inlays. A personalized inlay with the engraved name "H.Tamotsu" is placed on the 19th fret. Depending on the verification of the neck geometry, the original frets will undergo advanced dressing and polishing, or – if fingerboard leveling is necessary – the instrument will receive brand new frets. This will ensure proper intonation and a comfortable string action.

Sound The instrument is a fully acoustic guitar with no factory electronic circuit.

• Characteristics: The combination of a spruce top and a rosewood Dreadnought body generates a wide, balanced frequency response with a rich bass foundation and clear highs.
• Dynamics: The guitar offers high acoustic volume (projection) and a very good response to articulation, perfectly suited for strong chordal playing with a pick.

Additional information

The Big Thumb brand was an internal product line (house brand) of the Terada Gakki factory, created for the demanding Japanese domestic market (JDM).

The "BW" designation in the model name refers to the Western (Dreadnought) shape, and the number 50 indicates the original catalog price of 50,000 yen, positioning the guitar as a higher-class instrument in the lineup.

The presence of the "H.Tamotsu" name inlay proves that the instrument was modified as a Custom Order or was personalized at the request of the original customer in Japan.

The guitar is offered in a pre-sale formula, which allows you to reserve this unit even before the full process of luthier work is finally completed.

Hardware

• Bridge: Rosewood – a classic construction. As part of the planned service work, the system will be fully adjusted for intonation.
• Tuners: Closed Gear mechanisms. The chrome hardware will go through a thorough cleaning and maintenance process in our workshop to ensure smooth operation.

Instrument condition

• Technical condition: The instrument is currently being prepared for playing (pre-sale). After the planned luthier work is completed, it will be 100% mechanically functional.
• Visual condition: The guitar shows signs of use appropriate for its age. Minor scratches and dings are visible on the lacquer coating. The instrument has no structural wood cracks.
• Setup and Modifications: Service work is ongoing, including lacquer polishing, hardware maintenance, and depending on verification – fret dressing or full fingerboard leveling combined with refretting.

Why choose this instrument

• Terada Gakki production: Japanese production from a highly regarded factory, famous for the precision of its acoustic replicas during the Lawsuit era.
• Proven specification: The use of spruce and rosewood guarantees a rich, spacious sound, classic for the most desired Dreadnought models.
• Unique detail: The personalized inlay on the 19th fret gives the guitar a unique, historical authenticity (Custom Order).
• Pre-sale offer: By purchasing the instrument in the pre-sale phase, you receive a guitar that will be fully restored by a professional luthier right before shipping.