RARITY - RYOJI MATSUOKA NO20 1964 - HAUSER CLASS CLASSICAL CONCERT GUITAR

Made in 1964 Ryoji Matsuoka No20

Ryoji Matsuoka was one of the best known Japanese luthiers. His classical guitars are played all around the world. Through all the years of his professional career Ryoji's guitars offered exceptional value for the price. If compared to guitars made by other Japanese luthier's and Gakkis, Ryoji's guitars were clearly underpriced. It was Ryoji's business philosophy to deliver great instruments at prices affordable to less wealthy guitar enthusiasts. Even though since 1986 Ryoji's workshop was managed by his son Toshiaki, Ryoji's vision was still in place. It is quite likely that Ryoji's workshop wasn't profitable at the end of its existence. It might not be a coincidence that soon after Ryoji's death in September of 2014, his workshop was closed and production of "made in Japan" Matsuoka guitars ended. As of today, all brand-new Matsuoka guitars available on Japanese market are made in China. 

Guitar you are looking at was made by Ryoji 50 years earlier, when he was just an individual luthier making very limited number of guitars. His guitars from that era are absolutely very hard to find. Despite its current cosmetic and functional condition, it is an ULTRA VALUABLE instrument. 

Its power and sound properties strongly resemble Herman Hauser guitars. This is very powerful and very sweet instrument. Its tone is deep and very rich with overtones. It almost sounds like 3 guitars in one. It has this magical charm that will seduce you, soon after you touch its strings. If you have experience with $10000+ you’ll quickly recognize true value of this instrument.

Before it can be fully enjoyed, this guitar will need luthier’s attention. As it is right now, playing along 7 and higher frets leads to significant buzzes, even if the action is set to 4.00mm under E6 and 3.50mm under E1. One possible reason is that it’s neck might have a slight bow. However, the most obvious to me problem is the bulge of the fingerboard around 12th fret. Since there is a visible side gap in that area, it is possible that the short section of the fingerboard is separated from the plain of the neck. This leads to buzzes over the raised 12th fret while playing down the fingerboard. It is possible then only fingerboard needs to be re-done and the neck itself is not bowed at all. This can only be determined by a luthier.    

Specifications:

Top: Very High Grade Solid Spruce with fan of 7 braces/ lacquer

Double Back: 2 separate (solid or laminated) plates of Latin America Rosewood not glued together. Guitar’s weight suggests that both plates might be made from solid wood.   

Sides: Solid Latin America Rosewood /lacquer

Neck: Mahogany with 3-ple Reinforcement

Fingerboard: Latin America Rosewood with the feel of Ebony

Scale: 645 mm

Nut width: 5 mm

Current action is set to 3.5 mm under E6 and 3.00 mm under E1.

Guitar is equipped with non-original hard shell case in very good condition