Brazos 78m

Here’s the backstory on this solid Spruce on beautifully flamed solid Maple cannon: I found a different Brazos 78m at an online auction a while back and was immediately drawn to the details that looked so familiar: full Maple binding, single ring maple rosette, excellent craftsmanship and topped off with a brass nut and saddle. These are all trademark signs that could only point to one guitar builder. It may say “Brazos” on the headstock, but I knew it was a Daion.

“Daion” is a slightly obscure Japanese guitar brand born out of the larger Yamaki guitar tribe that has a relatively small, but fiercely loyal fan base the world over. My dad came across a slightly weird, yet beautiful Daion L-99 about 3 years ago and I immediately understood the love. No matter what it has on the headstock, an authentically hand-built guitar fashioned out of high quality woods by a skilled craftsman will nearly always yield something inspiring. Without a doubt, Daion built inspiring guitars. I’m always on the search for these rare gems.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find much info on the Brazos/Daion connection because the handful of Japanese factories that built quality guitars in the 70s and 80s built thousands of guitars under many different monikers. However, I did find one likely explanation: When Diaon ceased development, they sold their back inventory and unfinished guitars made in the Japanese Yamaki factory to a guitar builder in Korea. This factory then customized the remaining Daions for private lables (music stores and the like… such as Brazos). That’s likely why the label in the guitar simply states that the guitar was “Assembled in Korea”.

That brings me to this awesome rare bird! I came across the beautiful blonde you see before you during my search for information on the OTHER Brazos 78m (which I’m going to enjoy playing for a bit). As fate should have it, there was a 2nd 78m for sale just a couple miles from my house Northwest of Austin! Needless to say, I jumped on it – and now you can too.

This looker can sing – and when she sings, she’s going to be heard! THIS is what an all-solid wood maple guitar is supposed to sound like. It’s not for everybody, but if you want to stand out in picking session with a bright, balanced and shimmering tone with serious projection power – this is the guitar! My Daion L-99 is a finger picker’s delight, but this Brazos 78m is built for Bluegrass all the way. I have a Guild D30bld (Spruce on all-maple) and it has been my favorite dread for several years and this Brazos is very similar, but with its solid maple, braced back, the Brazos is a traditional maple dreadnought. If you like maple, you’ll love this guitar.

The original brass nut and saddle had been replaced with bone before I got this guitar and I replaced the generic tuners with some 1970s Grovers I took off of an old Guild. I also scooped out the bridge a bit to improve the action while maintaining a nice break angle off the saddle (shown in multiple pictures). The only other thing I had to do to this guitar was plug the hole from where someone removed the ¼ inch input. There are a few small scratches and scuffs, but it has no discernable playwear and the frets are perfect. Seriously, this is guitar is in outstanding shape and will make a BEAUTIFUL addition to your herd.

It will expertly packed and shipped in (what I believe is) its original hard case. Thanks for looking and good luck on your search!