MADE IN 1985 - YUKINOBU CHAI NA30 - HIGHEST GRADE ALTO/REQUINTO CONCERT GUITAR

Yukinobu Chai Classical Alto Guitar NA30 1985

This guitar was made in 1985 by Yukinobu Chai workshop for Nibori School of Guitar Ensemble.

Yukinobu’s career started in late 1960s and over the years he became one of the highest respected luthiers in Japan. Most likely the major reason for that were very moderate prices for his wonderful instruments.

Over the years of his career Yukinobu has made many guitars for Nibori School of Guitar Ensemble. They were Prime (regular), Alto, Bass and Contrabass guitars.

NA30 was one of the highest end models among Japanese made alto guitars of that era. It was priced 300 000 yen.

In the same mid1980s Masaru Kohno’s model Professional J, Sakazo Nakade’s model 3000, Sumio Kurosawa’s model 30 and made by Hideyuki Ezaki Yamaha GC30, were all priced 300 000yen. Takamine No20 and Ryoji Matsuoka M200 were priced 200 000 yen. All these guitars had b/s made from solid straight grain Brazilian Rosewood. In the same mid1980s Ryoji Matsuoka M300. Hiroshi Tamura 3000, Yukio Nakade No30 and many other 300 000yen guitars Japanese guitars had b/s made from solid figured BR.      

This guitar remains in at least very good cosmetic and structural condition. Its body bears several very small marks, most of them visible on its sides.  

The guitar has very lovely sweet sound, with characteristic for alto guitars, ultra-clear trebles and clear basses, all with superb note separation and impressive sustain.

Guitar is currently strung with D'Addario EJ52 ProArte Alto Strings designed for alto tuning. If you'd like to play it with regular tuning, you need regular classical guitar strings.  

Specification:

Total length: 880mm

Body length: 425 mm

Body depth: 98- 100 mm

Upper bout width: 245 mm

Lower bout width: 325 mm

Waist width: 210 mm

Top: Solid Spruce

Back & Sides: Solid Latin America Rosewood

It is either straight grain Brazilian Rosewood or similar one with similar tonal properties

Neck: Mahogany with Ebony reinforcement

Fingerboard: Ebony

Scale: 530 mm

Nut width: 50 mm

String spacing at the nut: 42 mm

String spacing at the bridge: 53 mm

Action is to 4.30 mm under E6 and 3.80 mm under E1, with practically no extra room on the saddle.

This guitar will be shipped in used original hard case.

Guitar ensemble and guitar orchestra music has been developed and promoted by Hiroki Nibori since 1957 and is gaining popularity among guitar players throughout the world. Playing in a group is great fun. It is an excellent opportunity to make new friends and learn from the more advanced players. One of the most valuable aspects of playing in a guitar ensemble is that it gives students the exposure of playing on a stage in front of an audience. When you combine the sounds of alto, bass, and contra bass guitars with standard (prime) guitars, a whole new world of sound comes alive. Even the beginner will find it easy to pick up any of these guitars and enjoy a variety of new and exciting musical styles.

An ALTO GUITAR is usually tuned a 5th higher than a standard (prime) guitar. Its open tuning notes sound the same as a standard guitar played on the 7th fret position: B,E,A,D,F#,B.

BASS GUITAR is tuned 4th lower than standard guitar, one octave lower than Alto guitar: B,E,A,D,F#,B

CONTRA BASS GUITAR is tuned one octave lower than standard guitar: E,A,D,G,B,E