HIROSHI KOMORI No35 2011 - ANTONIO TORRES CLASS CLASSICAL CONCERT GUITAR - SPRUCE/HONDURAN ROSEWOOD

Back in 1950s, although still young and not world famous yet, Masaru Kohno was gaining popularity among the players from Tokyo area. When in 1958 he received over 200 orders he knew it was time for him to hire helpers. His first ever apprentice was Saburo Nogami, who in later years became a luthier legend on his own. The only other Kohno’s associates who made great independent careers are (Kohno’s nephew) Masaki Sakurai and Hiroshi Komori. In 1988 Masaki Sakurai won his own Grand Prize at the International Guitar Makers Competition in Paris. He is still running Kohno’s workshop, making Kohno design models and as well as his own. Hiroshi Komori joined Masaru Kohno's workshop in 1962 and worked there until becoming an independent luthier in 1972. I am not sure if Hiroshi Komori still makes guitars. He was making them until 2012 for sure. By late 1970s Hiroshi was already an unquestionable member of Japanese luthier elite and could price his guitars at similar level as Masaru Kohno.

The guitar you are looking at was made in 2011 and was priced 350 000 yen. Some guitars sold for 350 000 yen were still made with straight grain BR b/s while many with other Latin America Rosewoods b/s. As of today, similar grade guitars made by Japanese manufacturers are priced at minimum $6500USD (in US distribution). If made by elite luthiers (like Hiroshi Komori) they are priced higher. If they are shellac coated, they are priced at least $10000.    

In 2011 one could easily buy Japanese made classical guitar with solid figured Brazilian Rosewood b/s for 500 000 yen. As of today, this price is at least 1 800 000 yen.

Even though Hiroshi was trained by Masaru Kohno his guitars shouldn’t be considered as a copy of Kohno guitars. Hiroshi’s bracing is closer to Spanish fan bracing than to Kohno’s style lattice bracing. Hiroshi has found his own ways of making guitars. This guitar, however, was made mostly based on Antonio Torres blueprints, which is manifested by Torres style headstock.

In terms of volume and tonality this is simply a gorgeous instrument that not only rivals Kohno’s guitars but can easily outcompete many $10000 “hand made in Spain” guitars. It is very powerful and very responsive, with cello-like deep ultra-rich basses, super sweet and clear, piano-like trebles. When chords are played you hear a bounty of beautiful overtones. When individual notes are played their clarity and separation is simply superb. It is magnified by impressive sustain. It is simply a gorgeous instrument.  

The overall condition of this guitar can be described as “practically mint”. Guitar shows very minor signs of use, without any conspicuous cosmetic flaws. The very mild cloudiness of its finished is greatly exaggerated in the pictures.

Specifications:

Top: High Grade Solid Spruce/Cashew lacquer

Back & Sides: Solid Honduran Rosewood/ Cashew lacquer

Neck: Spanish Cedar with double Ebony reinforcement 

Fingerboard: Ebony

Scale: 650 mm

Nut width: 51.5 mm

The action is set by the luthier to 4.00 mm under E6 and 3.50 mm with plenty of extra room on the saddle.

The guitar will be shipped in used nearly new black Musician’s Gear 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”.