MADE IN 1975 BY HIROSHI HARADA - TERRIFIC YAMAHA GC7S - CLASSICAL CONCERT GUITAR
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Yamaha GRAND CONCERT GC7S 1975
This Yamaha guitar was made in 1975 by Hiroshi Harada, one of the best luthiers Yamaha Corporation ever had. Even though in 1975 it was the lower Grand Concert model within Yamaha’s classical guitar lineup, it certainly is a concert grade guitar.
Originally GC7S was made with solid Cedar top and solid Indian Rosewood back and sides. In 1979 its specification changed to laminated Indian Rosewood sides.
Yamaha GC7S being priced 70 000 yen in 1975, was not a cheap instrument at all. 10 000 yen was enough to get a decent beginner’s grade guitar in Japan.
Despite few very light marks on its body (with the sractch located at the bottom of the soundboard being the most noticeable one), can be described as “excellent for its age”. Excellent condition of the fingerboard and frets suggests that this guitar has been played very little over its lifetime.
This guitar is loud yet very romantic. Its trebles are super sweet yet also quite ringing. Basses are deep and full of overtones, yet relatively clean. All notes are well balanced, with great note clarity and separation, and with superb sustain.
CURRENTLY JAPANESE MADE BRAND NEW GUITARS OF THIS CLASS ARE PRICED MINIMUM $4500USD. THOSE MADE IN SPAIN ARE PRICED 50% HIGHER.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Year(s) Sold: 1974-1979
Top: Solid Cedar/lacquer
Back & Sides: Solid Indian Rosewood/urethane
Neck: Honduras Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony
String Length: 662 mm
Nut width: 52 mm
Guitar’s action is set to 3.70mm under E6 and 3.20 mm under E1 with still extra room on the saddle.
Guitar will be shipped in used original Yamaha 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 SADLLE. 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”.
YAMAHA CLASSICAL GUITAR HISTORY
Yamaha started their serious fight for international clients in 1967 with new lineup of classical Grand Concert guitars made according to Spanish blueprints. They were: GC3 (solid Spruce top/ solid Indian Rosewood b/s) GC5, GC7 and GC10 (all 3 models with solid Spruce tops and solid Brazilian Rosewood b/s).
In 1968 Yamaha also introduced their lineup of great Grand Concert flamenco guitars. They were GC5F, GC7F and GC10F. The master luthier responsible for production of these guitars was Toshihiro Kato. He was helped by Hiroshi Harada, who was making classical models GC3 and GC5. Both these luthiers were trained by Eduardo Ferrer, a Spanish luthier from Granada, Spain who being invited (and appropriately rewarded) by Yamaha co., travelled to Japan during years 1964-1967.
It is very important to explain that 1960s and 1970s were years of very rapid devaluation of Japanese yen (hence rapid inflation of prices for all products). Because during those years practically all guitar models had some numbers closely related to their prices in yen, these models were quite frequently upgraded (relabeled) to higher numbers reflecting their higher prices.
For that reason, mentioned above Yamaha’s classical GC guitars lineup, was changed in 1971. New (1971-1973) lineup included models GC3D, GC6D, GC8D, GC10D (all 4 models made with solid Spruce tops & solid Indian Rosewood b/s) GC12D, GC15D and GC20D (all 3 models with solid Spruce tops & solid Brazilian Rosewood b/s). It is worth to mention that until 1974 all Yamaha classical GC models were made exclusively with Spruce tops.
In 1974 Yamaha’s classical GC guitar lineup was changed yet again. In that year, for the first time in its history, Yamaha decided to make classical guitars with cedar tops. This newly introduced GC classical guitar lineup included models: GC5M(S), GC7M(S), GC10M(S), GC15M(S), (all with Indian Rosewood b/s), GC20M(S), GC30A, GC30B (all with Brazilian Rosewood b/s). M=spruce. S=cedar, A=spruce, B=cedar
Yamaha GC15S was priced 150 000 yen in 1975 just like Masaru Kohno model 15. Yamaha Co. didn't compete with Kohno by lowering prices of their guitars. Yamaha GC guitars simply offered more for the same price.
In 1975 Kohno top models were 15, 20 and 30 (all with Brazilian Rosewood b/s). Model 30 was priced 300 000 yen just like Yamaha GC30A(B). In 1977 Kohno changed his lineup adding models 40 and 50 (both with improved looks but sounding no different than his earlier model 30) and changing specifications of model 15 from Brazilian Rosewood b/s to Indian Rosewood b/s. Yamaha's kept their lineup unchanged until 1979. In order to keep their prices at the same level, Yamaha GC guitars made in 1979 were made with somewhat lower grade woods, different finishes and less impressive ornamental extras if compared with those made in 1974. Production of GCM and GCS models ended by the end of 1979. Between years 1980-1985, Yamaha's lineup was being changed at least few times.
In 1985 top models made at Yamaha's Hamamatsu workshop were GC70 (Spruce/figured Brazilian Rosewood, all shellac finish), GC60 (Spruce/figured Brazilian Rosewood, shellac finish top) GC50 (Spruce/figured Brazilian Rosewood, all lacquer finish) & GC40 (Spruce/figured Brazilian Rosewood, lacquer finish top), and GC30 (Spruce/straight grain Brazilian Rosewood, urethane finish).
Correct evaluation of a real grade of vintage Yamaha guitars can't be done just by looking at their model numbers. Yamaha GC10 from 1980 is simply no match with GC10M from 1975. Yamaha GC10D from 1973 is of equal grade with GC15M from 1975. Yamaha GC10 from 1970 is of equal grade with Yamaha GC20D from 1973 and GC40 from 1985.
YES, I KNOW THAT “YAMAHA” SOUNDS FAMILIAR TO YOU. BUT IF YOU ARE OPEN MINDED AND NOT AFRAID TO STEP INTO UNKNOWN, YOU WILL BE GEATLY REWARDED.
You should look at few much higher class Japanese made guitars from the same era (all effectively priced 4 times higher than this YAMAHA GC7S):
You may also consider this guitar from the same era (effectively priced 2 times higher than this YAMAHA GC7S):
https://reverb.com/item/68627218-yukio-chai-no15-1980-hermann-hauser-copy-classical-concert-guitar
Real Value of Japanese Vintage Guitars
The key to understand value of vintage Japanese guitars is to acknowledge galloping price inflation throughout the late 1960s and 1970s with its peak of 25% in 1974.
During 1960s and most of 1970s model numbers of Japanese guitars were strictly connected with their prices in Japanese yen.
The same class guitar sold in 1970 for 100 000 yen (labelled as model 10), would be sold for 150 000 yen in 1972 (labelled as model 15), 200 000 yen in 1974 (labelled as model 20) and 300 000 yen in 1978 (labelled as model 30). Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised that two Yamaha GC10 guitars made 10 years apart are two instruments of totally different class. The same rule applies to all guitar models made by all other Japanese makers.
Japanese inflation slowed down in the 1980s. By the early 1980s and during following decades model numbers were no longer strictly associated with their prices. Some Japanese guitar makers introduced model names instead of model numbers. For several economic reasons, since 1980s Japanese made guitars were becoming more and more expensive, while their exports slowing down. Today (2025) Japanese high end classical guitar models are priced at $20000USD level.
This item is sold As-Described
This item is sold As-Described and cannot be returned unless it arrives in a condition different from how it was described or photographed. Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging.Learn More.
| Listed | 5 years ago |
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| Condition | Excellent (Used) Excellent items are almost entirely free from blemishes and other visual defects and have been played or used with the utmost care.Learn more |
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