Nagoya Suzuki Three S W-30A & HSC Here is an absolutely great find: A rare, 1979 Kiso Suzuki Three S dreadnought with antique violin finish is really good shape. Suzuki guitars are getting more and more well known for being among the best of the lawsuit era guitars. In the case of Suzuki, they had actually been making guitars since approximately 1890. Now they aren't there anymore, so this guitar is NOT being made anymore. The Three S series is truly rare. I'm lucky enough to have found two of them, both listed here. I have a Three S F120 in my Ebay store
Now as to the guitar: some say they sound as good as a Martin. Ok. Do they? To find out I took this guitar to a certain big box store and asked two friends - one their luthier- to take a blind listening test. Pick which one is which. One of them couldn't tell the difference. The luthier got the Martin, but said the Suzuki was so close that why would you bother buying a Martin! That's why I'm not telling what store or who the workers were! And I agree. I have a Masters in guitar performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. I've played for 51 years professionally in every situation you can image. Concert classical solo guitar, pit orchestras, rock bands, lute in Early Music ensembles, solo with orchestra and a lot of folk singing with dreadnoughts. Well guess what? I have one of these same guitars myself and it is my main dreadnought. The sound is absolutely amazing. Loud, rich, balanced. Sounds as good as a Martin D18.
Here's the stats from an actual catalog from 1979.
SPRUCE top Mahogany back and sides antique violin finish - look at the photos. That's some fine fine finish work folks! Nato neck w truss rod rosewood fingerboard and bridge Deluxe enclosed tuners (two replaced with Grovers) - rest are the originals.
Martin style X-bracing.
New (at time of listing! Martin Marquis phosphor bronze strings.
Deluxe new hardshell arched top Alvarez case.
Trust me, if you buy this guitar you are going to be as amazed about the excellence as I was when I first heard it.