1988 Asturias AST60 - Natural | Vintage Japan Handmade Classical Guitar Cedar Rosewood | Case

I am offering here a rare Asturias AST60 classical guitar from 1988, a solid classical guitar handmade in Kurume, Kyushu, Japan with fine cedar top, back and sides made of impressively figured Indian rosewood, one-piece mahogany neck with fine rosewood fingerboard, hand-carved mahogany headstock with multi-layered maple/rosewood veneer and high-quality gold tuners with tortoise buttons in a beautiful natural high-gloss finish with elaborate real wood bindings in excellent condition incl. black hardshell case and professional setup with Savarez 500ARJ strings.

This classical guitar was handmade in the late 1980s in the infamous Asturias master guitar workshops. The Asturias Guitars workshop was founded in 1962 in Kurume, Japan, and to this day a small team of fifteen highly skilled luthiers build exquisite instruments in small editions. The uncompromising quality of workmanship and the extremely high-quality sound characteristics of the instruments helped the classical guitar maker to achieve great international renown in the 1970s (mainly due to the increasing demand from overseas for master instruments at an affordable price).

This AST60, with its fine-grained cedar top and beautifully figured East Indian rosewood back and sides, has a rich, warm and full sound that fills the entire tonal spectrum, bringing out both sustained bass tones and crystalline trebles with plenty of overtones. The guitar literally sings from the first touch and enchants with a lovely, melodious timbre. Despite its age, the volume is outstanding and the clarity of the trebles is exceptional with an extremely dynamic response and excellent sustain. It is a versatile concert guitar that successfully supports classical pieces as well as modern plucking and chord playing.

A sound sample of the model can be found at the end of the photo gallery.

In short, a unique, handmade classical guitar in excellent condition with vintage charm, character and a great sound that you won't find anywhere else.

Technical specifications:

• Year of manufacture: 1988
• Origin: Kurume, Kyushu, Japan
• Top: Cedar
• Back and sides: Indian rosewood
• Neck: Mahogany, one-piece
• Headstock: Mahogany with multilayer maple/rosewood veneer
• Fingerboard and bridge: Rosewood
• Bindings: Real rosewood with multi-ply maple/rosewood/maple purfling
• Heel cap: Rosewood
• Tuners: Gold tuners with tortoise handles
• Finish: Natural high gloss
• Serial no.: 14275
• Scale length: 650mm
• Nut: 52mm, bone
• String action (XII. fret): 3.5mm (E6) / 3.0mm (e1)
• Incl. black hard case

These early Asturias concert guitars are rare and very popular today:

https://reverb.com/de/item/74862065-asturias-ast-60-1986

This guitar is in excellent original condition and technically flawless. It shows only very fine superficial signs of use due to its age (see pictures). The guitar is free of cracks and other rough damage, the neck is straight and the frets are still in top condition.

I have set up the guitar with Savarez 500ARJ strings (I am a longtime guitar teacher) and will ship insured with DHL for 29.99€ within Germany or for 59.99€ within the EU. Shipping outside the EU possible - individual shipping costs on request.

Please look at all photos before buying and clarify any questions. Thank you! :)