RARITY - THE ORIGINAL RYOJI MATSUOKA 1977 - HERMANN HAUSER COPY - CLASSICAL CONCERT GUITAR

Ryoji Matsuoka MH model 1977

This guitar was made at Master Luthier Ryoji Matsuoka’s workshop in 1977. It is one of his rare Herman Hauser “copies” made by special order, likely all by himself. All his regular line (mass produced) MH models sold since 1978 had Spruce tops and clear finish, this guitar has darker orange/amber finish.

The only other Matsuoka’s Hauser copy I have encountered, was made in 1964.

https://reverb.com/item/1271724-rarity-ryoji-matsuoka-no20-1964-hauser-class-classical-concert-guitar

For unclear reasons there is an ink stain on the original label, perhaps to cover the intended model number or maybe there was no model number on this label at all. The original owner of this guitar will not be able answer this question because he “no longer worries about any Earthly Matters”. He had another Ryoji Matsuoka guitar with a similar stain on the label. It was personally made by Matsuoka in 1976 “copy” of Jose David Rubio guitar, the predecessor of the later released (mass produced) MR line. Both guitars represent much higher class than regular line models sold in later years. High end Shaller tuning machines were not used on regular models.

https://reverb.com/item/82161582-rarity-the-authentic-ryoji-matsuoka-david-jose-rubio-model-1976-classical-concert-guitar

In 1978 the top-of-the line Matsuoka models were No150 (Ramirez style headstock, Matsuoka’s bracing), (Hauser style) MH150, (Jose David Rubio style) MR150, and (Fleta style) MF150, all priced 150 000 yen. The second from the top models were No100, MH100, MR100 and MF100, being priced 100 000 yen. The lower models were No80, MH80, MR80 and MF80.

All these Matsuoka guitars were greatly underpriced if compared with instruments made by most prominent Japanese luthiers of that era.

This MH guitar can easily challenge much higher priced Japanese guitars of that era. During the 1980s Ryoji Matsuoka was correcting his pricing and by 1990 his top models were priced 300 000 yen. Yet they were no match to those 150 000 yen models from 1970s.

While his workshop continued making Hauser style models until its closure in 2014, Jose Rubio and Fleta style models were made only until early 1980s, and always in rather limited numbers.

Currently similar class guitars made in Japan using 50 years old woods with Indian Rosewood b/s are priced at $10000 level. The same class guitars “made in Spain” using such long aged woods are priced at $15000 level. Brazilian Rosewood b/s double the price.

The guitar offers impressive volume, great response and depth combined with warm, very sweet, and lyrical rich tonality with great level of transparency. The bases are deep yet relatively clean. Trebles are sweet and glassy, with their own overtones. Individual notes are clear and well separated, all magnified by very extended sustain.

The overall condition of this guitar can be described as “near mint” especially considering its age”. While there are just a few very light scratches and rubbing marks on its back, sides and bindings,  the guitar looks like it hasn’t been played at all. The excellent condition of the soundboard, fingerboard and frets proves the same.

While finish cloudiness it is very common on Matsuoka guitars from that era, this guitar doesn’t have it.

Some pegs of its original Shaller tuning machines work tighter than the others, but only a child or a true princess can have a problem using them.

Specifications:

Top: Very Fine Solid Spruce/Hauser style bracing/very light coat of Cashew varnish

Back & Sides: Solid Indian Rosewood/ very light coat of Cashew varnish

Neck: Mahogany

Fingerboard: Ebony

Scale: 650 mm

Nut width: 52.00 mm

Strings: Magma Nylon Crystal Medium tension.

The action is currently set to 4.00 mm under E6 and 3.50 mm under E1 with some extra room on the saddle.

This guitar will be shipped in a used 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”.

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 highest end classical guitar models are priced at $20000USD level.