Noboru Nakayama - Hauser Style Custom Made - Japan 1977 - Shellac

Noboru Nakayama 1977 Classical Concert Guitar

Top: Master Grade Solid as “Bear claw” Spruce - Shellac

Back and Sides: Solid Indian Rosewood - Shellac  

Neck: Mahogany

Fingerboard: Ebony

Scale: 660 mm

Nut width: 52 mm

Strings : New - Savarez 540R - Normal Tension

This guitar, despite its age, has maintained its renowned quality. The guitar neck has a unique and beautiful wavy wood grain pattern running horizontally. The sound is similar to that of Hermann Hauser's guitars – resonant, clear, and beautifully lyrical... I am truly amazed by the craftsmanship and acoustic design of Mr. Noboru Nakayama. I was also very fortunate to acquire this guitar some time ago. My first impression upon seeing this instrument was that it was both familiar and unfamiliar. Unfamiliar because I didn't know much about this luthier, and familiar because it resembles the guitars of the German luthier Hermann Hauser. Noboru Nakayama has learned the essence of Hauser's craftsmanship, from the internal bracing structure to the external design. All of this exquisite detail has created the wonderful sound of this guitar. This guitar, with the red lettering on its label, is a custom-made instrument. Therefore, it's unique, and in my opinion, its sound is in no way inferior to other Kohno guitars of the same era.

A few words about the luthier Noboru Nakayama:

Noboru Nakayama started his luthier’s career in the late 1960s, as apprentice at Sakazo Nakade’s workshop. It is quite likely that Noboru was also able to learn a lot from his brother Osamu. Osamu Nakayama was another famous Japanese luthier, who learned his craft while working at Jose Ramirez III workshop since 1961 until 1970. After he returned to Japan in 1971 he was making guitars that were nothing else but exact copies of Ramirez guitars. Certainly, some Ramirez guitars sold in the 1960s were entirely made by Osamu Nakayama. Noboru started his independent career in the early 1970s making wonderful classical and flamenco guitars.

Note: This guitar is being sold exactly as described in the photos above.