Up for sale, a 1972 Masaru Kohno No. 8 classical guitar in exceptional condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. One of the most prominent and influential figures in Japanese guitar manufacturing, Masaru “Ken” Kohno began his tutelage in Madrid in 1959 at the workshop of revered Flamenco and classical luthier Arcangel Fernandez. After returning to Japan to refine his craft, Kohno received first prize at the Liege Concours National de Guitares a few short years later in 1967. The chairman of the adjudicators at that competition was the “Stradivarius of the classical guitar” Ignacio Fleta, who remarked that Kohno’s guitar was “very much like his own.”

This No. 8 features a ladder-braced cedar top, Indian rosewood back and sides, solid mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard, with a lower bout width of 14 1/2“. Tonally, this guitar yields rich expressiveness akin to the “Spanish sound” guitars produced by legendary luthiers like Fleta and Torres, with warm, rich-yet-airy lows, notably smooth trebles, and great natural bloom in the midrange when notes are allowed to ring out. Weighing 3lbs 7oz, this Kohno No. 8 has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with normal tension D’Addario strings and ideal action.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Mahogany (one-piece)
-Shape: Substantial D, measuring .915” 1st fret, .999” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony
-Frets: Slender, very faint wear on frets 1-2
-Scale Length: 660mm
-Nut: 53mm, bone

Body Specs:

-Wood: Cedar, Indian rosewood
-Bracing: Spanish-style ladder
-Bridge: Rosewood, bone saddle
-Marquetry: Ornate rosewood with matching tailpiece insert, multi-ply purfling, rosewood binding
-Serialization: Label dated to 1972

This guitar is crack-free, and cosmetic wear on the gloss cashew lacquer finish is limited to faint buckle rash on the back, scuffing along the strum path, and a handful of small dings on the body as a whole. The neck profile retains its smooth lacquer gloss, with a couple shallow nicks along the profile length that are not distracting to the palm while fretting.

The original black tolex hardshell case is included.