Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides):Shellac
Tuning Machines:SLOANE
String Height(1st):2.6mm
String Height(6th):3.8mm

[Profile]
Kaoru Ono (label printed as Caoru Ono), born in 1953, began playing guitar in middle school and started crafting guitars as a hobby while studying woodworking at university. Recognized early for his exceptional craftsmanship and acoustic sensibility, he became a professional luthier at age 27. During this period, he apprenticed under Alberto Nezime Ono, from whom he learned traditional Spanish guitar-making techniques.

He later traveled to Spain to study under Antonio Marín Montero in Granada, Nezime’s master, and in 2001 attended the master course of José Luis Romanillos. Ono also received guidance and encouragement from Arcángel Fernández during his visit to Japan. Through direct study with these contemporary masters, he developed a unique approach: combining scientific analysis with traditional Spanish construction methods.

Ono was instrumental in introducing Spanish classical guitar traditions to Japan, and his instruments are highly praised for their clarity, balance, projection, and richly nuanced tone—achieving what is widely regarded as the pinnacle of modern Japanese guitar craftsmanship.

Kaoru Ono passed away in July 2024; we express our deepest condolences.

[Description]
This listing is for a Kaoru Ono 2017 José Luis Romanillos model, No.289 – Used. As one of his late works, this instrument exemplifies Ono’s extraordinary acoustic design and his interpretation of Romanillos’ aesthetics, achieving a unique identity of sound and presence.

Ono produced both original and homage models (to Robert Bouchet, Hermann Hauser, and Antonio de Torres), each refined beyond mere replicas. For this Romanillos model, he followed the Plan 1 design from Romanillos’ Making a Spanish Guitar, a system regarded as acoustically highly complete and integrating Torres–Hauser–Romanillos principles. Ono’s reinterpretation realizes this complex historical lineage with exceptional clarity, precision, and musicality.

The guitar produces transparent, dense, and highly responsive sound. Each note is expressive, balanced, and musically coherent, with gentle sustain and superb harmonic integration. The decay of sound and even the silence after a phrase retain musical significance—a hallmark of Ono’s aesthetic.

Soundboard bracing:

Following Romanillos’ original design, three harmonic bars (2 upper/neck side, 1 lower/bridge side) with openings at both ends. Two braces cross the openings perpendicularly up to the third bar.

Seven symmetrical fan braces below the waist, ending on two inverted-V closing bars at the bottom.

A thin plate at the bridge position.

Peones (small wooden blocks at the edge) arranged alternately in two sizes, faithful to the original.

Body and aesthetics:

Internal templates follow the original Romanillos.

Rosette and purfling designed by Ono.

Sides/back: elegant light brown Central/South American rosewood.

Back center: flamed maple inlay; matching subtle detail on head plate for cohesive visual design.

Specifications & Condition:

Weight: 1.72 kg

Scale length: 650 mm

Action: 2.6 / 3.8 mm (1st / 6th string at 12th fret)

Saddle surplus: 1.5–2.0 mm

Neck: slightly thick D-shape

Pegs: friction pegs, stable and in excellent condition

Finish: original shellac

Overall: excellent used condition with only minor superficial marks around the fingerboard, bridge plate, and soundhole; slight shallow scratches on the bottom sides; minor aging discoloration on back. No cracks or repairs.

This instrument represents one of Kaoru Ono’s finest achievements—a masterfully crafted homage to Romanillos with extraordinary tonal clarity, musical depth, and enduring value.

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