Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides):Shellac
Tuning Machines:ALESSI
String Height(1st):2.4mm
String Height(6th):3.2mm

【Alberto Nejime Ohno Santos Hernández Model (2015)】
A refined Santos-style guitar by Japanese master Alberto Nejime Ohno, built in the Spanish tradition of Granada.

〔Luthier〕
Alberto Nejime Ohno (Kojiro Nejime, b.1952) is widely regarded as one of the most important Japanese makers working in the traditional Spanish school of classical guitar construction.

In 1979 he traveled to Spain to study under the renowned Granada master Antonio Marín Montero. During his two-year apprenticeship he worked closely with the Marín family, absorbing not only the techniques of Spanish guitar making but also the cultural and artistic spirit surrounding the tradition.

Upon returning to Japan, Nejime began building guitars that deeply reflected the Spanish aesthetic. His instruments were soon recognized as among the first truly authentic Spanish-style guitars produced in Japan.

In 1988 he received the Grand Prix at the Kutná Hora International Guitar Making Competition in Czechoslovakia, bringing him international recognition. Since then his guitars have been admired for their elegant craftsmanship, refined visual design, and rich, projecting tone.

Alongside his work as a luthier, Nejime has also contributed significantly to education and writing about guitar making. His instructional series published in Gendai Guitar Magazine was later compiled into the book Spanish Classical Guitar Making Method. His work and interview were also featured in Orfeo Magazine No.15 (2020), published in France.

Today, his guitars are highly respected among collectors and professional musicians for their refined tone, strong projection, and unmistakable Spanish character.

〔Instrument〕
This Santos Hernández Model by Alberto Nejime Ohno (2015) is a used instrument inspired by the work of the legendary Spanish maker Santos Hernández. The guitar adopts the distinctive headstock shape often seen on Santos’s later instruments, while the internal structure and tonal concept are entirely Nejime’s own.

Built several years before the maker’s later shift toward heavier and more powerful instruments, this guitar represents an earlier stage of his work, offering a refined and somewhat delicate musical character.

The soundboard follows a traditional Spanish layout with harmonic bars above and below the soundhole, seven fan braces in the lower bout, and two V-shaped closing bars. In Nejime’s interpretation, these closing bars are positioned slightly closer to the bridge than in many traditional designs, creating a distinctive structural balance. The main body resonance is set slightly below G#.

Tonally the guitar offers an excellent balance across the range. The bass is rich yet controlled, the lower midrange expressive and articulate, and the trebles are clear, powerful, and highly lyrical. While the tonal character is unmistakably Spanish, the overall sound remains cohesive and refined, with all registers blending naturally into a unified musical voice.

The guitar responds with a pleasing elasticity between string energy and wood resonance, producing notes that emerge with density and sustain while maintaining clarity and nuance. The bright tonal color retains an elegant restraint, giving the instrument a subtle charm that suits a wide range of classical repertoire.

The guitar is finished in traditional shellac, and remains in very good overall condition. The soundboard shows a few small and light playing marks near the fingerboard edges, around the soundhole, and below the bridge. The back and sides remain particularly clean. There are no cracks or major repairs.

The neck is in excellent condition with a comfortable medium D-shaped profile. Current setup measures 2.4 mm / 3.2 mm string height at the 12th fret (1st / 6th string), offering a relatively low and comfortable action for a classical guitar. The fingerboard extends to 20 frets on the treble side, with position markers at the 5th and 7th frets.

The guitar is fitted with high-end Alessi tuning machines, functioning smoothly. Total weight is 1.67 kg.

A beautifully balanced Spanish-style instrument from one of Japan’s most respected contemporary makers.

〔detail〕