Neck:Lauan,African Cherry
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides):Shellac
Tuning Machines:GOTOH
String Height(1st):2.5mm
String Height(6th):3.5mm

【Shuichi Komiyama Torres Model No.043 (2025)】
A distinctive Torres-inspired concert guitar blending traditional Spanish design with a refined contemporary voice.

〔Luthier〕
Shuichi Komiyama was born in Tokyo in 1968 and grew up in a family that ran a long-established carpentry business in Shinjuku. He began playing the guitar during his student years and gradually developed a strong interest in the instrument itself and the process of sound creation while working as a sound engineer.

In 1993 he entered the Guitar Making Department of the Niibori Art Institute in Niigata, where he completed a four-year program before continuing as a research student and later joining the school’s guitar-making team. During this period he built approximately 300 classical guitars, primarily instruments designed for ensemble performance, gaining extensive practical experience as a craftsman.

In 2008 he established his own workshop within his family’s carpentry facility in Tokyo and began producing guitars under his own name while also carrying out repair and restoration work. Around this time he further refined his craft under the guidance of respected Japanese luthiers Alberto Nejime Ono and Kaoru Ono, both known for their work in the Spanish traditional building method.

Komiyama’s guitars are rooted in the tradition of Antonio de Torres, while incorporating subtle personal touches in design and tonal balance. His instruments are known for their natural musical character, refined setup, and excellent playability. In addition to building instruments, he currently works as a repair and maintenance specialist at Guitar Shop Aura in Tokyo.

〔Instrument〕
This Shuichi Komiyama Torres Model No.043 (2025) is a newly built instrument based on an 1864 Torres design. While closely following the original body outline and bracing concept, the guitar reflects Komiyama’s personal aesthetic and tonal approach.

Visually the instrument is striking. The bright soundboard contrasts beautifully with the warm pinkish tones of the bubinga back and sides. A maple center strip and body binding unify the overall appearance, while the neck is made from African cherry (Makore), adding a subtle visual accent. Unlike the common three-arch Torres-style headstock often used for such models, this guitar features a distinctive original design with a slightly ethnic character. The rosette and tie block are also original designs by the maker, adding a tasteful artistic touch.

The soundboard bracing follows a traditional Torres-inspired layout: harmonic bars above and below the soundhole, short auxiliary braces extending toward the sides, and seven fan braces in the lower bout supported by two V-shaped closing bars near the bottom of the body. The main body resonance is set relatively low, slightly above E, contributing to a warm and resonant tonal character.

Tonally the guitar offers a rich and rounded bass and low-midrange, paired with delicate yet clearly defined trebles. The overall sound creates a sense of depth between voices, almost reminiscent of a small early-music ensemble. Notes emerge with a lively yet controlled response and decay naturally with a gentle sense of weight. The tonal color retains a woody warmth with a modest brightness, while the instrument responds quickly and directly to the player’s touch, allowing nuanced phrasing and expressive articulation.

The instrument is finished in a thin shellac polish, giving it an elegant and organic appearance.

The neck has a comfortable medium D-shaped profile, and the fingerboard extends to 20 frets on the treble side. The current setup measures 2.5 mm / 3.5 mm string height at the 12th fret (1st / 6th string), with approximately 2.0–2.5 mm of remaining saddle height. The scale length is 644 mm, offering moderate string tension and an easy left-hand feel. The guitar is fitted with Gotoh tuners, and the total instrument weight is 1.44 kg.

A beautifully crafted modern Torres-style guitar combining historical inspiration with the individuality of a contemporary Japanese luthier.

〔detail〕