Neck:Mahogany
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Cashew
Finish(Back & Sides):Cashew
Tuning Machines:HOFNER
String Height(1st):2.8mm
String Height(6th):4.0mm

[Luthier Information]
Born in 1926 in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
Upon graduating in March 1948 from the Woodcraft Department of Tokyo College of Arts and Crafts (present-day Faculty of Architecture, Chiba University), he began building guitars. In May 1960, he traveled to Spain to further study guitar making. In September 1967, he was awarded a Gold Medal at an international guitar competition held in Belgium.

He is regarded as a pioneer of high-end guitar making in Japan, and his instruments have enjoyed strong popularity both then and now. Known for their high level of craftsmanship and refined appearance, his guitars are consistently stable, easy to play, and—above all—well suited to Japanese tonal preferences in both sound and playability. As a result, they have earned high recognition overseas as one of the leading Japanese guitar brands.

[Instrument Information]
This is a No.20 model built in 1977, with a string length of 660 mm.

The guitar is characterized by a rich, weighty resonance and a wide tonal palette. It offers the solid, grounded sound typical of Masaru Kohno’s work, along with thick, lustrous single-note clarity. While the overall volume is moderate, the response is quick and the sustain is more than sufficient. The balance across the registers is excellent, and the wide tolerance to touch makes the instrument comfortable and forgiving to play. It has a subtly romantic character that is distinctive of this brand, aligning perfectly with Japanese preferences in both tone and playability.

The instrument features a cashew lacquer finish and is fitted with Hofner tuning machines. The neck is straight and offers good playability, with almost no fret wear. The string height is set at 3.5 mm on the 1st string and 4.2 mm on the 6th string. Although the string tension feels relatively firm, overall playability remains very good.

Considering that 47 years have passed since its construction, the guitar is in good condition. There is one shallow dent near the neck on the bass side of the top, several shallow dents on the bottom, and some playing marks near the soundhole on the treble side—all consistent with normal use. Due to the age of the instrument, there is slight discoloration along the edges of the back and sides; however, there are no cracks or repair history, and the guitar remains in sound condition. A black hard case is included.

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