MADE IN JAPAN 1981 - JUAN OROZCO 15U42 - KOHNO CLASS CLASSICAL CONCERT GUITAR

Description: Juan Orozco model 15-U-42 1981Guitar you are looking at was made in 1981 by Hoshino Gakki. It was the top of the line model, made the same way as Masaru Kohno guitars. If you decide to search the internet you will find some info describing Juan Orozco’s story and achievements. You will also find several reviews describing the quality of his guitars, sold in many countries. I have summarized this available info into a brief chapter. Juan Orozco III (born on April 14th, 1937, and died February 15th, 2020) was a Spanish luthier and guitar impresario who lived in New York from 1965 to 1995, where he had a famous guitar shop at 56th Street (in the vicinity of Carnegie Hall). This address was actually the third location of Juan’s guitar shop. Since 1960s his shop was moved twice to new locations. Juan was also known as the maker of Aranjuez guitar strings and guitar cases. He was also known as organizer of guitar concerts. He befriended many other luthiers and guitar virtuosos. Juan was the third generation in family of guitar makers. Juan’s father (Juan Orozco II) built guitars in Spain, Uruguay and Brazil and his son was also actively involved in these workshops. Between 1969 and 1983 Juan Orozco closely cooperated with several famous Japanese luthiers (Ryoji Matsuoka, Hiroshi Tamura, Sadao Yairi, Masaru Kohno, Masaki Sakurai, Takamine Gakki and Hoshino Gakki. (Gakki in Japanese means Musical Instruments Company). In 1970s the main business for Hoshino Gakki were Tama Drums and Ibanez electric guitars. Hoshino co. however also had a team of highly skilled luthiers making high grade classical guitars for other brands/luthiers. Among the others, Hoshino co. was making Aria guitars, Masaki Sakurai and Masaru Kohno guitars. Juan Orozco was able to order guitars with his own design headstock and rosettes but made following Masaru Kohno blueprints. His models made by Hoshino Gakki were #8, #10 and #15. This was nothing unusual within the network of Japanese musical instrument makers of that era, that more prominent luthiers or Gakkis (especially those with strong ties to international importers) were simply hiring small scale makers to produce their brand instruments. There was nothing inappropriate or unethical about that. All guitar Japanese makers obeyed strict code of ethics and strict quality standards. If one of famous Japanese luthiers hired another shop to produce certain models later sold with his labels, these instruments had to be made exactly the same way and represent exactly the same quality as guitars made by his own workshop. Guitar you are looking at was made in 1981 by Hoshino Gakki. It was the top of the line model, made exactly the same way as Masaru Kohno guitars. It also was a part of Juan’s personal guitar collection. I was fortunate enough to purchase it directly from Juan’s son.Beyond any doubt it is a fine instrument, representing the same level as Masaru Kohno guitars. It offers impressive volume, great response, deep and rich basses, strong round trebles, yet sweet & lyrical tonality, all notes well balanced and greatly enhanced by very extended sustain. With its superb note clarity and separation, it also offers great feel of transparency. Even though it already sounds gorgeous I bet that its full tonal potential is still be revealed. My assumption is based on the fact, that this guitar looks like new. Only close inspection reveals couple minute cosmetic imperfections over its entire body. This proves to me that this guitar hasn’t been played for many years (if played at all). Specifications:Top: Very Tight Grain Solid Yezo Spruce/Cashew lacquerBack & Sides: Highest Grade Solid Figured Brazilian Rosewood/Cashew lacquerNeck: Mahogany with double Ebony reinforcementFingerboard: EbonyScale: 650 mmNut width: 52 mmIts action is set to 3.70 mm under E6 and 3.20 mm under E1, with practically no extra room on E6 side of the saddle and just little extra room on the E1 side. This guitar will be shipped in the original hard-shell case in still very good condition.THE ONLY PURPOSE OF THIS CASE IS TO PROTECT THE GUITAR DURING SHIPMENT. I WILL NOT PROVIDE ITS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OR MAKE ADDITIONAL PICTURES, NOR I WILL ACCEPT ANY COMPLAINTS. IF YOU DON’T LIKE THIS CASE YOU WILL NEED TO BUY A DIFFERENT ONE. WHEN YOU BUY ANY GUITAR, YOU MUST ANTICIPATE TAKING IT TO YOUR LOCAL GUITAR SHOP FOR FINAL ADJUSTMENTS CALLED “SETUP”. DEPENIDNG ON YOUR PLAYING TECHNIQUE, THIS SETUP ON USED GUITARS MAY INCLUDE NEW CUSTOM-MADE NUT AND SADDLE. IF YOU HEAR STRING BUZZ IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT GUITAR IS DEFECTIVE. IF YOU PLAY HARD ENOUGH ALL BASS STRINGS WILL BUZZ OVER THE FRETS, UNLESS THEY ARE SUSPENDED VERY FAR FROM THE FINGERBOARD. UNLESS YOU PLAY QUITE GENTLY, YOU CAN’T HAVE LOW ACTION AND NO BUZZES. KEEP IN MIND THAT CELLO-LIKE BASSES ON HIGH GRADE CLASSICAL GUITARS HAVE THEIR NATURAL “BUZZ”. Real Value of Japanese Vintage GuitarsThe key to understand value of vintage Japanese guitars is to acknowledge galloping devaluation of Japanese yen in 1960s & 1970s. This devaluation was somewhat slower in 1980s. The best measure of this devaluation is Starting Yearly Salary of Japanese College Graduate (SYSJCG).SYSJCG in 1965 was 19 600 yen, in 1969 – 34 600 yen, in 1970 39 200 yen, in 1972 – 62 300 yen, in 1975 79 200 yen, in 1977 86 200 and in 1980 - 100 000 yen.During 1960s and most of 1970s model numbers of Japanese guitars were strictly interconnected with their prices in Japanese yen. In late 1970s and during following decades model numbers were no longer strictly associated with their prices. Many Japanese guitar makers introduced model names instead of model numbers. Others were still using model numbers with addition of letter abbreviations or other symbols. The best and only logical approach while evaluating real value (real grade) of vintage Japanese guitar is to compare its price in Japanese yen with SYSJCG during the year guitar was made.Any guitar priced 100 000 in 1970 (labelled usually as No10) would be priced 200 000 yen in 1975 (relabeled to No20 or 2000), 300 000 yen in 1977 (labelled as No3, No30 or 3000). Starting in 1977 Masaru Kohno introduced his new models No40 priced 400 000 yen and No50 priced 500 000 yen. By 1984 Kohno started using model names instead numbers and was raising their prices as he was pleased. Model 50 became model “Maestro”, model 40 became model “Special”, model 30 became model “Professional-J”. Naturally other Master luthiers were doing the same name/price changes.Knowing all of that, you can bet on that Masaru Kohno No50 made in 1982 is practically the same grade instrument as Kohno No20 made in 1972, or Kohno no 30 made in 1976. Kohno No40 made in 1982 is exactly the same grade instruments as Kohno No15 made in 1972 or Kohno No20 made in 1975. It is very important to mention that if modern era luthiers are using 40 years old woods to make a classical guitar, its price is at least $8000.Return Policy Buyer has the right to return purchased guitar within 2 days from receipt. General TermsItems must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging and no signs of use. Buyer assumes responsibility for all return shipping costs unless the item was not received as described.Fees and ChargesBuyer receives full refund in their original payment method, less any shipping costs.Special conditionsYou have 48 hours of trial after receiving the guitar. 48 hours is enough time to inspect the guitar. 1 hour is usually enough to evaluate the guitar’s tonality and if you don’t like it right away you won’t like it a week later. If you realize that you don’t like the guitar enough to keep it, you have the right to return it. If you find a real problem not disclosed in my description, you are covered by eBay’s Money Back Guarantee. If that problem is damage that likely occurred during the shipment I will file an insurance claim with eBay’s Ship Cover Program. If you decide to return the guitar you must notify me within 48 hours after delivery, pack it and ship it back within 24 hours after "return notification". If you expect to receive a full refund, the guitar must be returned in the same condition as I have shipped it to you. If it arrives back to me damaged, I will not issue any refund but cooperate with you on your insurance claim. It is therefore very important that you ship the guitar fully insured. Victor K.

Price: 4500 USD

Location: Alpharetta, Georgia

End Time: 2025-01-30T12:35:04.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD