1968 Masaru Kohno

Top: Cedar fan braced solid top
Back and sides: Rosewood
Scale: 650mm
Origin; Japan
Price: SOLD

Masaru Kohno won the Gold Medal in Elizabeth’s Concourse Belgium, an international competition in guitar lutherie, in 1967, this guitar was built the following year in 1968 and is a prime example of a fine Kohno in remarkable “near new” condition given it is nearly 50 years old. There are a very few marks on the guitar, and one tight stable crack in the lower bout that I suspect has been there a long time and which is a surface crack only and does not appear to penetrate through underneath the soundboard when inspected with a mirror. Otherwise it looks near new. The guitar has a lovely voice with excellent sustain and surprisingly full round trebles. Any fan of Kohno’s work, and they are legion, will find this instrument inspiring.