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TAMA 3550P VINTAGE CIRCA 1973 HIGH-QUALITY MIJ "GRAND CONCERT" CLASSICAL GUITAR.
Estimated price for orientation: 699 $
Category: Classical Guitars
Class:
Description Brand: Tama No. of Strings: 6 string Size: 4//4 Right-// Left-Handed: Right-Handed Model: 3550P Country//Region of Manufacture: Japan
________________________________________________________________
*** VINTAGE & TRADITIONAL GUITARS *** W: www.vintagetraditionalguitars.co.uk
E: info@vintagetraditionalguitars.co.uk
T: +44 (0)1543 677140
M: 07970 832955
If you have any enquiries please email me & I will reply as soon as possible. Details of all guitars available can be seen at the Vintage & Traditional Guitars website. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if I can help. Best Wishes, Bob.________________________________________________________________Selling on commission for a customer.Amongst regular sales of Classical guitars, also Brazilian, English and Spanish made, I have sold many Japanese made classicals, but this one is a little different....a really exceptional quality, Japanese Tama Classical Guitar, referred to in the maker's original literature as "Grand Concert Guitar", which appears to be from the early 1970s.
Offering really excellent sound and playability, the guitar has some exceptional quality detailing and fittings, with richly coloured timbers, of the traditional combination of Western Red Cedar top and Rosewood back & sides.
There is a considerable level of "buzz" around Tama guitars in general in various forums, and from the level of prices you can see, they seem to be regarded as pretty much the top of the tree of Japanese made guitars. A quick look at eBay & other sites gives prices of anything between up to around £1,100. See also the update about the link between Tama guitars and Juan Orozco & Kohno.___________________________________________________________ TAMA 3550P VINTAGE c.1973 HIGH-QUALITY MIJ CEDAR & ROSEWOOD "GRAND CONCERT" CLASSICAL/SPANISH GUITAR - Exceptional Quality, Beautifully Appointed Classical Guitar, in Fantastically Good Condition, with probably Original Case._____________________________________________________________________________
DESCRIPTION.
_____________________________________________________________________________Stock Number: VTGC1032.I have sold quite a number of Japanese made Classicals from this period, which are invariably beautifully made with attractive woods and elegant detailing. They are very good sounding and playing vintage guitars, with great character. Of all the ones I have sold, this has one has the most exceptional detailing features and fittings, undoubtedly of real style and quality.Although it has no specific dating on the guitar itself, there is sufficient internet research information to date it in all probability to 1973. My customer bought the guitar around 2012 from the well-known online seller, Nick's Guitars, for a price of £785, but is prepared to consider reasonable offers. The brief details from that sale and extensive array of photographs is still viewable in the Nick's Guitars picture library.There are certain references to the 3550 model only being made in 1974, and with Cedar top & Ebony fingerboard, which is probably where the Nick's Guitars dating originated, but I suspect that the Serial Number of T3061256, stamped on the main brace front of the soundhole, is more likely to date the guitar to 1973, on the basis so often used on Japanese guitars that the 3 represents the year, 06, the month of June, and 1256 the production number in that month. On the other hand, the Unofficial Tama Guitars website, also on the links below, indicates that Tama Guitars were only made between 1974 & 1978, but does not record any serial numbers starting with the number 3....the lowest start number being 4, leaving open the possibility that this is an early guitar, in fact from 1973. Anyway, I think it is safe to describe it as "early '70s". The "P" designation added to the 3550P, stamped on the neck block, indicates that this model has high-quality laminate top.This is a really very elegant Classical guitar, quite exceptional amongst the many Japanese classical guitars I have seen, and will provide an excellent instrument for a student or an experienced player. As you will see from the photos the richly coloured woods are beautiful, and the finish retains superb depth of colour. The beautifully grained top has intricate decorative soundhole Rosette and dark-edged multiple binding. The elegantly carved Headstock has very handsome Rosewood facing, with similar herringbone decorative centre stripe inlay. The Rosewood bridge, has smart light-coloured wood binding and Rosewood inlay. The Rosewood back and sides are also richly coloured, particularly attractively grained, book-matched, with centre inlay stripe, and again the exceptional quality feature of edge bindings on the rear. The matching Rosewood sides have also have side bindings, top & back and end stripe - the whole guitar has the exceptional look of quality!
Original maker's literature specifies that "The bracing is all hand-shaped and sanded for excellent resonance"....a comment that you would not find these days for other than the most high-end luthier-made guitars. Further information included in the "DESCRIPTION UPDATE - JUAN OROZCO/KOHNO CONNECTION" section below. The degree of attention to detail is followed through even to the soundhole edge shaping, such that on first viewing you can be forgiven for drawing the conclusion that the top is solid, but it is in fact a high-quality laminate....not necessarily poorer in terms of sound quality, just a slightly different, I find only detectable by the keenly-tuned ears of some professional players and luthier/guitar-builders I know.The guitar's continued integrity after probably around 43 years is testament to the manufacturing quality, and to the high quality of laminate woods used, typical of Japanese construction of this period. Although there is much discussion about the use of laminate woods, it has enabled the production and long-term survival of some superb looking and sounding, but affordable vintage guitars, and I am sure has contributed to the survival of this guitar in such great condition, due to the greater durability and freedom from cracking and distortion problems which have seen the failure of many guitars of similar age which were made of solid woods. It is now apparent that over the years these high-quality laminate woods have developed an excellent strong mature tone and volume.The dimensions appear to be quite traditional, with 652mm./25.7" scale and full width fingerboard, 52.5mm./2.07" at the nut, on a reasonably shallow, slightly "D" profile neck. In my internet search on Tama guitars I came across an eBay USA listing/result of a Tama Classical Guitar selling in auction style sale at $1,300USD in 2011, and a price list showing that the 3550 model was priced at $345USD...a very healthy price as long ago as 1974. The history of the connection to Ibanez is not fully clear...I've seen references to the Seisakusho, Aichi, Japan being an Ibanez factory, to Tama guitars being made by Ibanez & to Ibanez taking over the factory in the late 1970s, but you may know the story more fully. However, I did appreciate the one comment I read, along the following lines..."This is what Lexus is to Toyota = Tama guitars to Ibanez vintage guitars". Please see the added update section opposite headed "DESCRIPTION UPDATE - JUAN OROZCO/KOHNO CONNECTION", following additional information kindly provided by Noud Koevoets, for which I am most grateful.------------------------------------------------------------**** DESCRIPTION UPDATE - JUAN OROZCO/KOHNO CONNECTION ****------------------------------------------------------------I am grateful to Noud Koevoets from the Netherlands who has contacted me about his extensive knowledge of the link between Tama guitars and the the renowned Spanish guitar maker, Juan Orozco and Japanese maker Kohno, and with his permission I quote his initial email message to me:-"Hello,I just wanted to let you know that in the second half of the seventies and early eighties the Tama factory was producing classical guitars for Juan Orozco (my Blog about those guitars) and for Kohno and Sakurai. This Tama guitar has been built in exactly the same way they did the other brands mentioned. If I was living in Great Britain I certainly would drop by to give it a try.Tama also produced the later Ibanez Artwood around 1980 which in fact makes it all even more confusing as they stopped around 1978 / 1979 producing guitars under their own name. Kohno keeps denying that there were ever built guitars with their label at the Tama factory but Juan Orozco stated in a personal letter to me that he created these models together with Mr. Kohno for the world market! (See Blog about Juan Orozco guitars)All the best, Noud Koevoets GreatGuitars."This is the link to his Orozco Blogspot:-http://orozcoguitars.blogspot.co.uk/I hope that the additional links, including the information on Tama guitars in the later part of the Orozco Blogspot will assist. ______________________________________________________________________________PRICE. REVISED 21/10/2016 - £499.00 - very substantial reduction on price paid in 2012!______________________________________________________________________________ I invariably offer my guitars on a "Buy it Now" basis, corresponding to the pricing on my Vintage & Traditional Guitars website, and I don't usually use eBay's ".....or Best Offer" as my prices are always based on the prices I have already achieved for comparable guitars, and I find that eBay encourages buyers to go for the "super-bargain", beyond all reality, whereas my prices reflect the often many hours of workshop time and skilled professional restoration which have gone into the guitar you buy.....very different from many guitars you will see, no doubt of similar type, sold "as-is", or by non-professional sellers, where a cheap buy turns into an expensive repair session with the luthier....I've already done that for you!
In this particular case, I am selling the guitar on behalf of my customer, so governed by his final decision on acceptable price etc. but happy to talk, of course.
_____________________________________________________________________________ CONDITION. _____________________________________________________________________________The guitar is clearly all original, and having been very well looked after, really does not look around 43 years old! The condition is excellent, beautiful finish, with only very few minor dings, on the top & back edges, and one on the back of the neck, but only detectable on close scrutiny, plus one probably a string-changing scratch behind the bridge - all in all, really minor markings for a vintage guitar, from normal usage and in no way prejudicial. The guitar has been inspected in conjunction with the highly respected professional luthier & classical guitar-builder I work with, and no sign of any ongoing issues found, but I do know from my customer that the bridge was recently reset at Sheehan's workshop in Leicester. The original engraved machine heads are working well, set on beautiful Rosewood faced headstock. Playing-wise, there is only the very slightest visible wear to the frets and to the fingerboard. The photos of the guitar are also available on the Vintage & Traditional Guitars website, or I can email them to you on request via _______________________________________________________________________________ ACTION, STRINGS & CASES. _______________________________________________________________________________The action at the 12th. fret is possibly a little lower than many classical players would prefer, at around 2.75mm./3.25mm., although this may be ideal for less experienced/student players, and, with excellently aligned fingerboard, the action would be easily raise by fitting a replacement, taller saddle, and the guitar plays very nicely indeed. The age/type of the existing strings is not known, and whilst the guitar sounds exceptionally good with the existing stringing, a buyer will want to re-string with their own preferred choice of strings or, prior to sale, I can fit a set of quality USA made La Bella Classical strings, probably 850-B, with Golden Alloy Basses and Black Nylon Trebles.The probably original black covered and case, with brown soft-lined interior, is included, in serviceable condition, but with missing front catch & no key. However, I may be able to supply a Hiscox Liteflite hardshell case, if available at modest additional cost._____________________________________________________________________________________ YOUTUBE. _____________________________________________________________________________________A search of YouTube has so far failed to produce any clips recorded on a Tama classical guitar. If you know of any such clips please do let me know._____________________________________________________________________________________ DELIVERY AND CONTACT. _____________________________________________________________________________________*** Subsidized Parcelforce Express 24 Postage & Packing to U.K. Addresses! *** ________________________________________________________________________________________eBay now charge sellers 10% Fees on the amount you pay towards the sellers postage costs!This is entirely unfair to sellers like me, who have always subsidized the postage cost, by charging less than the cost to them and not making any charge for packing time and material costs, which are both considerable when it comes to packing items which are large, fragile, and require great care, like guitars! When challenged they can only make the excuse that some buyers have complained that that some sellers are abusing the arrangements and over-charging on postage.....but not this seller!!Buyers will be cheered to hear that eBay's advice to sellers on this point is that, as they are going to pay fees on both the selling price and postage costs, they should offer free postage & packing, and "increase the price to the seller to reflect their additional resulting costs".Let us be entirely clear..........the only beneficiary of this policy is eBay's bottom line profits! I have sold on eBay for a long time now, and like to continue to sell to those many members who use eBay as their primary buying search, and although I restore & sell guitars primarily as an interest, I cannot do it at a loss, but the high eBay costs make it increasingly difficult, and having established my own Vintage & Traditional Guitars website, I now sell the majority of my guitars there.
I continue to subsidize the postage cost to the buyer, and in the effort to comply with eBay's pressure for sellers to provide free postage, I have offered this, but have reverted to quoting minimal/subsidized postage charges, with no charge for packing time & materials, as I feel that experienced buyers appreciate that there is considerable cost/effort involved in the safe and secure postal delivery of large and fragile items like guitars, and are prepared to pay modest costs, whereas inclusive postage prices deter buyers who would be happy to travel & collect.Similarly, I will not be participating in upcoming eBay schemes, including "Click & Collect", "Managed Returns" & "Global Shipping Program", as these are not suitable for guitar sales, and not compatible with my level of personal service, which you can assess for yourself from the high-quality & wholly positive feedback I have received over several years._____________________________________________________________________________________
I will be very happy if you are able to come and try out the guitar, and of course, following purchase, you are welcome to come and collect in person. Otherwise I will pack well and securely box the guitar and post it to you as soon as possible. If you would prefer I may be able to arrange to deliver or meet part way to hand over, dependent on a reasonable distance, for a similar cost to postage.Thank you for looking, and please take a look at the other guitars in my eBay Shop. In addition I do have a stock of other guitars, which is added to regularly, but some of them do take a little time to find their way through my workshop, so if you don't see what you are looking for at present, please let me have details - who knows I may have just what you are looking for! If you need any further information or advice, please contact me via eBay Messaging, my direct email address as included in my eBay Business Seller contact details, phone me on 01543 677140, or via my mobile number 07970 832955, and I will do my best to answer any questions. Please take a look at the other guitars in my eBay Shop, but if you don't see what you are looking for, I do have a stock of other guitars, some still in the course of preparation for sale, so please let me have details - who knows I may have just what you are looking for!___________________________________________________________________________________ INTERNATIONAL SALES. ___________________________________________________________________________________ In addition to hundreds of UK sales, in the last few years I have sold and had safely delivered many guitars to buyers in EU Countries, including Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, and also to Switzerland and Norway. I am always happy to advise potential buyers from throughout Europe with regard to postage arrangements and delivery costs. ____________________________________________________________________________________ FEEDBACK AND TESTIMONIALS. ____________________________________________________________________________________ *** eBay Feedback. *** Please see the hundreds of complimentary feedback comments kindly left for me by satisfied buyers of my guitars, over the last few years.*** Website Sales. ***
The Vintage & Traditional Guitars website has been operational now for over four years, and the majority of my sales now come from that source. Additional testimonials from customers can be found there, together with details of prominent guitarists who have bought VTG guitars.
_________________________________________________________________________________ OTHER GUITARS. _________________________________________________________________________________ I have a stock of guitars, which is added to regularly, but some do tend to take a little time to find their way through my workshop. Some of these are listed on my website - Vintage & Traditional Guitars, but if you don't see the guitar you are looking for, please enquire via - who knows I may have just the one you want! _________________________________________________________________________________
Description
| Brand: | Tama | No. of Strings: | 6 string |
| Size: | 4//4 | Right-// Left-Handed: | Right-Handed |
| Model: | 3550P | Country//Region of Manufacture: | Japan |
________________________________________________________________
*** VINTAGE & TRADITIONAL GUITARS *** W: www.vintagetraditionalguitars.co.uk
E: info@vintagetraditionalguitars.co.uk
T: +44 (0)1543 677140
M: 07970 832955
If you have any enquiries please email me & I will reply as soon as possible. Details of all guitars available can be seen at the Vintage & Traditional Guitars website. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if I can help. Best Wishes, Bob.________________________________________________________________Selling on commission for a customer.Amongst regular sales of Classical guitars, also Brazilian, English and Spanish made, I have sold many Japanese made classicals, but this one is a little different....a really exceptional quality, Japanese Tama Classical Guitar, referred to in the maker's original literature as "Grand Concert Guitar", which appears to be from the early 1970s.
Offering really excellent sound and playability, the guitar has some exceptional quality detailing and fittings, with richly coloured timbers, of the traditional combination of Western Red Cedar top and Rosewood back & sides.
There is a considerable level of "buzz" around Tama guitars in general in various forums, and from the level of prices you can see, they seem to be regarded as pretty much the top of the tree of Japanese made guitars. A quick look at eBay & other sites gives prices of anything between up to around £1,100. See also the update about the link between Tama guitars and Juan Orozco & Kohno.___________________________________________________________ TAMA 3550P VINTAGE c.1973 HIGH-QUALITY MIJ CEDAR & ROSEWOOD "GRAND CONCERT" CLASSICAL/SPANISH GUITAR - Exceptional Quality, Beautifully Appointed Classical Guitar, in Fantastically Good Condition, with probably Original Case._____________________________________________________________________________
DESCRIPTION.
_____________________________________________________________________________Stock Number: VTGC1032.I have sold quite a number of Japanese made Classicals from this period, which are invariably beautifully made with attractive woods and elegant detailing. They are very good sounding and playing vintage guitars, with great character. Of all the ones I have sold, this has one has the most exceptional detailing features and fittings, undoubtedly of real style and quality.Although it has no specific dating on the guitar itself, there is sufficient internet research information to date it in all probability to 1973. My customer bought the guitar around 2012 from the well-known online seller, Nick's Guitars, for a price of £785, but is prepared to consider reasonable offers. The brief details from that sale and extensive array of photographs is still viewable in the Nick's Guitars picture library.There are certain references to the 3550 model only being made in 1974, and with Cedar top & Ebony fingerboard, which is probably where the Nick's Guitars dating originated, but I suspect that the Serial Number of T3061256, stamped on the main brace front of the soundhole, is more likely to date the guitar to 1973, on the basis so often used on Japanese guitars that the 3 represents the year, 06, the month of June, and 1256 the production number in that month. On the other hand, the Unofficial Tama Guitars website, also on the links below, indicates that Tama Guitars were only made between 1974 & 1978, but does not record any serial numbers starting with the number 3....the lowest start number being 4, leaving open the possibility that this is an early guitar, in fact from 1973. Anyway, I think it is safe to describe it as "early '70s". The "P" designation added to the 3550P, stamped on the neck block, indicates that this model has high-quality laminate top.This is a really very elegant Classical guitar, quite exceptional amongst the many Japanese classical guitars I have seen, and will provide an excellent instrument for a student or an experienced player. As you will see from the photos the richly coloured woods are beautiful, and the finish retains superb depth of colour. The beautifully grained top has intricate decorative soundhole Rosette and dark-edged multiple binding. The elegantly carved Headstock has very handsome Rosewood facing, with similar herringbone decorative centre stripe inlay. The Rosewood bridge, has smart light-coloured wood binding and Rosewood inlay. The Rosewood back and sides are also richly coloured, particularly attractively grained, book-matched, with centre inlay stripe, and again the exceptional quality feature of edge bindings on the rear. The matching Rosewood sides have also have side bindings, top & back and end stripe - the whole guitar has the exceptional look of quality!
Original maker's literature specifies that "The bracing is all hand-shaped and sanded for excellent resonance"....a comment that you would not find these days for other than the most high-end luthier-made guitars. Further information included in the "DESCRIPTION UPDATE - JUAN OROZCO/KOHNO CONNECTION" section below. The degree of attention to detail is followed through even to the soundhole edge shaping, such that on first viewing you can be forgiven for drawing the conclusion that the top is solid, but it is in fact a high-quality laminate....not necessarily poorer in terms of sound quality, just a slightly different, I find only detectable by the keenly-tuned ears of some professional players and luthier/guitar-builders I know.The guitar's continued integrity after probably around 43 years is testament to the manufacturing quality, and to the high quality of laminate woods used, typical of Japanese construction of this period. Although there is much discussion about the use of laminate woods, it has enabled the production and long-term survival of some superb looking and sounding, but affordable vintage guitars, and I am sure has contributed to the survival of this guitar in such great condition, due to the greater durability and freedom from cracking and distortion problems which have seen the failure of many guitars of similar age which were made of solid woods. It is now apparent that over the years these high-quality laminate woods have developed an excellent strong mature tone and volume.The dimensions appear to be quite traditional, with 652mm./25.7" scale and full width fingerboard, 52.5mm./2.07" at the nut, on a reasonably shallow, slightly "D" profile neck. In my internet search on Tama guitars I came across an eBay USA listing/result of a Tama Classical Guitar selling in auction style sale at $1,300USD in 2011, and a price list showing that the 3550 model was priced at $345USD...a very healthy price as long ago as 1974. The history of the connection to Ibanez is not fully clear...I've seen references to the Seisakusho, Aichi, Japan being an Ibanez factory, to Tama guitars being made by Ibanez & to Ibanez taking over the factory in the late 1970s, but you may know the story more fully. However, I did appreciate the one comment I read, along the following lines..."This is what Lexus is to Toyota = Tama guitars to Ibanez vintage guitars". Please see the added update section opposite headed "DESCRIPTION UPDATE - JUAN OROZCO/KOHNO CONNECTION", following additional information kindly provided by Noud Koevoets, for which I am most grateful.------------------------------------------------------------**** DESCRIPTION UPDATE - JUAN OROZCO/KOHNO CONNECTION ****------------------------------------------------------------I am grateful to Noud Koevoets from the Netherlands who has contacted me about his extensive knowledge of the link between Tama guitars and the the renowned Spanish guitar maker, Juan Orozco and Japanese maker Kohno, and with his permission I quote his initial email message to me:-"Hello,I just wanted to let you know that in the second half of the seventies and early eighties the Tama factory was producing classical guitars for Juan Orozco (my Blog about those guitars) and for Kohno and Sakurai. This Tama guitar has been built in exactly the same way they did the other brands mentioned. If I was living in Great Britain I certainly would drop by to give it a try.Tama also produced the later Ibanez Artwood around 1980 which in fact makes it all even more confusing as they stopped around 1978 / 1979 producing guitars under their own name. Kohno keeps denying that there were ever built guitars with their label at the Tama factory but Juan Orozco stated in a personal letter to me that he created these models together with Mr. Kohno for the world market! (See Blog about Juan Orozco guitars)All the best, Noud Koevoets GreatGuitars."This is the link to his Orozco Blogspot:-http://orozcoguitars.blogspot.co.uk/I hope that the additional links, including the information on Tama guitars in the later part of the Orozco Blogspot will assist. ______________________________________________________________________________PRICE. REVISED 21/10/2016 - £499.00 - very substantial reduction on price paid in 2012!______________________________________________________________________________ I invariably offer my guitars on a "Buy it Now" basis, corresponding to the pricing on my Vintage & Traditional Guitars website, and I don't usually use eBay's ".....or Best Offer" as my prices are always based on the prices I have already achieved for comparable guitars, and I find that eBay encourages buyers to go for the "super-bargain", beyond all reality, whereas my prices reflect the often many hours of workshop time and skilled professional restoration which have gone into the guitar you buy.....very different from many guitars you will see, no doubt of similar type, sold "as-is", or by non-professional sellers, where a cheap buy turns into an expensive repair session with the luthier....I've already done that for you!
In this particular case, I am selling the guitar on behalf of my customer, so governed by his final decision on acceptable price etc. but happy to talk, of course.
_____________________________________________________________________________ CONDITION. _____________________________________________________________________________The guitar is clearly all original, and having been very well looked after, really does not look around 43 years old! The condition is excellent, beautiful finish, with only very few minor dings, on the top & back edges, and one on the back of the neck, but only detectable on close scrutiny, plus one probably a string-changing scratch behind the bridge - all in all, really minor markings for a vintage guitar, from normal usage and in no way prejudicial. The guitar has been inspected in conjunction with the highly respected professional luthier & classical guitar-builder I work with, and no sign of any ongoing issues found, but I do know from my customer that the bridge was recently reset at Sheehan's workshop in Leicester. The original engraved machine heads are working well, set on beautiful Rosewood faced headstock. Playing-wise, there is only the very slightest visible wear to the frets and to the fingerboard. The photos of the guitar are also available on the Vintage & Traditional Guitars website, or I can email them to you on request via _______________________________________________________________________________ ACTION, STRINGS & CASES. _______________________________________________________________________________The action at the 12th. fret is possibly a little lower than many classical players would prefer, at around 2.75mm./3.25mm., although this may be ideal for less experienced/student players, and, with excellently aligned fingerboard, the action would be easily raise by fitting a replacement, taller saddle, and the guitar plays very nicely indeed. The age/type of the existing strings is not known, and whilst the guitar sounds exceptionally good with the existing stringing, a buyer will want to re-string with their own preferred choice of strings or, prior to sale, I can fit a set of quality USA made La Bella Classical strings, probably 850-B, with Golden Alloy Basses and Black Nylon Trebles.The probably original black covered and case, with brown soft-lined interior, is included, in serviceable condition, but with missing front catch & no key. However, I may be able to supply a Hiscox Liteflite hardshell case, if available at modest additional cost._____________________________________________________________________________________ YOUTUBE. _____________________________________________________________________________________A search of YouTube has so far failed to produce any clips recorded on a Tama classical guitar. If you know of any such clips please do let me know._____________________________________________________________________________________ DELIVERY AND CONTACT. _____________________________________________________________________________________*** Subsidized Parcelforce Express 24 Postage & Packing to U.K. Addresses! *** ________________________________________________________________________________________eBay now charge sellers 10% Fees on the amount you pay towards the sellers postage costs!This is entirely unfair to sellers like me, who have always subsidized the postage cost, by charging less than the cost to them and not making any charge for packing time and material costs, which are both considerable when it comes to packing items which are large, fragile, and require great care, like guitars! When challenged they can only make the excuse that some buyers have complained that that some sellers are abusing the arrangements and over-charging on postage.....but not this seller!!Buyers will be cheered to hear that eBay's advice to sellers on this point is that, as they are going to pay fees on both the selling price and postage costs, they should offer free postage & packing, and "increase the price to the seller to reflect their additional resulting costs".Let us be entirely clear..........the only beneficiary of this policy is eBay's bottom line profits! I have sold on eBay for a long time now, and like to continue to sell to those many members who use eBay as their primary buying search, and although I restore & sell guitars primarily as an interest, I cannot do it at a loss, but the high eBay costs make it increasingly difficult, and having established my own Vintage & Traditional Guitars website, I now sell the majority of my guitars there.
I continue to subsidize the postage cost to the buyer, and in the effort to comply with eBay's pressure for sellers to provide free postage, I have offered this, but have reverted to quoting minimal/subsidized postage charges, with no charge for packing time & materials, as I feel that experienced buyers appreciate that there is considerable cost/effort involved in the safe and secure postal delivery of large and fragile items like guitars, and are prepared to pay modest costs, whereas inclusive postage prices deter buyers who would be happy to travel & collect.Similarly, I will not be participating in upcoming eBay schemes, including "Click & Collect", "Managed Returns" & "Global Shipping Program", as these are not suitable for guitar sales, and not compatible with my level of personal service, which you can assess for yourself from the high-quality & wholly positive feedback I have received over several years._____________________________________________________________________________________
I will be very happy if you are able to come and try out the guitar, and of course, following purchase, you are welcome to come and collect in person. Otherwise I will pack well and securely box the guitar and post it to you as soon as possible. If you would prefer I may be able to arrange to deliver or meet part way to hand over, dependent on a reasonable distance, for a similar cost to postage.Thank you for looking, and please take a look at the other guitars in my eBay Shop. In addition I do have a stock of other guitars, which is added to regularly, but some of them do take a little time to find their way through my workshop, so if you don't see what you are looking for at present, please let me have details - who knows I may have just what you are looking for! If you need any further information or advice, please contact me via eBay Messaging, my direct email address as included in my eBay Business Seller contact details, phone me on 01543 677140, or via my mobile number 07970 832955, and I will do my best to answer any questions. Please take a look at the other guitars in my eBay Shop, but if you don't see what you are looking for, I do have a stock of other guitars, some still in the course of preparation for sale, so please let me have details - who knows I may have just what you are looking for!___________________________________________________________________________________ INTERNATIONAL SALES. ___________________________________________________________________________________ In addition to hundreds of UK sales, in the last few years I have sold and had safely delivered many guitars to buyers in EU Countries, including Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, and also to Switzerland and Norway. I am always happy to advise potential buyers from throughout Europe with regard to postage arrangements and delivery costs. ____________________________________________________________________________________ FEEDBACK AND TESTIMONIALS. ____________________________________________________________________________________ *** eBay Feedback. *** Please see the hundreds of complimentary feedback comments kindly left for me by satisfied buyers of my guitars, over the last few years.*** Website Sales. ***
The Vintage & Traditional Guitars website has been operational now for over four years, and the majority of my sales now come from that source. Additional testimonials from customers can be found there, together with details of prominent guitarists who have bought VTG guitars.
_________________________________________________________________________________ OTHER GUITARS. _________________________________________________________________________________ I have a stock of guitars, which is added to regularly, but some do tend to take a little time to find their way through my workshop. Some of these are listed on my website - Vintage & Traditional Guitars, but if you don't see the guitar you are looking for, please enquire via - who knows I may have just the one you want! _________________________________________________________________________________
*** VINTAGE & TRADITIONAL GUITARS *** W: www.vintagetraditionalguitars.co.uk
E: info@vintagetraditionalguitars.co.uk
T: +44 (0)1543 677140
M: 07970 832955
If you have any enquiries please email me & I will reply as soon as possible. Details of all guitars available can be seen at the Vintage & Traditional Guitars website. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if I can help. Best Wishes, Bob.________________________________________________________________Selling on commission for a customer.Amongst regular sales of Classical guitars, also Brazilian, English and Spanish made, I have sold many Japanese made classicals, but this one is a little different....a really exceptional quality, Japanese Tama Classical Guitar, referred to in the maker's original literature as "Grand Concert Guitar", which appears to be from the early 1970s.
Offering really excellent sound and playability, the guitar has some exceptional quality detailing and fittings, with richly coloured timbers, of the traditional combination of Western Red Cedar top and Rosewood back & sides.
There is a considerable level of "buzz" around Tama guitars in general in various forums, and from the level of prices you can see, they seem to be regarded as pretty much the top of the tree of Japanese made guitars. A quick look at eBay & other sites gives prices of anything between up to around £1,100. See also the update about the link between Tama guitars and Juan Orozco & Kohno.___________________________________________________________ TAMA 3550P VINTAGE c.1973 HIGH-QUALITY MIJ CEDAR & ROSEWOOD "GRAND CONCERT" CLASSICAL/SPANISH GUITAR - Exceptional Quality, Beautifully Appointed Classical Guitar, in Fantastically Good Condition, with probably Original Case._____________________________________________________________________________
DESCRIPTION.
_____________________________________________________________________________Stock Number: VTGC1032.I have sold quite a number of Japanese made Classicals from this period, which are invariably beautifully made with attractive woods and elegant detailing. They are very good sounding and playing vintage guitars, with great character. Of all the ones I have sold, this has one has the most exceptional detailing features and fittings, undoubtedly of real style and quality.Although it has no specific dating on the guitar itself, there is sufficient internet research information to date it in all probability to 1973. My customer bought the guitar around 2012 from the well-known online seller, Nick's Guitars, for a price of £785, but is prepared to consider reasonable offers. The brief details from that sale and extensive array of photographs is still viewable in the Nick's Guitars picture library.There are certain references to the 3550 model only being made in 1974, and with Cedar top & Ebony fingerboard, which is probably where the Nick's Guitars dating originated, but I suspect that the Serial Number of T3061256, stamped on the main brace front of the soundhole, is more likely to date the guitar to 1973, on the basis so often used on Japanese guitars that the 3 represents the year, 06, the month of June, and 1256 the production number in that month. On the other hand, the Unofficial Tama Guitars website, also on the links below, indicates that Tama Guitars were only made between 1974 & 1978, but does not record any serial numbers starting with the number 3....the lowest start number being 4, leaving open the possibility that this is an early guitar, in fact from 1973. Anyway, I think it is safe to describe it as "early '70s". The "P" designation added to the 3550P, stamped on the neck block, indicates that this model has high-quality laminate top.This is a really very elegant Classical guitar, quite exceptional amongst the many Japanese classical guitars I have seen, and will provide an excellent instrument for a student or an experienced player. As you will see from the photos the richly coloured woods are beautiful, and the finish retains superb depth of colour. The beautifully grained top has intricate decorative soundhole Rosette and dark-edged multiple binding. The elegantly carved Headstock has very handsome Rosewood facing, with similar herringbone decorative centre stripe inlay. The Rosewood bridge, has smart light-coloured wood binding and Rosewood inlay. The Rosewood back and sides are also richly coloured, particularly attractively grained, book-matched, with centre inlay stripe, and again the exceptional quality feature of edge bindings on the rear. The matching Rosewood sides have also have side bindings, top & back and end stripe - the whole guitar has the exceptional look of quality!
Original maker's literature specifies that "The bracing is all hand-shaped and sanded for excellent resonance"....a comment that you would not find these days for other than the most high-end luthier-made guitars. Further information included in the "DESCRIPTION UPDATE - JUAN OROZCO/KOHNO CONNECTION" section below. The degree of attention to detail is followed through even to the soundhole edge shaping, such that on first viewing you can be forgiven for drawing the conclusion that the top is solid, but it is in fact a high-quality laminate....not necessarily poorer in terms of sound quality, just a slightly different, I find only detectable by the keenly-tuned ears of some professional players and luthier/guitar-builders I know.The guitar's continued integrity after probably around 43 years is testament to the manufacturing quality, and to the high quality of laminate woods used, typical of Japanese construction of this period. Although there is much discussion about the use of laminate woods, it has enabled the production and long-term survival of some superb looking and sounding, but affordable vintage guitars, and I am sure has contributed to the survival of this guitar in such great condition, due to the greater durability and freedom from cracking and distortion problems which have seen the failure of many guitars of similar age which were made of solid woods. It is now apparent that over the years these high-quality laminate woods have developed an excellent strong mature tone and volume.The dimensions appear to be quite traditional, with 652mm./25.7" scale and full width fingerboard, 52.5mm./2.07" at the nut, on a reasonably shallow, slightly "D" profile neck. In my internet search on Tama guitars I came across an eBay USA listing/result of a Tama Classical Guitar selling in auction style sale at $1,300USD in 2011, and a price list showing that the 3550 model was priced at $345USD...a very healthy price as long ago as 1974. The history of the connection to Ibanez is not fully clear...I've seen references to the Seisakusho, Aichi, Japan being an Ibanez factory, to Tama guitars being made by Ibanez & to Ibanez taking over the factory in the late 1970s, but you may know the story more fully. However, I did appreciate the one comment I read, along the following lines..."This is what Lexus is to Toyota = Tama guitars to Ibanez vintage guitars". Please see the added update section opposite headed "DESCRIPTION UPDATE - JUAN OROZCO/KOHNO CONNECTION", following additional information kindly provided by Noud Koevoets, for which I am most grateful.------------------------------------------------------------**** DESCRIPTION UPDATE - JUAN OROZCO/KOHNO CONNECTION ****------------------------------------------------------------I am grateful to Noud Koevoets from the Netherlands who has contacted me about his extensive knowledge of the link between Tama guitars and the the renowned Spanish guitar maker, Juan Orozco and Japanese maker Kohno, and with his permission I quote his initial email message to me:-"Hello,I just wanted to let you know that in the second half of the seventies and early eighties the Tama factory was producing classical guitars for Juan Orozco (my Blog about those guitars) and for Kohno and Sakurai. This Tama guitar has been built in exactly the same way they did the other brands mentioned. If I was living in Great Britain I certainly would drop by to give it a try.Tama also produced the later Ibanez Artwood around 1980 which in fact makes it all even more confusing as they stopped around 1978 / 1979 producing guitars under their own name. Kohno keeps denying that there were ever built guitars with their label at the Tama factory but Juan Orozco stated in a personal letter to me that he created these models together with Mr. Kohno for the world market! (See Blog about Juan Orozco guitars)All the best, Noud Koevoets GreatGuitars."This is the link to his Orozco Blogspot:-http://orozcoguitars.blogspot.co.uk/I hope that the additional links, including the information on Tama guitars in the later part of the Orozco Blogspot will assist. ______________________________________________________________________________PRICE. REVISED 21/10/2016 - £499.00 - very substantial reduction on price paid in 2012!______________________________________________________________________________ I invariably offer my guitars on a "Buy it Now" basis, corresponding to the pricing on my Vintage & Traditional Guitars website, and I don't usually use eBay's ".....or Best Offer" as my prices are always based on the prices I have already achieved for comparable guitars, and I find that eBay encourages buyers to go for the "super-bargain", beyond all reality, whereas my prices reflect the often many hours of workshop time and skilled professional restoration which have gone into the guitar you buy.....very different from many guitars you will see, no doubt of similar type, sold "as-is", or by non-professional sellers, where a cheap buy turns into an expensive repair session with the luthier....I've already done that for you!
In this particular case, I am selling the guitar on behalf of my customer, so governed by his final decision on acceptable price etc. but happy to talk, of course.
_____________________________________________________________________________ CONDITION. _____________________________________________________________________________The guitar is clearly all original, and having been very well looked after, really does not look around 43 years old! The condition is excellent, beautiful finish, with only very few minor dings, on the top & back edges, and one on the back of the neck, but only detectable on close scrutiny, plus one probably a string-changing scratch behind the bridge - all in all, really minor markings for a vintage guitar, from normal usage and in no way prejudicial. The guitar has been inspected in conjunction with the highly respected professional luthier & classical guitar-builder I work with, and no sign of any ongoing issues found, but I do know from my customer that the bridge was recently reset at Sheehan's workshop in Leicester. The original engraved machine heads are working well, set on beautiful Rosewood faced headstock. Playing-wise, there is only the very slightest visible wear to the frets and to the fingerboard. The photos of the guitar are also available on the Vintage & Traditional Guitars website, or I can email them to you on request via _______________________________________________________________________________ ACTION, STRINGS & CASES. _______________________________________________________________________________The action at the 12th. fret is possibly a little lower than many classical players would prefer, at around 2.75mm./3.25mm., although this may be ideal for less experienced/student players, and, with excellently aligned fingerboard, the action would be easily raise by fitting a replacement, taller saddle, and the guitar plays very nicely indeed. The age/type of the existing strings is not known, and whilst the guitar sounds exceptionally good with the existing stringing, a buyer will want to re-string with their own preferred choice of strings or, prior to sale, I can fit a set of quality USA made La Bella Classical strings, probably 850-B, with Golden Alloy Basses and Black Nylon Trebles.The probably original black covered and case, with brown soft-lined interior, is included, in serviceable condition, but with missing front catch & no key. However, I may be able to supply a Hiscox Liteflite hardshell case, if available at modest additional cost._____________________________________________________________________________________ YOUTUBE. _____________________________________________________________________________________A search of YouTube has so far failed to produce any clips recorded on a Tama classical guitar. If you know of any such clips please do let me know._____________________________________________________________________________________ DELIVERY AND CONTACT. _____________________________________________________________________________________*** Subsidized Parcelforce Express 24 Postage & Packing to U.K. Addresses! *** ________________________________________________________________________________________eBay now charge sellers 10% Fees on the amount you pay towards the sellers postage costs!This is entirely unfair to sellers like me, who have always subsidized the postage cost, by charging less than the cost to them and not making any charge for packing time and material costs, which are both considerable when it comes to packing items which are large, fragile, and require great care, like guitars! When challenged they can only make the excuse that some buyers have complained that that some sellers are abusing the arrangements and over-charging on postage.....but not this seller!!Buyers will be cheered to hear that eBay's advice to sellers on this point is that, as they are going to pay fees on both the selling price and postage costs, they should offer free postage & packing, and "increase the price to the seller to reflect their additional resulting costs".Let us be entirely clear..........the only beneficiary of this policy is eBay's bottom line profits! I have sold on eBay for a long time now, and like to continue to sell to those many members who use eBay as their primary buying search, and although I restore & sell guitars primarily as an interest, I cannot do it at a loss, but the high eBay costs make it increasingly difficult, and having established my own Vintage & Traditional Guitars website, I now sell the majority of my guitars there.
I continue to subsidize the postage cost to the buyer, and in the effort to comply with eBay's pressure for sellers to provide free postage, I have offered this, but have reverted to quoting minimal/subsidized postage charges, with no charge for packing time & materials, as I feel that experienced buyers appreciate that there is considerable cost/effort involved in the safe and secure postal delivery of large and fragile items like guitars, and are prepared to pay modest costs, whereas inclusive postage prices deter buyers who would be happy to travel & collect.Similarly, I will not be participating in upcoming eBay schemes, including "Click & Collect", "Managed Returns" & "Global Shipping Program", as these are not suitable for guitar sales, and not compatible with my level of personal service, which you can assess for yourself from the high-quality & wholly positive feedback I have received over several years._____________________________________________________________________________________
I will be very happy if you are able to come and try out the guitar, and of course, following purchase, you are welcome to come and collect in person. Otherwise I will pack well and securely box the guitar and post it to you as soon as possible. If you would prefer I may be able to arrange to deliver or meet part way to hand over, dependent on a reasonable distance, for a similar cost to postage.Thank you for looking, and please take a look at the other guitars in my eBay Shop. In addition I do have a stock of other guitars, which is added to regularly, but some of them do take a little time to find their way through my workshop, so if you don't see what you are looking for at present, please let me have details - who knows I may have just what you are looking for! If you need any further information or advice, please contact me via eBay Messaging, my direct email address as included in my eBay Business Seller contact details, phone me on 01543 677140, or via my mobile number 07970 832955, and I will do my best to answer any questions. Please take a look at the other guitars in my eBay Shop, but if you don't see what you are looking for, I do have a stock of other guitars, some still in the course of preparation for sale, so please let me have details - who knows I may have just what you are looking for!___________________________________________________________________________________ INTERNATIONAL SALES. ___________________________________________________________________________________ In addition to hundreds of UK sales, in the last few years I have sold and had safely delivered many guitars to buyers in EU Countries, including Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, and also to Switzerland and Norway. I am always happy to advise potential buyers from throughout Europe with regard to postage arrangements and delivery costs. ____________________________________________________________________________________ FEEDBACK AND TESTIMONIALS. ____________________________________________________________________________________ *** eBay Feedback. *** Please see the hundreds of complimentary feedback comments kindly left for me by satisfied buyers of my guitars, over the last few years.*** Website Sales. ***
The Vintage & Traditional Guitars website has been operational now for over four years, and the majority of my sales now come from that source. Additional testimonials from customers can be found there, together with details of prominent guitarists who have bought VTG guitars.
_________________________________________________________________________________ OTHER GUITARS. _________________________________________________________________________________ I have a stock of guitars, which is added to regularly, but some do tend to take a little time to find their way through my workshop. Some of these are listed on my website - Vintage & Traditional Guitars, but if you don't see the guitar you are looking for, please enquire via - who knows I may have just the one you want! _________________________________________________________________________________