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1978 Seija Inaba Concert Classical Guitar – Custom made, Beautiful
Estimated price for orientation: 2 200 $
Category: Classical Guitars
Class:
Description Condition: Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition Body Type: Classical
This is Concert Level Classical guitar made by a luthier that is famous in Japan but not known here in the west.The sound is full, rich, with very good volume, dynamic range, and romantic in character. It is very easy to play. The condition is excellent with no cracks, straight neck, the neck has not taken a set, not fret ware I can see. The only defect I can see is two scratches in the lacquer on the back and the smallest of marks on the finish on the top which I can’t bring out in pictures. A 39 year old guitar in this condition is relatively rare. I set the action at the 12th fret is set at 3.3mm on 6th and 2.7mm on the first sting. There is enough saddle left to lower the bass strings to below 3mm. The back and sides are solid Brazilian rosewood and the top is spruce. The bracing is traditional Torres along with a Spanish foot. The workman ship is excellent with custom inlay on the perimeter on the top. The rosette may be custom as well. The translation of the label is ‘Made for Miss Naoko Uchida in 1978 by Seiji Inaba’. Custom made guitars typically cost more than a standard model. I really can’t determine what feature was custom. The only guitar I found comparable by Inaba is a 1976 model 300 which cost 300000 yen at the time it was built (about $3000 in 1976 dollars). This guitar has the same rosette and inlay as the Model 300 but does not have a carved headstock. Perhaps the customer wanted something less flashy. I put on a new set of labella 2001 median tension strings and played it for about 2 weeks. One thing I noticed was the guitar sounded very good from the start but continued to improve. It’s possible it was never played in. I get the impression that it may like high tension strings. The playability was very good and I did not think it was 660mm scale until I measured for this sale. It didn’t buzz for me in spite of the low action. The guitar was made for someone with small hands I imagine (based on the label) so the overall neck and setup is very well done yet I don’t feel the neck profile is thin. I priced the guitar lower than it is probably worth because the name is unknown here and the exact model cannot be determined.Scale: 660 mmNut: 52mmAction 12th Fret: 3.3 mm 6th string , 2.7 mm 1stSaddle Height above bridge: about 2.7 base side, not much on the treble sideTop: SpruceBack: Solid Rosewood Sides: solid RosewoodNeck: Straight. No bowing and the neck has not taken a set.Fretboard: Ebony
Description
| Condition: | Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition | Body Type: | Classical |
This is Concert Level Classical guitar made by a luthier that is famous in Japan but not known here in the west.The sound is full, rich, with very good volume, dynamic range, and romantic in character. It is very easy to play. The condition is excellent with no cracks, straight neck, the neck has not taken a set, not fret ware I can see. The only defect I can see is two scratches in the lacquer on the back and the smallest of marks on the finish on the top which I can’t bring out in pictures. A 39 year old guitar in this condition is relatively rare. I set the action at the 12th fret is set at 3.3mm on 6th and 2.7mm on the first sting. There is enough saddle left to lower the bass strings to below 3mm. The back and sides are solid Brazilian rosewood and the top is spruce. The bracing is traditional Torres along with a Spanish foot. The workman ship is excellent with custom inlay on the perimeter on the top. The rosette may be custom as well. The translation of the label is ‘Made for Miss Naoko Uchida in 1978 by Seiji Inaba’. Custom made guitars typically cost more than a standard model. I really can’t determine what feature was custom. The only guitar I found comparable by Inaba is a 1976 model 300 which cost 300000 yen at the time it was built (about $3000 in 1976 dollars). This guitar has the same rosette and inlay as the Model 300 but does not have a carved headstock. Perhaps the customer wanted something less flashy. I put on a new set of labella 2001 median tension strings and played it for about 2 weeks. One thing I noticed was the guitar sounded very good from the start but continued to improve. It’s possible it was never played in. I get the impression that it may like high tension strings. The playability was very good and I did not think it was 660mm scale until I measured for this sale. It didn’t buzz for me in spite of the low action. The guitar was made for someone with small hands I imagine (based on the label) so the overall neck and setup is very well done yet I don’t feel the neck profile is thin. I priced the guitar lower than it is probably worth because the name is unknown here and the exact model cannot be determined.Scale: 660 mmNut: 52mmAction 12th Fret: 3.3 mm 6th string , 2.7 mm 1stSaddle Height above bridge: about 2.7 base side, not much on the treble sideTop: SpruceBack: Solid Rosewood Sides: solid RosewoodNeck: Straight. No bowing and the neck has not taken a set.Fretboard: Ebony