Shunsuke Yokoo Fantasi 1989 Handmade Concert Classical Guitar
A one of a kind guitar with beautiful tone in great condition.
Hand-built in Saitama, Japan.
One of the most skilled luthiers in Japan Shunsuke Yokoo was born in 1946. He studied guitar making with the famous Masaru Kohno in 1964. In 1967 he established his own Workshop - the Yokoo Guitar Studio.
Sadly, Shunsuke passed away in January 2023. His son Masato, who is also a prominent luthier, is in charge of the workshop today. If Shunsuke was still alive, to order a guitar from him would cost 440,000 yen and at least 6 month on the wait list.
The guitars is very resonant, has a very rich and beautiful tone.
It's definitely a high end concert class instrument that will shine at a live performance or a recording.
It is well set up and maintained, has a very comfortable neck, it'a pure joy to play.
Condition
It's in very good considering it's 35 years old.
There are some signs of use that do not affect the sound or playability.
There are three hairline cracks in the finish on the upper bout (above the fretboard) that are hard to see on the photos. You can tell from the pictures of the inside that it's not through the wood, only superficial ones.
My luthier said it's nothing to worry about as long as you keep it well humidified like any other solid wood instrument. There are a few scratches on the back as well as a few small dents along the edges that are only visible up close.
The guitar has been kept in a room with humidity set to 50% at 25 degrees (75F).
The neck is straight, action is medium low, comfortable to play.
Specs.
Top High Grade Solid Spruce
Back / Sides Solid Indian Rosewood
Finish Shellac
Neck Reinforced Mahogany, Natural Bone Nut
Fingerboard Ebony
Bridge Rosewood, Natural Bone Saddle
String Length 650 mm
Nut width 52 mm
Action at 12 fret (1st): 3.5 mm
Action at 12 fret (6th): 4 mm
Hard case is included
History of Japanese Classical Guitar Making
From the late 1960s Japanese luthiers produced guitars of exceptional quality. These skilled craftsmen typically ran small shops, employing a handful of master builders who were often trained in Spain or under Spanish master builders in Japan. During this period, bans on certain types of wood were not yet in place, allowing luthiers to source high-quality wood for their creations. Although these guitars are considered a bargain in today's market, finding top-quality Japanese classical guitars from this era can be challenging, and restrictions on exporting certain types of wood make them even more difficult to obtain. Similar guitars built with comparable materials today would cost significantly more due to the scarcity or complete bans on certain types of wood. Most of those talented luthiers from the 70s and 80s are now retired or have passed away.
