An incredible find, a handmade Terada El-Degas ED-500 Japan 1982. Very rare.
20 fret version. A true Concert level guitar that sounds very impressive. Well balanced tone with ample amount of brightness, rich, warm bass makes it a perfect choice for performance and recording.
Despite its age the guitar remains in excellent condition with only a few superficial marks of use that are only seen up close. No visible fretwear. Looks like it hasn't been played much at all.
Specs
Top: High grade Solid Spruce
Fan bracing
Back and Sides: Macassar Ebony
Neck: Mahogany with double Rosewood reinforcement strips
Fretboard: Ebony
Natural Bone Nut and Bridge Saddle
Scale Length: 652 mm
Nut Width: 52 mm
Action at 12 fret (1st): 3.25 mm
Action at 12 fret (6th): 3.5 mm
Hardshell Case included
History of Japanese Classical Guitar Making
From the late 1960s to the mid 1980s, 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.
