Yamaha GC-7 Grand Concert Classical Guitar built and signed by Hideyuki Ezaki in 1981
Solid Spruce Top, Solid Indian Rosewood Back and Sides
The tone wood that was used for the top is Japanese Ezo Spruce.
Ezo spruce grows in the high mountains in Japan and no longer allowed to be harvested.
There are some old stocks still available in Japan or outside Japan but to commission a guitar with Ezo spruce top nowadays will cost thousands.
This guitar showcases Hideyuki Ezaki's exceptional craftsmanship. Its sound is very impressive and will inspire every single classical player who touches it. The sound is balanced with bass notes having a deep, resonating quality, while the trebles are clear and vibrant. The notes are well-separated and enhanced by an impressive sustain. The guitar is loud and resonant. It is indeed a Grand Concert instrument!
Condition
Despite its age of over 40 years, this guitar remains in excellent condition. The finish is near mint condition. There are very few superficial marks that are only visible if you look very closelyThe bright white spots that you might see on some pictures are just reflections.
The guitar has been kept in a room with humidity set to 50% at 25 degrees (75F).
The action is medium to low, comfortable to play.
Specs.
Top: High grade Solid Japanese Ezo Spruce
Finish: Urethane
Back / Sides: Solid Indian Rosewood
Finish: Urethane
Neck: Honduras Mahogany, Natural Bone Nut
Fingerboard: Ebony
Bridge: Rosewood, Natural Bone Saddle
Scale Length: 650 mm
Nut width: 52 mm
Action at 12 fret (1st): 3.50 mm
Action at 12 fret (6th): 3.50 mm
Comes with original Yamaha hard case
Luthier's bio
Hideyuki joined Yamaha's classical guitar workshop in 1967 and then went to Spain in 1968, where he studied guitar making for three years under Eduardo Ferrer in Granada and Manuel Hernandez in Madrid. He returned in 1971 and joined Yamaha's custom shop, working alongside Toshiro Kato and Hiroshi Harada. Initially, Hideyuki Ezaki produced a limited number of midrange Yamaha models. He was also a member of Yamaha's design group, contributing to various innovations that improved the tonal properties of Yamaha guitars. From 1975 to 1982, Hideyuki specialized in crafting Yamaha's top of the line model, GC30B. After Toshihiro Kato's departure in the late 1980s, Hideyuki became the head of Yamaha's Custom Shop until his retirement in 2007. Even after retiring, he continued his craft in his own workshop. His guitars range in price, with the least expensive models starting at 600,000 yen, approximately $6,000 in the US market. Among the players who own Ezaki guitars are Leo Brouwer, Siegfried Behrend, and Stephen Rak to name just a few.
