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Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S
Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S

Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar Masterbuilt by Kato, Solid Spruce, S

$ 1056.3

  • Brand: Yamaha
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: Japan
  • Model: GC-51
  • Model Year: 1983
  • Type: Classical Guitar

Description

Description: A gorgeous Yamaha GC-51 Grand Concert Classical Guitar. Masterbuilt and signed by Toshiro Kato, 1983. GC-51 was the third from the top model after the GC-61 and GC-71. The MSRP for it was US$ 3,799. The top of the line GC-71 was $ 11,995 that was built using the same kind of tonewoods as the GC-51 you are looking at. The tonewood that was used for the top of this guitar is select Japanese Ezo Spruce. It grows in the high mountains of Hokkaido island. Ezo spruce is a slow-growing species that requires specific conditions to thrive, such as a cool and humid climate. As a result, it is a rare and expensive wood. In 1995, the Japanese government designated Ezo spruce as a protected species under the Wildlife Protection and Hunting Law, which prohibits the cutting, sale, and transportation of the wood without authorization. There is extremely limited stock of it in Japan and to commission a guitar with Ezo spruce top nowadays would cost many thousands. The back is from a two piece Brazilian rosewood with beautiful grain. Brazilian rosewood has its reputation for superior tonal quality. Back in the 1970s and 80s BRW was readily available and not yet subject to the trade restrictions that are in place today. In 1992 it was listed as a protected species so its harvest and trade became strictly regulated. As a result, the supply of Brazilian rosewood has become extremely limited, and its use in guitar making has become increasingly rare. The sound of this guitar is truly impressive. It's rich, complex, with beautiful overtones and good resonance. There's ample amount of brightness, great depth and balance across all registers. Perfect for recording and performance. Condition Despite its age of 41 years, the guitar remains in excellent condition. There are multiple signs of use such as scratches and dings but nothing that affects playability or sound. There's been a cosmetic repair made on the upper bout, on the edge (seen on pic 12, 13). A small piece of rosewood binding was chipped and has been sealed properly. There is a hairline crack about 2,5 inches long on the side (seen on pic 17) Neck is with minimal fretwear. Intonation is excellent. It has a nice C-profile neck that feels comfortable to play. With its full sound and impressive projection, the guitar plays nicely up and down the fretboard. Action is medium-low. There is a little extra hight on the saddle to make it lower if necessary. Specs. Years sold 1983 - 1986 Top High Grade Solid Ezo Spruce (aka Ezomatsu Spruce) Finish Shellac / Lacquer Back / Sides Solid Brazilian Rosewood (Jacaranda) Neck Honduran Mahogany Fingerboard Ebony Bridge Jacaranda (Brazilian Rosewood) String Length 652 mm ) Width at nut 52 mm Action at 12 fret (1st): 3.25 mm Action at 12 fret (6th): 3.25 mm Comes with a hard shell case Toshiro Kato was considered the most talented master builder at Yamaha. He was born in 1942 in Japan and began his career at Yamaha in 1963 as an apprentice. He quickly demonstrated his talent and dedication and eventually became a master builder. Thanks to Kato's talents Yamaha Corporation was able to price their Grand Concert guitars at a similar level to the famous Masaru Kohno workshop instruments. The GC series guitars were highly valued by many classical guitar players all over the world. At some point in the 1970s, Yamaha guitars had surpassed similarly priced Kohno models in terms of quality. Kato worked at Yamaha for over 40 years and retired in 2007. He continued to be involved in the guitar-making community as a consultant and teacher, sharing his knowledge and expertise with younger generations of guitar makers. It should be noted that if contemporary luthiers used old stock of solid tone woods that are 40 years or older to craft a classical guitar, the cost of such an instrument would be close to $10000. More history on Vintage Japanese Classical Guitars. 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. Most of those talented luthiers from the 70s and 80s are now retired or have passed away. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. SHIPPING We pack items very carefully and ship with tracking number the next day after payment clears. PLEASE NOTE that shipping times are not 100% guaranteed due to holidays, weather disruptions etc. We cannot be responsible for local taxes and/or duties. RATES USA: UPS Ground, 5-7 days US$100 Canada: UPS Ground, 2-3 days CA$100 EUROPE: UPS or DHL Express will be about US$350, 5-7 days (please enquire for a more accurate quote) Return Policy. We do not accept returns of used items. We do our best to make detailed descriptions and use high resolution pictures. Please study pictures and read the description carefully. Contact us if you have more questions. ================================================== Please ask any questions prior to bidding, if you have any. Check my other listings for more guitar stuff. Let me know if you want combined shipping. Thanks for looking and good luck! Photo: