I bought this beautiful guitar about 35 years ago, but rarely played it so it still looks like new. This hand-crafted classic guitar made in Japan comes with a hardshell case for protection. See what the guitar looks and sounds like on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AZ00a-T07c
This guitar was handmade in the master guitar workshop of Eichi Kodaira, one of the most famous guitar makers from Japan ever. Kodaira began his career as a guitar maker in the 1960s and quickly gained a reputation for producing outstandingly crafted instruments at affordable prices. In fact, his guitars were so good that in 1980 he was invited to build select concert guitars as part of the infamous Asturias fine concert guitar forge - a recognition afforded to few guitar makers.
Eichi Kodaira instruments are extremely well respected and considered by many players to be the best mid-range concert guitars.
And this Kodaira Artist 135S is no exception: with an extremely resonant solid cedar top and beautifully figured rosewood sides/back, the guitar sounds wonderfully clear and full, filling the entire tonal spectrum, revealing both standing bass notes and crystalline highs with plenty of overtones - indeed, the guitar literally sings! The volume, despite age, is powerfully loud and the clarity of the treble notes is exceptional. With an excellent response and very good sustain, it's a truly versatile classical guitar that successfully handles classical pieces as well as modern plucked and chord playing.
A sound sample of the instrument itself can be found above.
The flamed mahogany neck, reinforced with rosewood, is extremely comfortable in the hand and together with the slightly narrower neck profile with 52mm nut width as well as the string action of 3.2mm (XIIth fret E6) offers a superb playability.
Visually, this Kodaira classical guitar offers a simple-elegant, authentically aged appearance, where especially the used woods come out aesthetically pleasing. The mottled grain of the mahogany neck complements great with the boldly figured rosewood in the body, and lovingly crafted details like a hand-carved, tapered headstock with rosewood veneer as well as rosewood bindings add a sense of value.
Technical Specifications:
- Made in: Japan
- Top: Cedar (solid)
- Back/Sides: East Indian rosewood
- Neck: flamed mahogany, blocked with rosewood
- Headstock: mahogany, rosewood veneer
- Fingerboard & Bridge: Rosewood
- Bindings: rosewood
- Machine heads: gold plated original machine heads, pearloid pegs
- Scale length: 650mm
- nut width: 52mm
- Action: 3,2mm (XII fret E6)
These classical guitars by Kodaira are rare and highly sought after today:
https://reverb.com/item/10579632-made-in-1975-by-eichi-kodaira-wonderful-classical-concert-guitar-model-e500
This guitar is in excellent, well-maintained original condition and technically flawless. It shows only isolated fine traces of normal use (micro scratches, etc. - see pictures). All but superficial and insignificant.
