Japanese flamenco guitar makers.

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avimuno

Posts: 598
Joined: Feb. 9 2007
From: Paris, France

Japanese flamenco guitar makers.

Hola todos!

We all know that the art of making flamenco guitars has exceeded the limits of the Spanish borders, with some very talented makers from the States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Israel etc... My feeling is that the emergence of good artisan makers in these countries is directly linked to the interest flamenco guitar has stirred in these parts of the world in the past decades or so. The diversity of this forum is a living testimony to how well flamenco guitar is keeping around the world.

All this have made me wonder... with flamenco being so big in Japan, how come we never really hear of good flamenco guitar makers from there? I know that there are a few top quality classical guitar builders (Sakurai for example, and Kohno before him - the latter having trained with Arcangel Fernandez for a bit it seems), but what about flamenco guitar builders?

Do you guys know of some good luthiers from there?

Thank you.

Saludos!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2013 10:37:32

Erik van Goch

Posts: 1787
Joined: Jul. 17 2012
From: Netherlands

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

My father once tried out a classic guitar build by Sato. I believe it was the best guitar he ever played in his life (he owned 3 top class flamenco guitars and a top class classical Ramirez from 1962 that is a miracle on it's own).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2013 11:30:30

Elie

Posts: 1837
Joined: Apr. 10 2010

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

Jose Tanaka (a Japanese guitarist) plays boaz guitars
not sure if they are Japanese

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2013 14:10:08

avimuno

Posts: 598
Joined: Feb. 9 2007
From: Paris, France

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

Thanks guys... I'll check them out!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 17 2013 6:31:52

estebanana

Posts: 9352
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

[Deleted]

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Nov. 3 2016 6:32:43

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 17 2013 13:33:06

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

This is dope!!

http://youtu.be/KYFVlwqU8PE

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\m/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 17 2013 20:03:32

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1677
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to Elie)

quote:

Jose Tanaka (a Japanese guitarist) plays boaz guitars
not sure if they are Japanese

I'm pretty sure Boaz is an Israeli guy.

_____________________________

Ethan Deutsch
www.edluthier.com
www.facebook.com/ethandeutschguitars
www.youtube.com/marioamayaflamenco
I always have flamenco guitars available for sale.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2013 5:43:04

avimuno

Posts: 598
Joined: Feb. 9 2007
From: Paris, France

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

quote:

WTF is all this Japan interest the past few days?

I think that you moving there has really wetted our curiosity!

I had read somewhere that Arcangel was under contract to build classical guitars exclusively for the Japanese market these days. He is doing only that, having retired from his shop in Madrid now. Manuel Caceres (who used to build in Arcangel's shop) also sells a lot of guitars in Japan apparently.

Please let us know if you find that magazine... it would be really interesting to see who these builders are.

quote:

This is dope!!

Very nice indeed!! The guitar sounds killer too!! Here's another video of Jin, playing a Reyes negra it seems!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2013 8:54:12

estebanana

Posts: 9352
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

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Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Nov. 3 2016 6:32:16

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 18 2013 9:32:43

sig

Posts: 296
Joined: Nov. 7 2007
From: Wisconsin

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

I owned a Juan Orozco flamenco that appears to have been built by Ryoji Matsuoka. His signature/stamp was on the Orozco label. It was a pretty decent instrument but the neck had been reset and a few cracks fixed by the previous owner so it was basically my beater. I paid around $300 and the action was a bit high and I had a luthier have a look at it to see if it was worth fixing and he told me not really so I used it for a few years and sold it...

One other luthier that's always intrigued me was Kazuo Yairi. I had a chance to play a Yairi SP/CY flamenco a few years back and it was a great instrument. Nice growl, low action, very light and solid construction and easy to play. I'd love to find another and make a buy!!
Sig--

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 19 2013 20:40:41

Guest

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to sig)

quote:

Matsuoka

quite a few here in australia...they still play well.

quote:

Kazuo Yairi.

owned one which i sold to another foro member.
mid 70's peghead..later fitted with planetry pegs
i initially bought it as a 2nd guitar as it had the same specs as my ramirez
basically a hand made signed copy
really nice to play but the basses were somewhat muddy i thought......
great action...
but more charm than the alhambra 4f that was lying around...much more of a flamenco guitar.
they can still fetch a sum between $1000-$1800
quite a few of K Yairis and Matsouka ended up in australia in the 70's....
mainly through classical guitarists Jason Waldron and John Della Torre bringing them in for students
both classicals and flamencos.

im not sure where Marduk is with that guitar but i know he is after a Canin negra [ there is one of ex-jasons advertised here locally} or similiar so he may want to sell
i'll point him in the direction of this thread.
http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=196295&appid=&p=&mpage=1&key=yairi&tmode=&smode=&s=#196295

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 19 2013 22:06:32

marduk

Posts: 600
Joined: Feb. 3 2010

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

the 73 K Yairi is a nice guitar to play. Al described it really well. the action isnt exactly where I want it to be, and it is a bit bass heavy.. definately the nicest instrument I have owned though

i posted a vid recently where i played it

I would sell this guitar if I was sure I was buying another guitar

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2013 3:36:26

avimuno

Posts: 598
Joined: Feb. 9 2007
From: Paris, France

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

Thanks for the references amigos! I'll check them all out.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2013 5:09:55

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to marduk)

quote:

ORIGINAL: marduk

I would sell this guitar if I was sure I was buying another guitar

Not sure if u r in the market right now but my old anders guitar is up for resale on Australia eBay,
I'm sure the seller would take an offer.

Cheers

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2013 7:39:25

marduk

Posts: 600
Joined: Feb. 3 2010

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

the only anders guitar i have tried was Florian's.. I really loved it, but its not what I am looking for.

I have fallen in love with negras (since i tried the canin's, I have also tried a nice one from granada that had an amazing sound) and I would settle with certain blancas, I would have to be buying something pretty special to sell the Yairi, its not perfect but I spend more time with it than with anything else

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2013 10:16:31

estebanana

Posts: 9352
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

I photographed the contents page of the Japanese guitar magazine. You can see all the names in this issue from 2008. They are all classical builders, but I'm sure some of them make flamencos too.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (2)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2013 4:27:02

estebanana

Posts: 9352
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

Con't.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (4)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2013 4:45:53

estebanana

Posts: 9352
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

Con't.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (3)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2013 4:47:17

avimuno

Posts: 598
Joined: Feb. 9 2007
From: Paris, France

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

Thanks a lot for going through all this trouble Stephen... you rock!!

Saludos!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2013 5:01:19

FERREREZAKI

Posts: 64
Joined: Jul. 10 2013

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

Great list, some big names there for sure!
But are all these really flamenco guitar makers?

As you say, classical makers there are several.
I know from personal experience that Hideyuki Ezakis classical guitars are world class for example. Not sure wheater he offers flamenco models or not though?
But I suppose they would be great too if so.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2013 6:28:32

estebanana

Posts: 9352
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2013 13:22:04

Rmn

Posts: 308
Joined: May 14 2011

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

Does any one know which guitar he is playing on this video?
It's quite the sound I am looking for

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 24 2013 20:12:29

FERREREZAKI

Posts: 64
Joined: Jul. 10 2013

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to Rmn)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rmn

Does any one know which guitar he is playing on this video?
It's quite the sound I am looking for

Think he plays Yamaha FC-50, luthier made custom shop guitar. Not exactly cheap.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 25 2013 9:22:10

teastman.youbet@gmail.com

Posts: 2
Joined: Nov. 1 2016

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to avimuno)

Hi,

I ran across this post while researching a guitar. I am a luthier. Mostly I play classical and have fun with flamenco. I learned about building guitars from Benito Huipe but mostly do repairs and restorations now.

Japan approached guitar making the same way they approach building cars. they learned from the best spanish makers, imitated them and then innovated and perfected. There are many world class luthiers in Japan starting to produce in the 60's. The Japanese love classical and flamenco guitar and there is so much demand in japan that many of the makers are not know outside of japan. There are many Classical makers but only a few Flamenco makers. The best that I have played personally are from the Tamura brothers, K Yairi, Ryoji, Nakade, and Yamaha GF (grand flamenco) models. Of these the Tamura were the best and better than many high end spanish flamenco's I have played. Of course all generalities are false and I haven't tried all the best models from all of the makers except Tamura. It is worth a try to get one from one of the major makers and I am sure you will be pleased. Just a note. There are more than one Yairi, K Yairi makes the best flamenco and his models vary a lot so get a signed one. Ryoji stamped or signed flamencos are good but I have not played a top model. You can also get a vintage Aria stamped with a R which was made by ryoji. If you find a Nakade get it, his classicals were lighter than most flamenco so his flamencos are really something. Only the yamaha GF are high class, but not quite as good as tamura or Nakade.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 1 2016 2:13:03

estebanana

Posts: 9352
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 1 2016 10:42:32

teastman.youbet@gmail.com

Posts: 2
Joined: Nov. 1 2016

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to estebanana)

quote:

nfaulkguitars.com/

I have never had a chance to play one of Stephen's fine guitars. I understand you live in japan currently so you have access to the makers there. It's been my experience that the majority of makers are pretty conservative worldwide. Most of the guitars I have repaired or restore from the majority of makers have followed one of the established patterns or blueprints. Kohno did master the traditional and won Liege Concours National de Guitares in 1967 with Ignacio Fleta, Robert Bouchet, Joaquin Rodrigo, and Alirio Diaz as judges. He then created his own bracing pattern and sound. His nephew Sakuria seems to be innovative. There is good special on him
Nothing ground breaking like smallman. I mostly work on vintage guitars and some of the makers from the late 60's to the 80's produced some very fine guitars in large numbers. I believe that they used the skills of the luthiers efficiently yet did not compromise on quality.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 1 2016 23:59:02

estebanana

Posts: 9352
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 2 2016 2:43:53

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1677
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Japanese flamenco guitar makers. (in reply to Elie)

quote:

Jose Tanaka (a Japanese guitarist) plays boaz guitars
not sure if they are Japanese

I think Elkayam Boaz is--or at least was--an Israeli expatriate living and making guitars in the USA.

_____________________________

Ethan Deutsch
www.edluthier.com
www.facebook.com/ethandeutschguitars
www.youtube.com/marioamayaflamenco
I always have flamenco guitars available for sale.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2016 14:03:16