YUKINOBU CHAI No35 2003 - FLETA STYLE 630MM SCALE CLASSICAL CONCERT GUITAR

Description: Yukinobu Chai N035 2003 630mm scale 46.50mm nut This guitar was made in 2003 at the workshop owned and led by Master Luthier Yukinobu. Although not a top one, No35 was a higher end model in Yukinobu’s lineup of that era. Being priced 350 000 yen it was an instrument for well advanced players. Because in addition to 630mm scale, its nut is 46.50mm wide, it must have been custom made. In 2003 great majority of Japanese 350 000 yen guitars were made with Latin America Rosewood b/s (Toshihiko Nakade Master 35, Yukio Nakade No35, Tatsuhiko Hirose No35 etc.) or Madagascar Rosewood, while some luthiers were still using figured Brazilian Rosewood on their 300 000 yen models (Ryoji Matsuoka M300 etc.). Priced 250 000-yen Takamine’s top of the line model No25 was made with Madagascar Rosewood b/s. Some Yamaha’s GC models made (in Taiwan) with Honduran Rosewood b/s were also priced at 250 000-yen level. The highest models made by Elite luthiers were priced at least 800 000 yen while custom models were priced even higher. The highest Yukinobu’s model of that era was No80 made with Spruce top and figured BR b/s, priced 800 000yen. Although he was originally a violin maker, Yukinobu Chai started making guitars in late 1960s and over the years he became one of the highest respected luthiers in Japan. Most likely the major reason for that were very moderate prices for his truly wonderful instruments. Yukinobu never apprenticed at any other workshop. In the 1950s he learned violin making based on books the real violins. He was also making other string instruments, before in the early 1960s he became seriously interested in making guitars. He naturally was looking at guitars made by many famous European luthiers, but was especially inspired by Antonio de Torres, Herman Hauser and Santos Hernandez. While he was constantly adding his own innovations, his guitars made from the late 1960s through early 1980s were mostly inspired by Santos Hernadez’s blueprints, which (on the outside) was manifested by Santos’s headstock design. Because I have already sold several Yukinobu’s guitars from that era, I dare to say that they are of equal class with those made Santos Hernandez. Since the early 1980s the great majority of Yukinobu’s models were made based on Ignacio Fleta’s blueprints. Yet he was also making limited number of Hauser, Torres and Bouchet models. In the early 1980s Yukinobu became the major supplier for Niibori School of Guitar Ensemble, making not only whole range of prime (regular) models but also many alto, soprano, bass, and contrabass guitars. Since Yukinobu's passing in 2011, his workshop is managed by his son Yukihiro, a great luthier on his own. Yukinobu's most famous pupils are Ichizo Kobayashi, Tatsuro Kobayashi, Sakae Ishi and Kuniyoshi Matsui. To my ears, Yukinobu Chai was one of the best Japanese luthiers ever and remains my favorite Japanese luthier since I encountered his guitars made in 1970s. I am totally not bothered by discolorations of finishes on his guitars from that era. After selling several of his guitars I know that truly experienced guitarists looking for a “truly special” instrument are not bothered by these cosmetic imperfections either. I deeply understand why Hiroki Niibori has decided to offer Yukinobu such a lucrative contract. This guitar offers high volume and super response, combined with sweet multilayered lyrical tonality, with deep and rich (cello like) basses, strong sweet, colorful, and ringing (piano like) trebles, all notes with plenty of overtones, with superb note clarity and separation, and all magnified by great sustain. This guitar was made based on Fleta blueprints with simplified Fleta style bracing. However, it mostly is Yukinobu’s own creation, and he gets all the credits for its wonderful sound. If you wanted to purchase similar class brand new guitar made by leading Japanese luthier, you would have to pay no less than $5000. This guitar remains in "excellent for its age" overall condition. Its only flaws are of cosmetic nature: few very light tiny dents and couple very light scratches in the finish on its top with the string burns below the bridge being the greatest “damage”. All other surfaces are clean, and one can easily assume that this guitar has been played very little. Very importantly its neck is straight, fingerboard and frets remain in truly excellent shape and original tuning machines work fine. Specifications: Top: High Grade Solid Spruce/Cashew lacquer Back & Sides: Quartersawn Solid Madagascar Rosewood /Cashew lacquer Neck: Mahogany Fingerboard: Ebony Scale: 630 mm Nut width: 46.50 mm Its action is set to 4.00 mm under E6 and 3.50 mm under E1, with plenty of extra room on the saddle. This guitar will be shipped in a lightly used hard polyfoam case. THE ONLY PURPOSE OF THIS CASE IS TO PROTECT THE GUITAR DURING SHIPMENT. I WILL NOT PROVIDE ITS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OR MAKE ADDITIONAL PICTURES, NOR I WILL ACCEPT ANY COMPLAINTS. IF YOU DON’T LIKE THIS CASE YOU WILL NEED TO BUY A DIFFERENT ONE. WHEN YOU BUY ANY GUITAR, YOU MUST ANTICIPATE TAKING IT TO YOUR LOCAL GUITAR SHOP FOR FINAL ADJUSTMENTS CALLED “SETUP”. DEPENIDNG ON YOUR PLAYING TECHNIQUE, THIS SETUP ON USED GUITARS MAY INCLUDE NEW CUSTOM-MADE NUT AND SADDLE. IF YOU HEAR STRING BUZZ IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT GUITAR IS DEFECTIVE. IF YOU PLAY HARD ENOUGH ALL BASS STRINGS WILL BUZZ OVER THE FRETS, UNLESS THEY ARE SUSPENDED VERY FAR FROM THE FINGERBOARD. UNLESS YOU PLAY QUITE GENTLY, YOU CAN’T HAVE LOW ACTION AND NO BUZZES. KEEP IN MIND THAT CELLO-LIKE BASSES ON HIGH GRADE CLASSICAL GUITARS HAVE THEIR NATURAL “BUZZ”. Return Policy Buyer has the right to return purchased guitar within 2 days from receipt. General TermsItems must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging and no signs of use. Buyer assumes responsibility for all return shipping costs unless the item was not received as described.Fees and ChargesBuyer receives full refund in their original payment method, less any shipping costs.Special conditionsYou have 48 hours of trial after receiving the guitar. 48 hours is enough time to inspect the guitar. 1 hour is usually enough to evaluate the guitar’s tonality and if you don’t like it right away you won’t like it a week later. If you realize that you don’t like the guitar enough to keep it, you have the right to return it. If you find a real problem not disclosed in my description, you are covered by eBay’s Money Back Guarantee. If that problem is damage that likely occurred during the shipment I will file an insurance claim with eBay’s Ship Cover Program. If you decide to return the guitar you must notify me within 48 hours after delivery, pack it and ship it back within 24 hours after "return notification". If you expect to receive a full refund, the guitar must be returned in the same condition as I have shipped it to you. If it arrives back to me damaged, I will not issue any refund but cooperate with you on your insurance claim. It is therefore very important that you ship the guitar fully insured. Victor K.

Price: 3500 USD

Location: Alpharetta, Georgia

End Time: 2024-11-30T13:20:36.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD