This wonderful sounding guitar was made in Japan by Eich Kodaira in 1983.
Kodaira worked in the same workshop as Matano and Hiroumi (two legendary Japanese luthiers) to produce concert classical guitars.
This guitar was renamed AST-60 in the early 2000s to reflect its retail price and value.
It has a loud and bright tone as characteristic of a solid spruce top guitar. The basses are well pronounced and the trebles sing like clear bells.
The sound has also been enhanced and tuned to E on the base and A on the trebles making the guitar more resonance and harmonic.
Unfortunately, the clear coat has aged and shows clouding patches, this has no effect on the sound at all. On the contrary, this adds uniqueness and character to the guitar. Some people see patterns and figures from the patches such as the face of a man, and the silhouette of a boy and an elephant. It has always been a topic of conversation.
I have taken photos of the guitar and show a light on the patches to exaggerate it more so people know what to expect when they see it in person. In real life, the patches are almost invisible and can only be seen from a certain angle, especially on the soundboard.
Because of the white characteristic patches, I am seeing this guitar below cost. So If you like a unique guitar and something for people to talk about as well as for its superb sound, you must consider this guitar.
Luthier's background
Eich Kodaira started making guitars in the 1960s. Kodaira together with Hiroumi Yamaguchi and Masaru Matano (all master luthiers) set up the Asturias guitar label.
Asturias guitars have always been regarded as very high-grade concert guitars.
Kodaira continued to make guitars under his name while working for Asturias. Kodaira guitars and Asturias guitars were virtually identical, even the labels were the same. The labels read: Kodaira Asturias.
The Kodaira workshop is still operational today with only 3 builders: Kodaira's son and two other family members.
Specifications:
Top: High-Grade Solid Spruce with Ramirez bracing and supporting ring of wood glued underneath sound-hole/lacquer
Back and Sides: Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: Mirror polished steel
Tuning Machines: smooth golden tuners
Scale: 650mm
Nut width: 52mm