This beautiful guitar was handmade in Japan in 1971, and was inspected by no other than the legendary Ryoji Matsuoka!!!!
Morris specialised in making steel strings acoustic guitars and commissioned the best workshops in Japan to make nylon string guitars for them.
This guitar bears the signature of Ryoji Matsuoka, which means it must have been more than likely to have been made at Matsuoka's workshop, infact the bridge is the same as the ones on Matsuokas early 1970s guitars.
This guitar is on par with Matsuoka's model No.10 guitars in terms of sound and craftsmanship.
Its original price was 10,000 Japanese Yen when the yearly minimum salary was 25,000 Yen.
It sounds better than many guitars currently sold for $2000. Its sound has more character than the modern guitars. With deep bases and clear trebles.
The clear coat on the bridge exhibits some clouding due to its age, but this is only cosmetics and has no effects on the sound. Please refer to the photos.
Specifications:
Top: Solid spruce
Back and sides: double plated mahogany
Neck: Mahogany
Fretboard: Rosewood
Nut & Saddle: bone
Nut width: 52mm
Scale length: 65cm
Action: 3.0mm on the first strings and 3.5mm on the 6th string at the 12th fret.
Please feel free to ask any questions or to request a sound demo.
Thanks.