1987 Masaji Nobe Vintage Fan-Braced Classical Guitar, Spruce & Brazilian Rosewood w/ Case
Up for sale, a 1987 Masaji Nobe Handmade classical guitar in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. While somewhat less prolific in his output than other Japanese classical luthiers due to being a true one-man operation, Nobe’s instruments are widely considered some of the finest to emerge from the Land of the Rising Sun, boasting top-notch construction and gorgeous, carefully selected tonewoods. Nobe came from a lineage of master luthiers (his son took over operation of his workshop following Nobe’s death in 2004), and his instruments have been prized by guitarists the world over, including Dimitri Illarionov and Masahiro Masuda. This particular Nobe is a unique example, lacking a specific model designation; instead, the label features a small block of text espousing the premium tonewoods and careful construction by Nobe himself.
Premium tonewoods include a spruce top with light bearclaw figuring, bookmatched Brazilian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard. The top features Fleta-style nine-fan bracing; indeed, this guitar very clearly follows in the tradition of the Spanish master luthiers both in regards to construction and tonal response. Dark, rich, and sonorous, this Nobe is equal parts sweet and shimmering, with a gentle rumble to the low end and a wonderfully airy openness that makes it a real joy to play, highly responsive and dynamic. Weighing 3lbs 9oz, this Nobe has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, dialed in with D’Addario normal tension strings and optimal action.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Mahogany
-Shape: Classical D, measuring .845” 1st fret, .935” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony
-Frets: Slender, no wear
-Scale Length: 650mm
-Nut: 52mm, bone
-Headstock: Nobe signature corona
-Tuners: Open-gear strip (replacement)
Body Specs:
-Wood: Spruce, Brazilian rosewood
-Bracing: Nine-fan (Fleta-style)
-Bridge: Rosewood
-String Spacing: 58mm (bridge)
-Marquetry: Ornate rosette, multi-ply purfling, rosewood binding
-Serialization: Label dated to 1987, signed by Nobe (with handwritten text)
There is a small, professionally-repaired split on top at the bass-side upper bout, and the Brazilian rosewood back and sides are crack-free. The gloss lacquer finish exhibits vertical checking on the back, and playwear includes some scuffing along the strum path, several small marks behind the bridge, and some light finish scratches and dings, largely on the back and consistent with decades of careful usage. The neck profile gloss is clean and smooth with a few shallow nicks, buffed smooth and virtually undetectable to the palm while fretting.
A hardshell case is included.
Premium tonewoods include a spruce top with light bearclaw figuring, bookmatched Brazilian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard. The top features Fleta-style nine-fan bracing; indeed, this guitar very clearly follows in the tradition of the Spanish master luthiers both in regards to construction and tonal response. Dark, rich, and sonorous, this Nobe is equal parts sweet and shimmering, with a gentle rumble to the low end and a wonderfully airy openness that makes it a real joy to play, highly responsive and dynamic. Weighing 3lbs 9oz, this Nobe has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, dialed in with D’Addario normal tension strings and optimal action.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Mahogany
-Shape: Classical D, measuring .845” 1st fret, .935” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony
-Frets: Slender, no wear
-Scale Length: 650mm
-Nut: 52mm, bone
-Headstock: Nobe signature corona
-Tuners: Open-gear strip (replacement)
Body Specs:
-Wood: Spruce, Brazilian rosewood
-Bracing: Nine-fan (Fleta-style)
-Bridge: Rosewood
-String Spacing: 58mm (bridge)
-Marquetry: Ornate rosette, multi-ply purfling, rosewood binding
-Serialization: Label dated to 1987, signed by Nobe (with handwritten text)
There is a small, professionally-repaired split on top at the bass-side upper bout, and the Brazilian rosewood back and sides are crack-free. The gloss lacquer finish exhibits vertical checking on the back, and playwear includes some scuffing along the strum path, several small marks behind the bridge, and some light finish scratches and dings, largely on the back and consistent with decades of careful usage. The neck profile gloss is clean and smooth with a few shallow nicks, buffed smooth and virtually undetectable to the palm while fretting.
A hardshell case is included.
$6,899.99
1987 Masaji Nobe Vintage Fan-Braced Classical Guitar, Spruce & Brazilian Rosewood w/ Case—
$6,899.99
Description
Up for sale, a 1987 Masaji Nobe Handmade classical guitar in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. While somewhat less prolific in his output than other Japanese classical luthiers due to being a true one-man operation, Nobe’s instruments are widely considered some of the finest to emerge from the Land of the Rising Sun, boasting top-notch construction and gorgeous, carefully selected tonewoods. Nobe came from a lineage of master luthiers (his son took over operation of his workshop following Nobe’s death in 2004), and his instruments have been prized by guitarists the world over, including Dimitri Illarionov and Masahiro Masuda. This particular Nobe is a unique example, lacking a specific model designation; instead, the label features a small block of text espousing the premium tonewoods and careful construction by Nobe himself.
Premium tonewoods include a spruce top with light bearclaw figuring, bookmatched Brazilian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard. The top features Fleta-style nine-fan bracing; indeed, this guitar very clearly follows in the tradition of the Spanish master luthiers both in regards to construction and tonal response. Dark, rich, and sonorous, this Nobe is equal parts sweet and shimmering, with a gentle rumble to the low end and a wonderfully airy openness that makes it a real joy to play, highly responsive and dynamic. Weighing 3lbs 9oz, this Nobe has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, dialed in with D’Addario normal tension strings and optimal action.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Mahogany
-Shape: Classical D, measuring .845” 1st fret, .935” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony
-Frets: Slender, no wear
-Scale Length: 650mm
-Nut: 52mm, bone
-Headstock: Nobe signature corona
-Tuners: Open-gear strip (replacement)
Body Specs:
-Wood: Spruce, Brazilian rosewood
-Bracing: Nine-fan (Fleta-style)
-Bridge: Rosewood
-String Spacing: 58mm (bridge)
-Marquetry: Ornate rosette, multi-ply purfling, rosewood binding
-Serialization: Label dated to 1987, signed by Nobe (with handwritten text)
There is a small, professionally-repaired split on top at the bass-side upper bout, and the Brazilian rosewood back and sides are crack-free. The gloss lacquer finish exhibits vertical checking on the back, and playwear includes some scuffing along the strum path, several small marks behind the bridge, and some light finish scratches and dings, largely on the back and consistent with decades of careful usage. The neck profile gloss is clean and smooth with a few shallow nicks, buffed smooth and virtually undetectable to the palm while fretting.
A hardshell case is included.
Premium tonewoods include a spruce top with light bearclaw figuring, bookmatched Brazilian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard. The top features Fleta-style nine-fan bracing; indeed, this guitar very clearly follows in the tradition of the Spanish master luthiers both in regards to construction and tonal response. Dark, rich, and sonorous, this Nobe is equal parts sweet and shimmering, with a gentle rumble to the low end and a wonderfully airy openness that makes it a real joy to play, highly responsive and dynamic. Weighing 3lbs 9oz, this Nobe has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, dialed in with D’Addario normal tension strings and optimal action.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Mahogany
-Shape: Classical D, measuring .845” 1st fret, .935” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony
-Frets: Slender, no wear
-Scale Length: 650mm
-Nut: 52mm, bone
-Headstock: Nobe signature corona
-Tuners: Open-gear strip (replacement)
Body Specs:
-Wood: Spruce, Brazilian rosewood
-Bracing: Nine-fan (Fleta-style)
-Bridge: Rosewood
-String Spacing: 58mm (bridge)
-Marquetry: Ornate rosette, multi-ply purfling, rosewood binding
-Serialization: Label dated to 1987, signed by Nobe (with handwritten text)
There is a small, professionally-repaired split on top at the bass-side upper bout, and the Brazilian rosewood back and sides are crack-free. The gloss lacquer finish exhibits vertical checking on the back, and playwear includes some scuffing along the strum path, several small marks behind the bridge, and some light finish scratches and dings, largely on the back and consistent with decades of careful usage. The neck profile gloss is clean and smooth with a few shallow nicks, buffed smooth and virtually undetectable to the palm while fretting.
A hardshell case is included.
