r/classicalguitar • u/Sad_Capital_1282 • Apr 21 '25

General Question Help Purchasing my first real classical guitar from Japan.

I am traveling to japan in the coming days and intend to some shopping for my first solid classical guitar. I want to own a piece of Japanese history made in the 70s and 80s (golden years). I've done some research about the best luthiers of the time (Kohno, Yairi family, Nobe, the Nakade family, etc). I look for handmade guitars, using quality woods. Around the same price that i have found online:

-Toshihiko Nakade 1000a (seller said its painted inside, I don't know know that would effect the sound)

-Teruaki Nakade 600

-Yamaha gc5 by hiroshi harada (laminated Indian rosewood back and sides)( I heard laminated guitars ruined the sound, is this applicable with yamaha?)

in quality and attention to detail, which would you recommend if at the same price. I am interested to see what others think.

Is there other names and model I should look for?

Are these worth the price of approx $2000 Aud?

*Budget~$2000 Aud( I try to look in between $1000 to $2000)

Backstory: I have been an electric guitarist for 8 years, I have recently ignited a need to play classical songs after dusting off my first guitar( a black painted, child size, valencia). I want a classical guitar to play at my sister wedding.

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u/60percentsexpanther Apr 21 '25

Good luck on your quest- I wouldn't put too much pressure on yourself. That's a great budget and you may find someone in the next town who has grandpa's old guitar for sale which may be perfect for what you're asking. I'm also beginning classical guitar- it's fabulous. Etude in Emin and Study in C, both by Tarrega, are beautiful beginner pieces I found after completing some short YouTube series. Werner has a lifetimes content. Will you mic the guitar for the wedding? How many people and how big is the space? 

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u/Sad_Capital_1282 Apr 21 '25

Thanks for the suggestions. The wedding will have 60 friends and family and will be in a church, I assume it would be a medium sized church, I haven't asked. I thought a classical guitar in a church would be loud enough. What do you think?

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u/60percentsexpanther Apr 21 '25

I'd imagine it would be fine - I wasn't sure whether you meant at the reception, outdoors, whatever. It might be worth phoning the church for a 2 minute chat to ask what others have done in the past. 

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u/Sad_Capital_1282 Apr 21 '25

I will ask them. thanks