Ryoji Matsuoka M40 Handmade Classical Guitar (1977)

This guitar was completed on Sunday 20/03/1977 in Nagoya, Japan.  (Yes! Luthiers do work on Sundays too ;) )

This Matsuoka No.40 is very rare.  Not to be confused with the M40 model!  It is a much higher grade than the latter one.  The No.40 was later renamed the M80 although it sounds much better than the new version due to the higher quality of tonewood being used to make this guitar.  I have compared this No.40 to the newer M80 and MH100 models, this guitar still comes up on top.

This guitar even higher grade than the 1990s Takamine No.8 and No.10 in terms of sound, projection and tone. 

I have enhanced the bracing to bring out its full potential and tuned the solid spruce top to the notes of C and G.

It is now even more resonant, loud and rich in overtones.

This guitar has deep tight basses and crystal clear trebles. 

I have also mirror polished the steel frets making it smoother to play and extending the strings' lifespan.

It is a pleasure to play and to enjoy.  It is difficult to put it down once you hold it.

This guitar sound much better than the M40, M80 and M100, thanks to the high-grade tonewood used and available at the time.  Brazilian rosewood export was banned in 1967,  most companies ran out of Brazilian rosewood stock by 1977.  This guitar was probably one of the last ones made from the final stock.

While there are cheaper M40 and No.40 guitars out there, this guitar is a "lucky" one that happens to the high-quality timber, and craftmanship to make it sound better than most guitars.   The price of this guitar reflects its beautiful sound.

Specifications:

Top: Solid Spruce (very high grade)

Back & sides: Brazilian Rosewood

Neck: Mahogany

Fretboard: Ebony

Nut & Saddle: Bone 

Nut width:52mm

Scale length: 652mm

Machine Heads: Golden tuners, very smooth

Action: 3.0mm on the 1st string and 3.5mm on the 6th string at the 12th fret.

Please feel free to ask for more information or for shipping to your country.

Thank you.