Sakurai Kohno Special model Spruce Madagascar Rosewood

Masaki Sakurai, who unfortunately died in 2025, was the nephew of the most celebrated luthier in Japan, Masaru Kohno.  Whilst he graduated in Electrical Engineering in 1967, he joined the Kohno workshop and began applying his scientific approach to the design of the guitar.  On the passing of Masaru Kohno in 1998, he took over the workshop and continued the tradition of guitar making by having his own line of Masaki Sakurai guitars, as well as continuing the Kohno line with the Sakurai Kohno models.  Each range has three levels of guitar with the Special being one level below the Maestro, though all levels are professional concert quality instruments and played by numerous professionals.  The workshop is now being run by So Kimishima, the grandson of Masaru Kohno. The workshop traditions are Kokoro (Heart), Waza (Craftsmanship) and Hibiki (Sound).

The guitar has a German high grade Spruce top and beautifully book matched and figured Madagascar Rosewood back and sides, with an Ebony fingerboard.  The high end Gotoh 510 machines ensure precise and stable tuning.  The bracing reflects Masaki Sakurai's own developments in this area and the result is a guitar which has very good volume and projection on both bass and treble registers and excellent balance across the strings.  The trebles in particular are bright and focussed, being supported by well rounded bass.  The guitar with its Cashew finish is in virtually mint condition and represents the work of a luthier at the height of his powers and experience..

Price £3,250