Asturias is a Japanese workshop in Kurume, on the island of Kyushu, that has handcrafted classical guitars since 1962, and is known for Hauser-style instruments with concert-level playability at an intermediate price.
At a Glance
- Workshop: Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan
- Founded: 1962
- Team: about fifteen craftsmen
- Known for: Hauser-style classical guitars, superb fret work, and solid-wood tops at every level
- Models include: Custom, Standard, Renaissance and Double Top, in both full and shorter scales
Six Decades in Kurume
For more than sixty years, the craftsmen of Asturias have been building classical guitars in Kurume, a city in Fukuoka Prefecture in the south of Japan. The workshop is small by factory standards, around fifteen people, and every instrument still passes through skilled hands from start to finish. Over the decades, that consistency has made Asturias one of the most trusted names in Japanese classical guitar making.
"A Great Guitar Must Also Be Easy to Play"
That idea sits at the heart of everything the workshop does. Asturias guitars are built to sound good and to feel effortless under the hands, and the builders pay particular attention to the details players notice first: carefully dressed fret ends, smoothly finished fingerboard edges, and a comfortable neck.
Patient Wood, Careful Hands
Asturias takes its time with materials. Tonewoods are seasoned for years, then rested for another six months in a climate-controlled room before any building begins, so the wood is stable before it becomes a guitar. Every Asturias has a solid-wood soundboard, whether spruce or cedar, which is why even their more affordable models have the warmth and responsiveness of a true handmade instrument.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Asturias guitars made? In the Asturias workshop in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, on the Japanese island of Kyushu.
Are Asturias guitars handmade? Yes. A team of about fifteen craftsmen builds every guitar by hand, with solid-wood tops on all models.
Who are Asturias guitars best for? Students and serious amateurs looking for a Hauser-style guitar with concert-level playability at an intermediate price, and one they won't outgrow.
Does Asturias make short-scale guitars? Yes. Several models, such as the Custom, come in shorter scales for players with smaller hands or anyone who prefers more compact dimensions.
