2023 Masaki Sakurai "Special 640" SP/CSAR

Mr. Masaki Sakurai is the nephew of the greatest luthier from Japan, Masaru Kohno, with whom he worked with, and learned the craft of guitar making. Although clearly influenced by his uncle, Sakurai also infuses his own personality into his guitars. A modest look at this instrument reveals a beautiful, classic design - perfectly executed. The double ebony reinforcing strips in the back of the neck allow for a very accurate setup, so the action is low and easy without buzzing. The stiffer neck also improves sustain. The spruce top has a clear and clean sound while still retaining the depth and warmth of its cedar counterpart. There is plenty of power here for any concert situation, including ensemble settings. This model is a step up from the Concert-J in detailing (especially in the purfling and rosette), and choice of materials. It has thick back and sides, and the double-ebony reinforced neck makes this a very stable instrument for travel. This model also features a shorter scale length of 640mm for players with smaller hands, or for making stretches easier for any player. Overall, a very unique and charming instrument which we can recommend to anyone looking for a top-quality concert instrument.

Orfeo No. 15: The Guitar in Japan