Daisuke Kuriyama　[栗山　大輔] HauserI Model No.126

Product Description

Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides):Shellac
Tuning Machines:GOTOH
String Height(1st):2.8mm
String Height(6th):4.0mm

Luthier Information

Daisuke Kuriyama (born 1981)
Japanese luthier.

Daisuke Kuriyama began building guitars as a self-taught maker while studying at Tokyo Zokei University. After graduating, he joined a major Japanese musical instrument retailer in 2003, where he worked for over a decade in the repair department. During this period, he had the invaluable opportunity to closely examine and restore many fine instruments by renowned makers from both Japan and abroad. This hands-on experience profoundly shaped his exceptional sense of tonal balance and refined musical judgment.

While working there, Kuriyama was introduced to the respected luthier Kaoru Ono, and from 2010 he studied directly under Ono’s guidance at his workshop. After becoming independent, Kuriyama has continued to build approximately 6–8 guitars per year, each crafted with remarkable precision and care.

Rooted firmly in traditional Spanish guitar-making methods—drawing inspiration from Antonio de Torres, Domingo Esteso, and Marcelo Barbero I, among others—his instruments faithfully embody the warmth, depth, and expressive character of classic Spanish guitars. Today, his work is appreciated by musicians across a wide range of genres.

In 2020, Kuriyama and his guitars were featured in Orfeo Magazine No.15, published in France by Camino Verde, further cementing his growing international reputation.

(Links to the Orfeo Magazine feature and related articles are available on our website.)

Instrument Description

This is a Brand-new 2025 Daisuke Kuriyama Hauser I Model, No. 90, now in stock.

Rather than replicating the well-known 1937 Segovia Model, this guitar is based on an earlier 1929 Hermann Hauser I instrument. After being profoundly influenced by Andrés Segovia’s introduction to Spanish guitars in 1924, Hauser began developing a German guitar built in the Spanish tradition, using Segovia’s Manuel Ramírez guitar (actually made by Santos Hernández) as a reference. While Hauser’s work culminated in the iconic 1937 Segovia Model, the years leading up to it produced a number of extraordinary instruments that far exceeded the level of mere prototypes.

The 1929 model chosen by Kuriyama occupies a particularly compelling position in Hauser’s evolution—situated between the highly distinctive 1928 Llobet Model and the outstanding 1931 pre-Segovia model. This period represents a time of intense creative tension, where Hauser’s exploration and production were in remarkable balance. For this project, Kuriyama conducted a meticulous examination of the original instrument, successfully integrating its form and acoustic character into a cohesive and convincing modern interpretation.

Visually, the guitar immediately draws attention with its large rosette, clearly reflecting the influence of Antonio de Torres. The headstock design evokes the aesthetic of Manuel Ramírez, and together these elements are harmoniously unified within a slightly compact body shape. The result is an instrument that is unmistakably Hauser-inspired, yet refined through Kuriyama’s sensibility into an appearance that is both distinctive and elegantly understated.