Nishino Youhei　[西野　洋平] No.50

Product Description

Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides):Lacquer
Tuning Machines:GOTOH
String Height(1st):2.8mm
String Height(6th):3.7mm

[Profile]
Yohei Nishino (1936– ) is a Japanese luthier based in Nerima, Tokyo, and elder brother of fellow maker Shunpei Nishino. The two studied guitar making together in their early years, and Nishino went on to develop models inspired by historic instruments by Antonio de Torres, Hermann Hauser I and José Ramírez III, earning a reputation for stable, finely crafted guitars.

Deeply drawn to South American music, particularly that of Atahualpa Yupanqui, Nishino also produced distinctive models inspired by the aluminum-backed guitar of Daniel Lago Núñez, reflecting a personal and highly individual artistic vision. Having retired from making in the early 2010s, his instruments are now available only on the vintage market.

[Instrument Description]
An original model No.50 by Yohei Nishino, built in 1995. This upper-grade instrument features fine Central/South American rosewood back and sides. Perhaps reflecting Nishino’s admiration for South American instruments, it possesses a tonal character with a distinctly Latin American atmosphere.

The sound is dark, dense and nuanced, with a unique reverberant quality—almost suggesting a humid, South American resonance—while retaining strong projection and impressive power. The wild, deep-brown figure of the rosewood and the instrument’s subtly vintage aesthetic further reinforce this expressive character.

The top is built with a traditional Torres-style bracing system: one harmonic bar and a thin reinforcing plate above the soundhole; one harmonic bar below it; thin reinforcing plates and two short bars on each side of the soundhole (one straight along the grain and one angled toward the sides); together with a symmetrical seven-fan layout and two V-shaped closing bars at the lower bout. Resonance is set between G and G#.

There are professionally repaired cracks to the top (beside the fingerboard, beneath the bridge, and between soundhole and bridge), all reinforced internally with patches. Additional repaired cracks are present on the sides and lower bass-side back, likewise internally reinforced. The treble-side playing area between fingerboard and soundhole shows noticeable playing and nail wear. There is a repaired string wear mark beneath the first string at the bridge.

General surface wear and finish rubbing are present on the back and sides from normal use. The back of the neck remains clean with only minor dings. Neck condition is proper, fret wear is minimal, and playability is excellent. The neck has a medium D-shape profile. String height is 2.8mm / 3.8mm at the 12th fret (1st / 6th strings), with approximately 0.5–1.0mm saddle remaining. Fitted with Gotoh tuners, functioning well.