Sakazo Nakade　[中出　阪蔵] No.2000

Product Description

Neck:Mahogany
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Cashew
Finish(Back & Sides):Cashew
Tuning Machines:HOFNER
String Height(1st)3.2:mm
String Height(6th):4.2mm

Maker Information

Nakade Sakazo was born in 1906 in Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture, Japan. In 1919, he began his apprenticeship under renowned luthier Kanehachi Miyamoto, where he primarily built and repaired bowed string instruments such as violins.

A major turning point came in 1929, when the legendary classical guitarist Andrés Segovia made his first visit to Japan. At Miyamoto's instruction, Nakade was entrusted with producing a copy of Segovia's concert guitar. This experience inspired him to devote himself to classical guitar making, and in 1933 he established his own workshop. Despite relocating several times during the Second World War, he continued his craft without interruption.

Following the war, Japan experienced an unprecedented classical guitar boom during the 1950s, allowing Nakade to significantly expand production. By the 1960s, alongside Masaru Kohno, he had become one of Japan's most highly respected classical guitar makers.

Nakade's craftsmanship and philosophy were carried on by his family. His three sons—Teruaki Nakade, Toshihiko Nakade, and Yukio Nakade—each became accomplished independent luthiers, playing important roles in the development of modern Japanese guitar making.

His workshop also trained many outstanding makers, including Hideo Ida, Seiji Inaba, Yoshimitsu Hoshino, Toshihiko Tanaka, and Hiromi Imai, all of whom made significant contributions to the growth of Japan's classical guitar-making tradition.

Nakade Sakazo passed away in 1993 at the age of 87. Today, his instruments continue to enjoy a strong reputation in the vintage market, and in recent years they have attracted increasing international attention as some of the finest examples of Japanese vintage classical guitars.

Instrument Information

This guitar is a Nakade Sakazo No.2000, built in 1973, with a 650 mm scale length.

It offers a rich, powerful tonal character with solid projection, clearly reflecting Nakade's mature craftsmanship. While the overall volume is moderate, the guitar stands out for its depth of tone, excellent stability, and well-balanced response across all registers. Its sound embodies the dependable and refined acoustic design for which one of Japan's greatest master luthiers is renowned.

The guitar features a Cashew lacquer finish and is fitted with Höfner tuning machines. The neck has a comfortable medium profile and remains perfectly straight, while the frets show virtually no wear. The action is set at 3.2 mm on the first string and 4.2 mm on the sixth string, providing a soft string tension and forgiving playability that make the instrument comfortable to perform on.

Now approximately 51 years old, the guitar remains in remarkably well-preserved condition, showing almost no visible wear, and the finish has been exceptionally well maintained. There are two cracks at the neck-to-body joint—one above and one below the heel—but these do not affect the guitar's structural integrity or playing performance. A black hard-shell case is included.