Sumio Kurosawa　[黒澤　澄雄] presentation (dedication) label

Product Description

[Luthier Information]

Sumio Kurosawa (born 1944) is one of Japan's most distinguished and longest-active classical guitar makers. After graduating from junior high school in 1958, he began his apprenticeship under his cousin, master luthier Tsunesaburo Kurosawa. In 1963, he traveled to Spain, where he visited the workshops of influential makers such as Ignacio Fleta and Hernández y Aguado, experiences that would profoundly shape his approach to guitar making. He later studied under the Granada-based luthier Juan Roman Padilla.

Upon returning to Japan, Kurosawa established his workshop in Itabashi, Tokyo. Today, under the name Kurosawa Guitarras, he continues building fine classical guitars alongside his son, fellow luthier Tetsuro Kurosawa, remaining one of Japan's most senior and respected active luthiers.

[Instrument Information]

This is a 1993 Sumio Kurosawa classical guitar with a presentation (dedication) label, offered in used condition.

The guitar features a striking Western Red Cedar soundboard with a rich reddish hue, beautifully complemented by matching Indian Rosewood back and sides. Together with its bold mosaic rosette and decorative purfling, the instrument presents the strong visual character that has become a hallmark of the Kurosawa workshop.

Tonally, the guitar reflects Kurosawa's interpretation of the traditional Spanish sound. It delivers impressive projection, a firm and richly textured voice, and excellent volume with satisfying depth and presence.

The internal bracing is likewise distinctly Spanish in conception. A harmonic bar is positioned both above and below the soundhole, while the rosette area is reinforced with a thin soundhole patch. From the center of the lower harmonic bar, an additional diagonal brace extends toward the treble-side lower bout. The fan bracing consists of seven fan braces, terminating against two V-shaped closing bars at the lower bout. Beneath the bridge is a thin bridge reinforcement plate of similar dimensions. The guitar's main body resonance is tuned to slightly above G♯.

This bracing pattern closely follows one of the representative designs employed by Hernández y Aguado, the Madrid school makers who most strongly influenced Kurosawa during his formative years, clearly demonstrating his admiration for their construction philosophy.

Regarding condition, the soundboard has a professionally repaired long crack extending from the upper edge of the bridge toward the lower bout on the bass side; importantly, the bridge itself has not cracked. There is also another repaired crack running from the center of the lower edge of the bridge to the bottom of the soundboard. Having been extensively played, the top displays numerous playing marks and scratches of varying sizes consistent with regular use. String wear is also visible on the first-string side beneath the bridge.

The back and sides exhibit light buckle wear and surface scratches appropriate for the instrument's age. On the back of the neck, within the first to third fret area, several slight ridges caused by localized lifting of the polyurethane finish run parallel to the frets. These are cosmetic in nature and do not affect playability.

The neck remains straight, and the frets are in good condition. The neck profile is a medium-depth D-shape, providing a comfortable playing feel. Current string action measures 3.0 mm (1st string) and 4.2 mm (6th string) at the 12th fret, with approximately 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm of saddle remaining, allowing for future adjustment if desired.