Atsushi Yamane　[山根　淳志] Hauser I Model　No.38

Product Description

Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides):Shellac
Tuning Machines:GOTOH
String Height(1st):3.0mm
String Height(6th):4.0mm

[Luthier Information]

Atsushi Yamane (born 1977) was born in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. From an early age, he developed a deep interest in art, craftsmanship, and music. While attending university, he discovered the joy of creating through painting, an experience that inspired him to pursue craftsmanship as a profession. Around the same time, he began playing acoustic guitar, and after reading an article about guitar making in a magazine, he became fascinated by the craft itself and decided to dedicate his career to lutherie.

He enrolled in the Guitar Craft Department of the Kunitachi College of Music Academy, where he studied the construction and repair of ukuleles, electric guitars, and steel-string acoustic guitars. After graduation, he apprenticed under Eiichi Sumi, a respected builder of steel-string acoustic guitars, spending six years and nine months mastering the fundamentals of fine instrument making. In 2009, he established his own workshop, Yamane Guitars, in his hometown of Sano, Tochigi.

Around 2014, Yamane began studying classical guitar performance himself, while also receiving guidance from established classical guitar makers. Although he had already earned an excellent reputation for his steel-string guitars and ukuleles, his classical guitars demonstrate an equally remarkable level of craftsmanship. Faithful to traditional Spanish construction methods and built without compromise, his instruments combine structural precision with exceptional musical expression.

For many years, his flagship classical guitar was an homage to the legendary Spanish luthier José Luis Romanillos. Beginning in 2026, however, his catalogue expanded to include a new model inspired by the great German master Hermann Hauser I. Every instrument is entirely handmade by Yamane himself, including its traditional French polish finish.

[Instrument Information]

This is a brand-new 2026 Atsushi Yamane "Hermann Hauser I Model" Class 60 No.38.

Having previously established an outstanding reputation through his homage model based on José Luis Romanillos, Yamane now looks further back along the historical lineage of classical guitar making with his first interpretation of Hermann Hauser I. The instrument closely follows the design of Hauser's legendary 1937 "Segovia" guitar, arguably one of the most influential classical guitars ever built—not only in Germany, but in the entire history of twentieth-century guitar making.

The result is an instrument that captures with remarkable fidelity the original's classical discipline and its unique fusion of German structural precision and Spanish tonal aesthetics. Considering that Yamane's professional foundation lies in acoustic guitars and ukuleles, it is particularly striking how naturally and intuitively he has absorbed these highly distinctive classical tonal ideals. The achievement is both rare and deeply impressive.

The internal bracing layout faithfully reproduces even the finer details of the original 1937 Segovia model. Above the soundhole are a thin reinforcing plate and a single harmonic bar, with another harmonic bar positioned below the soundhole. Rectangular reinforcement patches are fitted on either side of the soundhole. The fan bracing consists of seven symmetrically arranged fan braces, terminating against two V-shaped closing bars at the lower bout. Beneath the bridge is a thin bridge reinforcement plate of comparable size.

The guitar's main body resonance is tuned to slightly below G.

One particularly noteworthy aspect of the construction is Yamane's faithful reproduction of the remarkably delicate dimensions of Hauser's original fan braces. Measuring only approximately 3.5 mm in width and less than 4 mm in height, the original bracing is considerably lighter than that found on many modern Hauser-inspired instruments, which are often reinforced for additional rigidity. Yamane has chosen instead to preserve the original proportions with admirable authenticity.

As Hauser's designs evolved throughout his career, they became increasingly refined and balanced, reflecting a stronger Germanic influence. The 1937 instrument, however, still retains much of its Spanish heritage, exhibiting a degree of natural vitality and expressive openness that has made it one of the most distinctive concert guitars ever created.

Yamane's first Hauser model successfully captures this unique personality. Visually, the guitar presents the understated elegance characteristic of the Yamane workshop, with meticulous craftsmanship evident throughout every detail. Tonally, it possesses the classical nobility, disciplined focus, and natural tension associated with the celebrated Segovia instrument.

Particularly impressive are its performance in traditional classical repertoire: chordal textures remain exceptionally coherent, melodic lines sustain with graceful continuity, and polyphonic voices retain outstanding depth and spatial separation. The attack is firm yet never overly hard, retaining an attractive woody warmth and subtle elasticity that closely approaches the feel of an original Hauser. Yamane's interpretation is neither exaggerated nor overly analytical, but refreshingly sincere and musically convincing.

The instrument is finished entirely in French polish. The neck features a slightly slim D-shaped profile that offers an exceptionally comfortable grip, while the moderate string tension contributes to an effortless left-hand feel.

Current string action measures 3.0 mm (1st string) and 4.0 mm (6th string) at the twelfth fret, with approximately 0.5–1.0 mm of saddle remaining.

The guitar is fitted with a special set of Gotoh Hauser-style tuning machines in a plain gold finish.

Both as an homage to one of history's greatest guitars and as an expression of Atsushi Yamane's own artistic identity, this instrument represents an outstanding achievement. It is an exceptionally accomplished new work and one that deserves the close attention of discerning classical guitarists and collectors alike.