Yamaha GC(5 ) Grand Concert guitar 1979

A remarkable Japanese product is presented here.

A very good instrument at an affordable price. Above

all it is still in near mint condition but read all the

comments here beyond regarding this guitar.

Scale length: 650 mm. Width topnut: 53 mm.

Bodies own frequency: G which means 98 Herz.

Condition: Very good. Price: 1000 Euro's.

This is the real bottom as normally these guitars

are offered at Reverb between 1000 and 3000

Euro's depending on their condition and the

use of Brasilian rosewood on the earlier ones.

A closer look at the Yamaha branded guitar, type GC-5.

However, do not mistake yourself as this one can't be compared 

with the later GC-5 solely factory made guitars from this

company. Just take a look at the label here beyond as that

has been hand signed by the late great Hideyuki Ezaki.

He consulted Eduardo Ferrer, a historic dynasty of

guitar makers from Granada, for a few years.

And the label that has been hand signed by this venerable

luthier who worked for Yamaha until the late eighties of 

the past age. Later he started his own workshop and made 

premium concert guitars starting from 6.000 Euro's onwards.

Being this old this, guitar must have been a part of a 

collection as there is hardly any fretwear to discover.

Axes of the tuners are clinched to their base plate

which is a sign of quality.

Not any comments to give on this guitar so far, apart that 

it surprised me a lot sound wise. Full tone with lots of

volume and a nice even quality tone from the low to the

high registers.

Remarkable maybe as sides and back haven't been made

from solid woods, though rosewood on rosewood and any

comparison with all solid guitars in the 2000 / 3000 Euro

category (new) such as the Alhambra 11C was remarkable

as it simple can easily compete with that model.

The back of the  head is still in an undamaged condition.

The former player has treated this guitar with respect.

But he or she might even have kept it in its' case during

a long period of time.

Neck is absolutely straight with no dings or annoying

scratches. Tasteful edge inlays are there as well. And

let's not forget that the Jose Ramirez 1A guitars were

also veneered on the inside, often done to soften the 

tone a bit. For a lot of Japanese companies the laminated

woods used could in fact better withstand the inter-

national transports with ships and/or airplanes.

Nice rosette and a matching inlay in the string tie block.

The surrounded white binding prevents damage often 

due to the tension of the strings on the string tie wood.

And a closer look, now possible when you click on

this picture.

This 1979 guitar is spruce topped.

 

Alhambra 11C Concert Guitar (near mint)

 

One of the well known and reliable brands from Spain

regarding gut stringed guitars. They are producing student

guitars up to professional level ones. Search for their

website to find all the information around this brand. 

This one will be a little more difficult to find but in fact

it is a genuine 11P model. The only thing I have 

discovered that the C could stand for Cedar topped

or a C profile neck. I can't confirm one or the other

but I've read it somewhere. Scale length: 650 mm.

Width topnut 54 mm. Frequency body: 110 Herz.

This guitar is in near mint condition apart from 2 small 

dings.  And remember, I always buy the guitars on sound 

in the first place. Though Alhambra is a reliable company 

there can be remarkable sound differences, even between 

the same models. Price including foamed case with

ties for transport on your back: 1200 Euro's.

The head that is in an undamaged condition on both front

and back. As you can see the knobs are clinched onto the

axes of the tuners. 

Also the axe holders haven't been bowed out of the mounting

plate but clinched on it. A sign of higher quality. The prefix

A on top the tuners stands for "Alhambra" of course.

The higher end models have a head modelled differently

from the cheaper range of guitars.

A beautiful back with a rather straight figuring. The desire 

for a wild figured back certainly is there with several

guitar players but these straight figuring is not as prone

to cracks in the near future as a wild figured back

would be. Solid Indian rosewood.

I include this picture most of the time to show potential 

buyers that there is no wear on the lower frets. Straight

neck and carefully placed fretwork!

The body itself is showing some reflections due to the

mirror like varnishing of the top. And that counts as well

for the back and sides. Cedar top.

It is possible to ask the production date from the 

Alhambra company if there is a need to.

Two nice extra added fret ends for the demanding 

pieces. Of course placed in an ebony fingerboard.

What I particularly like is the surrounding of the string 

tie block. They will protect the bridge from damages in 

the future and is a pleasant sight at the same time.

With its' nice scale of 650 mm and a regular

width at the topnut of 52 mm this guitar is a

nice one to play. The topnut has been securely

carved though I've finished some rough ends

to make it look even more perfect. A good

bridge bone was needed as well.

And as always I will serve my buyers with assistance after 

the buy as I'm able to make all kinds of repairs in case that 

should be necessary.