Asturias John Mills Model 3456 Classical Guitar (M. Matano)

  

Presented heter is the Asturias John Mills model

 Nr. 3456. Similar to the MJ 15 that later has been

renamed to model "Custom". It costed about a 1000

to 1500 Dutch guilders back in 1980 The addition

'made by Masaru Matano" makes it in fact all more 

interesting. He was a very gifted luthier and I must 

say: Everything you are looking for in a classical

guitar simply is there: Lots' of volume, clear tone,

good separation, strong and beautiful bass response

and apart from that all it colors nicely once striked

at different spots on the strings. Scale: 655 mm.

As the headform already attests, this is a genuine

Antonio de Torres model made by Mr. Mantano.

A good thing to see on this guitar are the Gotoh tuners

invariably used on these high end guitars. They work

like butter and in fact are technically spoken better

than their Spanish equivalents from Fustero.

Though some slight nail damage, no fret wear so this 

guitar can serve a new owner for years to go.

At the end of the collaboration most likely as this label most

of the time was used with a production number stamped on it.

Masaru Matano never did that but those later 3456 models 

might be good as well regarding sound as standards were 

high at the Asturias workshops. Masaru Matano left the

Asturias workforce around 1980. This way this guitar 

can be dated a bit.

An even more close look at the label.

The body still made with a spruce soundboard and that

is responsible for its' nice clear voice but still with the

warmth you want from a classical guitar. The sound-

board has been provided with a 7 fan bracing according

to most Antonio de Torres guitars.

For those who want to study the rosette even more closely.

The string tie block has been edged with a harder material.

In fact good to prevent any damage to the wood itself. A

slight damage near the bridge just where the first string has

been tied. A typical damage that occurs when the string 

once under the proper tension suddenly looses.

Knobs that can be switched if wanted. The same tuners

as on a Hirade / Takamine guitar and I also saw some

Asturias guitar with a bit of a Takamine like headstock.

It wouldn't surprise me that at a certain period this brand

was involved for a while.