Their guitars have printed on the label 'est. 1887' but that date has to do with the the original Masakichi-led company and it's production of violins.
The production of guitars by the original SuzukI factory seems to have started,in the early 1900's. One reference says. 'Masakichi Suzuki was Japan's first violin producer. His father was a samurai moonlighter and made shamisens in Nagoya.
Masakichi succeeded his father's craft business that soon failed. In the push for westernization in Meiji, he naturally became interested in shamisen's western counterpart: the violin. In the 1880s, he started to manually produce and sell violins. He founded the Suzuki Violin Factory in 1900. By 1910, his factory was producing 65,800 violins per year.
Nagoya became the manufacturing center of string musical instruments. Masakichi's original company was eventually split into two: Kiso Suzuki and Nagoya Suzuki.
They were one company before the 2nd World War. But after the war they were split up into the Suzuki Violin Company (now Kiso Suzuki Violin Company) and Suzuki Violin Manufacturing Company (now Nagoya Suzuki Violin Company).
And there the relationship ended. The two companies were headed by sons of Masakichi Suzuki.
Looks as though the serial number leans to a 1972. Is there any sites. I have a suzuki acoustic guitar, model number w300. I have had this. I believe the first number of the serial number is the build year and the other numbers the build number, many have tried to date their Suzuki's by trying to make a date from the serial number this might work in 1-100 as a guess, but knowing that kiso's were made from late 40's to 1986 all kiso suzukis from 1950 - 1978,79.
Both companies made guitars that commonly have a laminated back or sides, many times the top also is laminated, but the sound, playability, and volume are what makes them so popular. Both Suzukis used a very high grade of laminate and the construction usually shows a high degree of craftmanship.
To some players, the neck shape of their guitars is one reason they seem so playable. Nagoya Suzuki made violins and mandolins, and is still in business making violins, but no guitars. They stopped making them around 1989.
Nagoya Suzuki had a ' Three S' brand of guitar that seems to be consistently very highly valued by everyone that owns one. They also produced an Insignia series of guitars in the 80's that had solid woods used in the manufacture and had more of an electric guitar-type of neck - thinner than a typical acoustic guitar. There are thousands of players worldwide who would like to know more about their Suzuki guitar.
It's a common story that when someone has G.A.S (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome) and needs to let a guitar or two go, the Suzuki is the one that stays behind and can't be replaced. Probably the skill acquired from violin-making and the other instruments played a large role in the good craftsmanship, according to one web source cited previously. It makes sense. Good wood, or good laminate, and good craftsmen, make a good guitar. If you own a Nagoya Suzuki guitar- congratulations on what you probably already know - that you own a well-crafted and good sounding instrument.
One that is still undervalued in the opinion of many players (in other words - a good buy). Maybe you'll hang on to it and see that there is something special about many of their instruments.
In any case, as Tetsu said.' Have a nice life with Suzuki guitar.'
Also, if you would like to contribute to the establishment of a knowledgebase about Suzuki Guitars: Please::send in your pictures;:please buy a T-shirt;:please buy an original piece of artwork based on the Suzuki legacy.:). Really!.we want to keep the whole principle of an unrecognized humble manufacturer of quality guitars alive for future generations of: players and luthiers!!!!! Suzuki nagoya was responsible for the training of legendary master guitar luthier Sada Yairi. He went on to make some of the best guitars ever made, in the tradition of CF Martin. Some say they play and sound better than a martin. He left the suzuki Company in 1929 to go it alone.
He may have been involved in the production of the earlier Suzuki guitars. Sada Yairi guitars were also made in Nagoya Japan, until about 1975, when he went bankrupt and was sold out to cheaper more commercial brands such as samick and the current korean S. Yairi brand, and the still japanese Yairi Gakki company. It was unfortunate to see the commercialisation of such a meticulous craftsman as Sada Yairi. I bought a suzuki classical guitar in 1981, and it's probably one the finest guitars I've ever owned, not just in appearance which was great, but in playability. In those days, I bought it for $180.00, which probably equates to $300 - $400 now, considering $180 was about the average wage in new Zealand in 1981.
When I got together with other guitarists and played with them, my guitar always seemed much louder, it had a great full tone, I could always hear my guitar above everyone else's guitars, so could others. Others certainly enjoyed playing it. It was a lovely looking guitar, with gold machine heads, well shaped headstock, and it seemed to be made out of darker wood than the average guitar of the time. It also had a thin black line running down the back of the waist, which usually indicated, I believe a well made guitar.
I bought an Ovation classical some years later, and despite the price difference, I would say the Ovation apart from its distinctive looks was no better than the suzuki. Best Richard Foreman. I purchased my Suzuki Violin Company Acoustis Guitar no.700 for $50.00 a few years back from the Ballina Tip shop Australia. The dirt dust and grime was free. With much care I re did the bridge which was off, fixed two broken internal struts, cleaned and oiled the machine heads carefully, new strings and wow! What a surprise.a beautiful full clean tone which you just don't want to put down. There is definately something very special about this instrument.its extremely light weight but packs a big clean sound in all areas.
It's gorgeous to hear being played by good musicians and they love it. Many muso's often scratch their heads with wonderment at the guitars performance. After reading the comments on this page I came across a Nagoya Suzuki on Ebay that no one else seemed interested in so got it for £50.
I was told it hadn't been played for 35 years and certainly looked it.But even with old, tired strings and a covering of grime it sounded great. I am in the process of of de-gunging the fingerboard and filing 2mm off the saddle to improve the action. With a modicum of TLC it has come back to life and looks superb. Over the years I have played numerous makes of guitar - some ludicrously expensive but none better than this. A remarkable find and a definite keeper. I just purchased a 2nd hand Nagoya Suzuki W-5025. As far as dating is concerned: I think the number on the neck block is the production date.
Mine sais: 770827, which IMHO sais it was produced on august 27, 1977. Same method as my old Hashimoto W350. I am still working on the guitar ( cleanig, setting up) but on first impression it has quite a good balance, not too heavy bass, good wood working skills ( top is laminated, but very nicely done). I hope to post some more details and pictures soon.
I own a Suzuki jazz guitar. It was purchased by my father approximately in the mid-sixties. It is labeled Suzuki Violin Co., Ltd.
Nagoya and has the number P-15 stamped on the label. Its got a steel reinforced neck and open tuners, guess at least the top is solid. I learned my first chords on it the early seventies and after I started to play more seriously again after a break of twenty and more years I remembered it and picked it up yesterday from my parents attic. It has a lot of dings and dongs, however it was nearly in tune after all the years and with some cleaning of the fretboard and some new strings it should do its job again.
Sorry everyone, I think I might have topped you all. I have just purchased a very nice early '70's (my guess) Nagoya Suzuki (Model No. 700) classical guitar for the princely sum of $17.00 from The Salvation Army. Some TLC and furniture polish has given new life to a beautiful instrument looking for love and willing to please (Hang on! I'm getting a little bit excited!!!) Beautiful sound but the action will need some work. Can anyone wise me up as to what the wood on the back is? It's kind of a dirty brown/grey color with rivers and/or ripples through it and it smells like oak.
The top is of course spruce and is as mellow as my Grandmothers demeanor! Well, she's been dead for 30 years!! I'm very pleased to join the Suziki club as my membership fee has been manna from heaven!
I was working in the D.C. Area in the early 70's (Northern Virginia and Ocean City Maryland). I owned and played a 1957 D-28, D12-35, Ovations, etc.
I wanted a classical guitar in order to get that authentic PP&M sound. At Washington Music Center in Wheaton, I played Goyas, Gianninis, Martins, and finally a very inexpensive Suzuki C-18. I had $1,000 cash and was prepared to spend it all on a really great guitar. The Martin was $900, but the Suzuki was stronger and more responsive with an impressive sound. For many years it was neglected without strings until recently. Its forty years old, with new strings, and I'm lovin' it:) More volumn, sustain, and resonance than any classical I have ever played.or heard!!!
I have the cream of the crop, suzuki mahagany sides and back,rosewood fretboard no3054 hardtop and a suzuki soft top no3067 nagoya its much lighter an narrower.lighter wood as i play classical music you have to give it a good twang to waken it. Not sure when it was produced. I bought a W-5025 in 1981, from a guy, sitting on the sidewalk and playing it for $100. Serial# 750804. (August 4th, 1975).
He needed the money to get back to Canada. I bought it because my all time favorite guitar, 1967 Martin D-35 was stolen and I wanted a guitar that I didn't care what happened to it and didn't need to be 'attached' to. 30+ years later, it is the only guitar that I play! I've had MANY great guitars since, including Martin, Gurian, Santa Cruz and others. Some have sounded much better than this Suzuki, but none have felt more comfortable. I've owned three other Suzuki guitars, but I must have struck gold on the first one.
Maybe as a payback for my D-35 loss. I still think about 'the one that got away', but love my W-5025 as a dear friend with incredible memories. Hi Micheal (and everyone).
Just thought i would do some research on my Suzuki acoustic and when you mentioned you have number 700 i thought i would say that i have number 701! Probably a completely irrelevant peice of infomation but just seems funny how two guitars that may have been next to each other on the production line have ended up on opposite sides of the world! I live on the Isle of Wight which is on the south coast of the UK and my guitar was given to me by my grandad who purchased from new back in the 1960s (approx). Anyway just thought i would add that useless peice of information. Happy playing!
I have an f100 i bought in 1985 for £60 12string Suzuki tunes to C because of the tail piece more of the string is exposed across the guitar. To me it is the grand piano of all 12 strings and a nightmare to tune! However once in tune WOW! Large sound hole so it fills the room with sound.
I also have a diamon pick up which fits the sound hole it came with the guitar. I don't use it at all i prefer to mike it up with a samsung compressor mike. The problem then is being consistent with your strikes when recording. I love it although i have bought a synergy ovation style 12 string lighter and brighter.
Anyway D,Addario j38 light strings.010.047 sound the best and they are long enough. I have many times tried other strings some expensive ones only to find out half way through that the bloody D + G string is too. So i stick to D,Addario. Remember dont use a pick up on these acoustics use a mike. Play it safe. Use a plectrum!!!!
Keep it live ([email protected]) laing french SOUPSON bandcamp.com/. Hey everyone, I just purchased a Suzuki #32 (Nagoya) classical guitar at an eBay auction. I was the only bidder, and I'm looking forward to hearing the sound.
The seller told me he knew nothing about guitars, when I inquired about possible cracks, and any evidence of the bridge lifting. When they try and sell a guitar without strings, I automatically wonder what are they trying to hide. I told him to send along a set of D'Addario ECG25 XL Chromes (flat wound) which is my preference for classical guitars. Judging from comments here, I might have struck gold (again) with this purchase.
I certainly hope so! If this guitar sounds as good as my Martin 000C Nylon classical hybrid, I'll be VERY happy!
I Picked up a Suzuki #12, serial # 650220, Nagoya Japan. With original soft vinyl case. Pretty much a 10-, I think they are the original strings. The head has 'Suzuki' in gold decal, cursive font, not bold type, sloping up hill. The neck seems thinner. Sound box is all light brown wood, with a very nice bead of white, and a nice mother of pearl and ebony inlays around the sound hole I think the serial # probably would be the 220th guitar made in 1965, and not on the date of Feb, 20, 1965, otherwise, they would only be making 1 guitar per day, which does not seem very profitable for a guitar manufacturing company, any thoughts on that from anyone?. I was browsing through a tip-shop in Dunedin and noticed a guitar case.
I asked the shop-manager how much she'd sell it to me for. She sold it to me for $10. When I got home and went to have a decent look at it, low and behold I discovered my incredibly lightweight classical Suzuki guitar! It's rather old and had some slight damage to it. But I cleaned it up, restrung her, and oh! It's incredible!
The number within the circular sticker reads 700 and the serial number is 721105. What these numbers represent, I do not know. However this guitars tone is like no other, and I always get the eyebrows from musicians in-the-know.
A few weeks ago I was even offered $200 for it! The thought crossed my mind, but I couldn't part with er' haha. Reading up on a Nogoya Suzuki model no 700, serial no 711018 (1971?)I bought a couple of weeks ago from a pawn shop for AU$29. It has had a hard life and is pretty banged up. The other thing I noticed was it had been played a lot, which made me think it was likely a good playing guitar.
I was looking for an old nylon string guitar as a project to install a piezo pickup with preamp. The criteria was MIJ and a straight neck. Project is finished, together with some running repairs to the body, and working well. The sound is good and definately loud. I was thinking about giving it away but every time I pick it up I finish thinking - man that was fun. I don't think I can part with this thing.
Two more jobs to finish it off - polish the frets and restore the finish - and it's a keeper. You want to talk about a rare bird? My Nagoya Suzuki is a solid cedar topped single cutaway classical, SC 300C.
I could have sworn I bought it new in 1974-75, but from what I'm reading here it was built in 1980. There are very few classical cutaways from this time, because classical players believed cutaways produced inferior sound that would not project as well as a 'normal shaped' guitar. Classical guitar teachers frowned on these 'cheater' cutaways because you could reach higher frets without the contortions a regular shaped guitar required. A lot of it was just their egos; they were trying to separate themselves from the riff-Raff pop guitar players. Would love to hear from another SC300C player. SUZUKI W-300 I have just bought a W-300, I am absolutely surprised with the quality and woods.
To my surprise the back and sides are solid Rosewood and the top is a very thin 3.5mm solid Sitka Spruce. It was built in 1982 and has a serial number 82 03 05.
The tone, volume and sustain from this guitar is to die for. This dispels the impression from previous posters who generally class Suzuki Nagoya made guitars as composite, they may be in the cheaper types but the W-300 is solid throughout. In 1982 this guitar would have cost £200 based on the 30,000yen price (W-300) which describes the price. We have a Suzuki guitar which has been in a corner for years thought it was a throw away children s guitar,still don t know what it may be. Inside says Model 80, SUZUKI GUITAR, Kiso Suzuki Violin Company Japan on a rectangular off white with brown trim paper. No serial number. Outside open head steel strings and a little tag saying made in Japan.
Is this a much later lower end mass produced model? Haven t cleaned it up, missing one tuning peg wood looks to be solid possibly rosewood sides and back with possible cedar top? 7, serial number 44.4.26. This was my first guitar as a teenager.
It was bought from a second hand shop as a gift to me in the mid 60s and it had steel strings on it. I played it for years that way and one hot summer day the bridge popped off. Took it to a music shop to have it repaired and the fella there said it was suppose to have nylon stings so I said OK and I played it that way for years as well. It needs a new nut before I put steel strings back on it. I haven't played it for decades and would like to hear it again. All the Suzuki guitars on this blog are something to behold.
I will hold onto mine. I just bought a Suzuki SC-300C. I have several guitars but this is my first classical.
The idea as I understand it is the first two digits in the serial number are the year it was made. That means mine was made in 1981. It is a beautiful guitar. I absolutely love the sharp curve of the cutaway. This one was clearly played a lot and loved and it shows but the solid cedar top sounds amazing.
I just bought it today on the road so when I get home I will shave a mm or less off of the saddle to correct the action and intonation on the higher frets that probably developed over the years. If I take to it I may consider adding a simple pick-up. My go-to guitar is a Larrivee LSV-11 finger style which has a wide short-scale fret so the adjustment to the Suzuki classical neck is not massive but I think the short scale of my Larrivee may have made me a bit lazy with those pinky stretches.
I'm looking forward to the learning curve. Now, stuck in a hotel room, I will play my new guitar and have a beer or two. So I got the Suzuki SC-300C home and started to fiddle with it. First off I put on carbon high tension strings.
I like the tone and resistance they offer (my ear and fingers are still tuned to a steel string guitar). I replaced the plastic nut and saddle with TUSQ parts.
I was going to go with bone but was sold on the TUSQ by on line luthiers harping on about them; plus I didn't have to get a luthier to carve them for me. Because this guitar has a cutaway and I play up the neck a lot I shaved the saddle and dropped the action to about 3.5mm from the fret to the bottom of the string at the 12th fret on the low E. This has revealed my first (hopefully only) dilemma. There is no buzzing or string slap, it plays and sound great, but the height of the saddle is barely a millimeter on the high E over the bridge and about 1.5 on the low E side (the string height from the soundboard at the bridge is 10mm. I took it to a shop today and they pointed out the bridge is ever so slightly separated and the back end from the soundboard ––you could slide a piece of paper under the back edge. This is probably in part why the saddle needs to be so low.
So I will be getting them to remove the bridge, clean up the surfaces and sand the bridge a bit and re-glue it. This should give me more visible saddle with a better string angle at the low action that I want. I sure am learning a lot with this rather inexpensive purchase and I absolutely love playing this guitar and it sounds amazing (albeit to an ear not used to judging classical guitars). It has wonderful sustain especially on those base strings. So I love my Suzuki.
Just brought a Triple S, Nagoya Suzuki Violin, guitar, model VV-200, dated May 4, 1977 back from Japan with me. It is in excellent, new condition in the original high quality hardshell case. What amazing deep tone it has. I'm very impressed, so impressed I flew it home with me.
(riding trains, buses. And a 12 hour flight, two connections, ughhh) I bought it at a small guitar shop way up in the mountains, headed towards the Japanese Alps in the beautiful town of Takayama several years ago. The binding has turned yellow, spruce top, beautiful inlays.
Wish I could figure out how to post photos. I just purchased a 1976 Suzuki Three-S guitar with original hard case that has the model number 3180 on the label.
Its a Martin D28 copy, with one owner for the last 40 years who has kept it in immaculate condition. I fitted new extra light Martin strings and it plays and sounds like a dream - not quite as good as a genuine Martin, but close enough that most people wouldn't even notice unless they have a well trained ear.
That's a lot of guitar for £100 Sterling ($150) and I couldn't be happier. Suzuki Guitar, or Suzuki Violin Company Nagoya hereafter referred to as Nagoya Suzuki ), is from the Nagoya area of Japan. There was one Suzuki company before the 2nd World War.
After the war, a entity created by the US and allies called GHQ (for General Headquarters) dismantled some parts of 'Imperial' Japan and some companies were closed or restructured. In Suzuki's case, the company was separated into: - the Suzuki Violin Company, changing to the Kiso Suzuki Violin Company and - the Suzuki Violin Manufacturing Company came to be called the Nagoya Suzuki Violin Company. Re: the serial number: on many of the models the first one or two numbers in the serial number stands for the year in which it was manufactured; from the 60’s to the 80’s. I have never seen a definite 1950's guitar yet, mainly because I don't know enough about them yet.
The other prefixes/suffixes.W, C, S, VS, D, G, A, T, R, O, J.may follow other common meanings. W = Western model F = Folk Model FM = Flame Maple C = Cutaway E =Electronics K =? S =Spruce (top) VS = Violin Sunburst color D =Dreadnaught shape G =Grand Concert shape for classicals; some 'G' acoustics however had a large Gibson-type headstock A =? Takeharu sometimes R =?Rosewood O =?Ovangkol J =Jumbo shape (if you can help with understanding their system, please DO write me at [email protected]!Thanks!).
Nagoya Suzuki Acoustic Guitars Information and Comments Find your guitar here and comment please, on what you think of the guitar; the sound; type of woods used; date of mfr; and anything else you would like to say. Submit pictures by emailing Thanks! 'I have a Suzuki, but it doesn't sound as good as I had hoped for.'
If you have a Suzuki that doesn't sound so great. Not every Suzuki guitar is equal to an 'inheritance' guitar. But, some are. Some may just require a setup to sound better; others may be too heavily built or have intonation problems (personal experience with some steel strings built by Kiso). BUT, it's possible to fix some of these problems and have your guitar sound a lot better. Also, different years, different labels (jobbers?), and whether the guitar was intended for export or for Japan - seems to have made a difference.
The Interwebs are sorely lacking on search results for these guitars! There's a particular one for sale on my local Craigslist, which is why I started researching. I thought Suzuki guitars were 70's creations only, and inexpensive student guitars at that. However, the seller claims this particular Suzuki dreadnaught is from the early 90's and that it's a quality all solid-wood build. The name on the headstock says 'Suzuki Triple S' and the model is AD320. Does anyone have a Blue Book with more info?
Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Some years ago I had a cutaway Nagoya acoustic. I can't remember the model number but the headstock as the same as the W 120 on the internet.
The finish was a dark tobacco sunburst, very pretty! I think it was a laminate but that certainly didn't affect the sound, very well balanced with enough sound for anyone. Lovely neck shape and feel, used regularly at home and on holidays, sessions and even trying to support a VERY loud bluegrass banjo. I never had a problem with the instrument losing tuning, lifting the bridge, neck needing a reset or any of the many and varied problems which can attack a guitar over the 15 or so years I owned it.
My friends also played it - a variety of styles, all liked it. Eventually sold (with a clear conscience) to a friend when I upgraded to a Guild. Suzuki was making guitars fro a long long time, maybe they exported mainly laminates, can`t say for sure, but I`ve found a few all solids over here. I checked a site that has catalogs including Suzuki but didn`t see the model you listed so I didn`t post a link in this thread. I`ll post pics of the labels of those I own that are solid wood. This is a `48 nylon string.
A 1950 Kiso Suzuki. I`ve got three of these, no dates on the labels, but two are certainly solid. One, the most recent, I`m not sure about, but if I had to bet I`d say yes.
All three have different colored labels but all have the diamond cut bracing. Heres what the diamond cut bracing looks like. Here is a link to a site with some Suzukis.none of the labels on mine appear there, and some of the data they have conflicts with the guitars I own so I can`t swear the info there is accurate, in fact I know some isn`t but it`s very difficult finding stuff on many old MIJs I own, I`ve got a whole bunch in the 'unsolved mystery' file, but hey, whatever.I buy em to play, guess I`ll just have to struggle through life not knowing everything there is to know about some of my oldies. As long as they sound good, I`m happy. I have still got a Nagoya Suzuki w-120VSC cutaway tobacco sunburst exactly as you describe.
I bought it new in about 1983 and you are right -it is a fantastic guitar for the money. Although I use a Takamine en-20 (another 1980s relic)for gigging, the Suzuki is the first choice at home for composing or noodling about on. The action is fantastic and the sound is well rounded. It hasn't got the volume or tone of the Tak, but it's a much nicer guitar to play.
My wife won't play any other and she won't let me sell it! I have never adjusted anything other than replacing strings in all those years. It's hard to fault really.
The build quality is good -the g string sometimes 'jumps' or clicks when you tune it and the intonation gets a bit suspect right up past the 12th. These could probably be sorted easily, although i've never felt the need. Apart from a few chips, the finish has stayed in remarkably good condition(compared with the Tak which is disintigrating around the soundhole). I think I paid about. You might want to check the archives here as well. There was a thread on guitars branded 'Nagoya' that I guess were Suzukis. No really good records on these things.
Mine is in my lap as I speak. Just boned the bridge. It's about a '72 model, as far as I can tell. Solid spruce top, and the sides and back appear, to the best of my ability to determine, to be solid EIR.
Mine is a true copy of a contemporaneous Martin, down to the oversized rosewood bridge plate. It was manufactured as a 'House Brand' for a local music store in the D.C. Point being, though they made a lot of student level stuff, they were capable of turning out better guitars. $350 sounds a little steep, but with a good hardshell case, it's not out of the ballpark. Compare it to other guitars in he price range, like the Yamaha 7XXS series, and make up your own mind.
Only rule of thumb I haveis, If it sounds good, it is good.