Edge binding, back center striping and heal lamination is very similar to Rodriguez Guitars, being all simple contrasting wood. Tuning machines are identical to current Schaller LGO 1 553 Classical Guitar Machine Head Lyra - Gold, with the exception of some of the engraving, so these could be copies or just an older version. The construction of the instrument features blocked linings at the intersection of the top and sides and solid wood (unblocked) linings at the intersection of the back and sides. The headstock has rosewood veneer and very closely resembles an Jose Ramirez SPR-A SP/IR Classical Guitar. (I have or have owned a number of Brazilian rosewood and East Indian rosewood instruments and so believe I know the difference between laminate and solid, but could be wrong.) The top is most probably solid cedar, but is translucent, at least in places, so it might be spruce. The back and sides are almost definitely solid Brazilian rosewood, because some grain features appear on both the inside and the outside of the back and sides. The stacking of the heal is matched to the color of the sides including near perfect grain matching either by wood type or staining.
The fretboard appears to be ebony, the neck is mahogany with an ebony reinforcement strip and stacked heal.
The instrument has the original case and both the guitar and the case are in near perfect condition. Would like to know more about who made it, when it was made, what woods it is made of and what it is worth, of course. Purchased this instrument in 1978 or early 1979 in Bremen, Germany.
#JAPANESE GUITAR IDENTIFICATION SERIAL NUMBER#
H 250", "52._9_6" ("_" indicates an illegible character, guessing 1976), Serial Number is 52071057 inscribed on the neck block. This guitar's label reads "hand-crafted by CARULLI", "JAPAN GIFU KANI", "model no.