Made By Zen-on Gakki Morales Custom Great Martin D28 Style Acoustic Guitar

  
This guitar was made in mid/late 1970s for Zen-On Music Co. Zen-On was (still is) a highly reputable music score and musical instruments distributor. ZenOn had its own workshop until 1968.

In later years ZenOn instruments were made by unnamed workshops led by great luthiers Toshihiko Tokugawa, Shoichi Yanagisawa, Hiro Tamura and Saburo Nogami. Unlike most other Japanese made acoustic guitars, this one doesn't have any model number printed on the back's center brace or neck/body joint (block of wood). The sequence of digits/letter printed on top's brace: 12116M28 suggest that this might be model M28. Specifications of many of their mid-range models were being changed from "solid" to "laminated" tops.

Although many young guitar enthusiasts will find it hard to believe, these changes in specification didn't really lead to any dramatic change in tonality of these Japanese made guitars. Guitar you are looking at proves just that.

Although not a concert level, it is a great sounding and easy to play instrument, that can satisfy not only a beginner. Overall condition of this guitar can be described as very good for its age. The most conspicuous cosmetic flaw on its body is a small abrasion located on its side. Besides that, one can find few very minor dents, scratches and rubbing marks on its top, back and neck.

Its tuning keys have lost a bit of their original luster, end pin is missing, and its finishes are not super clear anymore. If you look underneath the sound hole you'll see a little chip/crack on the wood ring supporting the soundboard. It doesn't affect anything nor it require any repair.

Besides that, guitar doesn't have any serious structural defects, neck is straight and frets are leveled. Top: Thin plate of very tight grain "semi-solid" Spruce/Martin style X bracing with not scalloped braces /ultra-light gloss finish. Back& Sides: "semi-solid" Rosewood plates /ultra-light gloss finish.

Laminated is quite unfortunate term regarding Japanese made guitars. These plates were made from 2 layers of solid wood glued together with natural resins. They were made so well that they performed as good as solid woods while being far less expensive in guitar production and far more resistant to cracking in regular use. In recent years many guitar makers around the world adopted a new term "semi-solid" to describe these plates. Neck: Mahogany with 2-way truss rod. The action is set to 3.00 mm under E6 and 2.5 mm under E1, with still extra room on the saddle. The item "MADE BY ZEN-ON GAKKI MORALES CUSTOM GREAT MARTIN D28 STYLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR" is in sale since Friday, March 29, 2019. This item is in the category "Musical Instruments & Gear\Guitars & Basses\Acoustic Guitars". The seller is "victork1962" and is located in Alpharetta, Georgia.

This item can be shipped worldwide.

1. Non-Domestic Product: No
2. Model: TF60
3. Modified Item: No
4. Custom Bundle: No
5. Brand: Morales