Jacaranda And Cat’s Eyes

[Sigmania]

Yeah, 1977 seems to be the year. The ones from other years all look like Indian rosewood to me so far.

1977 CE-2000

SN 758277

Cat’s Eyes CE-2000 1977年製 入荷 | イシバシ楽器スタッフブログ

 

[Sigmania]

Another 1977 CE-2000

【Cat's Eyes】【工房メンテ】キャッツアイ『E.アコースティックギター』CE-2000 1977年製 1週間保証【中古】

 

[Sigmania]

Would love to know if there was suddenly a supply of this wood in Japan in 1977.

 

[Sigmania]

1977 Takamine

Takamine TW60 Elite 1977 Vintage Jacaranda Brazilian Rosewood Acoustic Guitar WOW Rare stunning | Reverb Finland

 

[Sigmania]

I just found this by Big Mike on another forum. I remember him from the Ibanez group. Good guy. Hope you’re well Mike if you’re out there. Anyway. Check this out:

“I discovered that Kazuo Yairi, the owner of Alvarez Yairi guitars made these himself, totally one at a time. In 1975 he made his first, in 1976 he made 2, in 1977 he made 3 and in 1978 his most prolific year he made 4. After that his supply of really elegant Jacaranda suitable for solid backs dwindled.”

High End Alvarez Yairi love

 

[Sigmania]

The sort of "seasonal" or periodic availability of jacaranda reminds me of something else I spotted with Tokai. The use of "tortoiseshell mahogany" on at least three different models all in one year and then it seems to disappear. Obviously they got their hands on a limited quantity of it around that time and then the supply dried up.

Tortoiseshell Mahogany (1985)

Tortoiseshell Mahogany Top VS Super Editions
Tortoiseshell Mahogany Breezy TTE60TM TTE70TM
Tortoiseshell Mahogany Breezy With Tremolo TL70 TM ?

 

[Glenno]

I once saw a doco on some of the manufacturing techniques used in Japanese guitar building, neck’s for instance are rough cut and stacked in a drying room for periods of time (3 years +) before use, I suspect the supply of timber during time would have been sporadic.