❌SOLD❌ Yamaha GC20A Grand Concert Brazilian Classical, 1982

The Yamaha GC20A was built as part of Yamaha’s Grand Concert line, reflecting their desire to create top quality classical guitars at a reasonably affordable price.

The GC line was conceived during the mid 1960s, when Yamaha arranged for three luthiers – Hiroshi Harada, Hideyuki Ezaki and Toshio Kato, to learn from Spanish master Eduardo Ferrer.

Between 1964 and 1967 Ferrer repeatedly visited Japan. This effort enabled Yamaha to dramatically improve the quality of their classical guitars and the first GC models 3, 5, 7 and 10 appeared in 1967, in both Classical and Flamenco versions. These were very good and very expensive – the GC3 cost considerably more than the average yearly salary of a Japanese university graduate. In 1970, a number of factors caused Yamaha to expand the line into more affordable versions, including the GC20 – and the GC30A, that we’ve posted recently.

There were two versions of the Yamaha GC20 and GC30, with Red Cedar or Spruce tops. With Red Cedar top, the model was GCxx, but with Spruce, it was GCxxA. The A stands for the Spanish word Abeto, meaning Fir; it’s one of the terms used for Spruce in the classical guitar world.

The GC line was built in two locations, at the Yamaha plant in Hamamatsu or in Taiwan, though the Taiwanese models were assembled by Japanese craftsmen. The GC20 models are Taiwanese production, and are very good.

This Yamaha GC20A, built during 1982 in Taiwan features a Spruce top paired with a pale set of Brazilian Rosewood for the back, sides, head plate and bridge. The neck is Mahogany, with an Ebony fingerboard. As with many other Japanese produced classical guitars, the neck joint is a dovetail hidden in a faux-slipper foot block.

This guitar is in overall good condition, and is well played in. It has a warm, full tone and is well balanced with a big bass output.  It has an amount of honest play wear, to be expected of a vintage guitar that’s been used as intended, so there are a number of small marks in the top and back.   

It was equipped with a now-removed, older transducer pickup, leading to an output jack visible on the lower treble side and we’ve left a jack in place. As well, this guitar has been set up with a standard lower action height.

The original case is included.