❌SOLD❌ Yamaha GC30A Grand Concert Brazilian Classical, 1982

The Yamaha GC30A Grand Concert Brazilian Classical reflects the upper end of Yamaha guitar production in a concert grade instrumen,t featuring a pairing of a Red Cedar top and Brazilian Rosewood back and sides.

This Yamaha GC30A was built during 1982 at the Yamaha home facility in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture and is signed by master luthier Mr. Toshio Kato.

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, ultimately including the GC30A. The GC-30A was discontinued in 1985.

Yamaha presented Andres Segovia with a GC30A, who liked it enough to use for daily practice at his cottage.

In addition to the Spruce-braced Red Cedar top and Brazilian Rosewood for the back, sides, headplate and bridge, the GC30A uses a Mahogany neck with an Ebony fingerboard. The neck joint, typical of Japanese production from this time, is a dovetail hidden in a faux slipper-foot. The binding is Rosewood. Tuning gears are the original, excellent Gotoh models.

Here is Grant MacNeill reviewing this 1982 Yamaha GC30A:

“Built in the Japan-Yamaha “hand-made” shop, signed by Master-Luthier Mr Kato. This guitar uses a Red Cedar top with Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides.

I recently did a 12 hole tie block conversion and lowered the action, which is now at the low end of normal range. There is plenty of remaining saddle height to lower it further if needs be. The tone is huge !! Big, expressive bass response; the high E easily keeps up in volume too.

This is an unusually well balanced guitar for one that is so loud and powerful. There is easily another 50 years of playing in this fine instrument.

Grant MacNeill”