Neck: Cedro
Fingerboard: Ebony
Finish(Top): Cashew
Finish(Back & Sides): Cashew
Tuning Machines: GOTOH
String Height(1st): 2.8mm
String Height(6th): 3.7mm

【Profile】
Masaki Sakurai was born in Tokyo in 1944. He graduated from Sophia University in 1967 with a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and immediately joined the Kohno Guitar Workshop, where he honed his craft. In 1988, he won first prize at the 4th Paris International Guitar-Making Competition. The model he submitted for the competition later became known as the “PC (Paris Competition)” model, and remains one of the most popular guitars in his current lineup.

After the passing of Masaru Kohno in 1998, Sakurai took over the workshop and continued producing guitars under the “Sakurai-Kohno” label while also building instruments under his own name. His guitars are known for their precision craftsmanship and beautiful appearance, achieved through the use of high-quality tonewoods. Their exceptional playability—especially suited to the physique and preferences of Japanese players—has earned Sakurai widespread popularity overseas as well. Following in his mentor's footsteps, he has achieved global recognition as a master luthier.

【Description】
This is a 2015 Sakurai Masaki “Special” model (F1027A), a mid-range guitar in his lineup, positioned just below the Maestro-RF and PC models. The “Special” is now discontinued, making this used instrument a rare find in excellent condition.

The guitar delivers a warm, rich tone, a well-contoured D-shaped neck, and excellent responsiveness that adapts to a wide range of playing styles. It offers an ideal balance of playability, making it a comfortable choice even for beginners. The guitar produces a clear, glossy sound with consistent strength all the way up the fingerboard. Its naturally balanced tonal response allows the player to create a refined soundscape effortlessly, providing what could be described as an automatic expressive ability—an uncommon trait for classical guitars. This built-in tonal design helps reduce the expressive burden on the player, further highlighting the unique characteristics of this brand.

Internally, the soundboard features two harmonic bars—one above and one below the soundhole. The lower bar has small openings (approximately 2 mm x 2 cm) on both the treble and bass sides. There are five fan braces: three on the treble side and two on the bass side, with one of the bass-side braces placed closer to the rim. In addition, three smaller flat bars are positioned near the saddle—one directly underneath and one on each side (toward the soundhole and end block). Among these, only the center bar spans the full width of the soundboard, while the other two reach only to the outermost fan brace on the treble side. The main body resonance is tuned slightly below F#.

Unlike some of Sakurai’s more recent models, which use flat circular wooden discs to enhance acoustics, this guitar uses only traditional braces and bars.

There are no major repairs or modifications, and no cracks. Minor cosmetic wear includes small dents (about 2–5 mm) and light scratches on the top near the fingerboard edge, the upper treble bout, and lower bass bout. The sides and back have one or two shallow dents (about 1 mm), and some barely noticeable scuffs likely caused by clothing. The back of the neck has only a few faint marks. Overall, all blemishes are minor and do not detract from the instrument’s appearance.

The neck has a very slight forward bow, but remains within standard tolerance. The frets are in good condition. The neck has a standard D-shaped profile with a comfortable grip. String height is 2.8 mm on the 1st string and 3.7 mm on the 6th string at the 12th fret. The saddle has an additional 2.5–3.5 mm of height available, allowing for further adjustment if needed. However, even at the current setup, string tension is moderate and does not place excessive stress on the left hand.