Neck: Cedro
Fingerboard: Ebony
Finish(Top): Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides): Shellac
Tuning Machines: Sloane
String Height(1st): 2.8 mm
String Height(6th): 3.9 mm

[Luthier Profile]
Born in Gunma Prefecture in 1974, Masahiro Tanabe showed a deep interest in both music and crafting from an early age. At the age of 20, he decided to pursue classical guitar making. After graduating from Hosei University, he studied under Sakae Ishii, learning guitar-making techniques and building nearly 140 guitars as his own works in Ishii’s workshop.
In 2001, he traveled to Europe, visiting stringed instrument workshops across the continent and participating in José Luis Romanillos’ masterclass. There, he encountered the traditional Spanish guitar-making style and confirmed his own artistic direction. Upon returning to Japan, he set up his own workshop in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture. With guidance from Kaoru Ono, whom he had met during the Romanillos course, he spent a year refining his craft and, in 2002, unveiled his Romanillos model—one that would become a central part of his catalog.

In 2004, he returned to Spain, visiting the workshops of renowned Spanish luthiers. Among them, the legendary Arcángel Fernández of Madrid left a lasting impression on Tanabe, both through advice and by example, particularly in his disciplined approach to guitar making.

Tanabe continues to faithfully uphold the teachings of his mentors and pursue excellence in sound, maintaining a slow and meticulous pace of only 5 to 7 guitars per year. This has made him one of the most highly anticipated luthiers in Japan today. His instruments—crafted with refined and sensitive hands and guided by an innate artistic sensibility—are deeply rooted in tradition while offering fresh nuances of acoustic color.

His guitars are widely acclaimed both in Japan and abroad. In 2018, his workshop and process were featured on a popular NHK program. He has also received coverage in newspapers and international guitar magazines. In 2020, his interview and work were published in Orfeo Magazine No.15 by French publisher Camino Verde.

Click here to view the product page for the Orfeo Magazine “Japanese Luthiers” issue on our online shop.

Click here to read a behind-the-scenes article about Orfeo’s visit to Tanabe’s workshop.

[Instrument Description]
Masahiro Tanabe – Santos Hernández Model 2024 No.283 (New)

Santos Hernández (1874–1943) is a luthier historically recognized as embodying the essence of the Spanish guitar. While his works are considered archetypal, they also show a high degree of variation, making it difficult to pin down a single definition. In this guitar, Tanabe comes remarkably close to the core of Santos’ aesthetic—almost without mediation—capturing a purity of sound that is free of any extraneous elements.

The attack is swift, with a refined sonic presence that seems to leap from the strings, providing dynamic undulations in melody, highlighting the independence of voices in polyphonic music, and producing both clarity and coherence in chords. Arpeggios unfold with natural harmonic breadth. The instrument also evokes that characteristic Spanish gravedad (gravity)—a powerful sound pressure reminiscent of Santos, Barbero, and Arcángel Fernández.
There is a dignified poise in the articulation and decay of notes—both musical and deeply expressive. The guitar responds sensitively to even the slightest variations in touch, demanding a high level of precision and control from the player. This linearity ensures that the instrument’s full expressive potential is available to skilled hands, allowing the musicality of the Spanish guitar tradition to shine.

Top Bracing Structure
One harmonic bar above and one below the soundhole

Reinforcement plate around the soundhole in a square shape

Seven symmetrical fan braces

Two closing bars forming a “V” at the lower bout

A roughly 2 cm square wooden patch between the end of the central brace and the end block
Three of the fan braces (center and outermost) are long, while the remaining four are shorter and stop near the bridge.
Resonance is tuned slightly above F#.

Appearance and Setup
The exterior is understated but elegant, enhanced by the delicate texture of the shellac finish. The tie block on the bridge features mother-of-pearl inlay—an understated yet stylish accent.
The neck has a D-shaped cross-section with defined edges.
String height at the 12th fret:

1st string: 2.8 mm

6th string: 3.9 mm
Tension is slightly firm, and with a saddle height surplus of 2.0 mm, there is room to further adjust the string height.
Equipped with Sloane tuners featuring a leaf motif.
Weight: 1.57 kg.