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2005 Landscape AR-1

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SN#: 05082

Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 11 1/6" Body depth: 3 5/8"

Materials: Solid carved parallel-braced bookmatched spruce top; solid carved flame maple back and sides; solid one-piece maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlays; bound body and headstock.

Hardware: All ebony hardware includes adjustable compensated bridge; contoured tailpiece; beveled pickguard, tone and volume knobs. Gold Gotoh sealed back tuners with ebony keys. Kent Armstrong Johnny Smith floating mini-humbucking pickup with endpin jack.

Notes: The historic town of Shiojiri is located in the Nagano prefecture of central Japan, and home to some of the most ancient ruins on the island. It's also home to the workshop of Toshi Owa, former head of R&D for the famed Matsumoku instrument factory, builder of many of Japan's most famous brands. His Landscape guitars are built in the classic violin tradition, crafted of all-solid tonewoods including carved spruce soundboards and highly figured maple bodies. Hand built in very limited batches, the guitars are built with cello-style rolled edges of the tops and backs, in the manner of the storied Wikanowski archtops of the prewar era.

Another distinctive feature of the AR-1 is its scale length, which at a nimble 24 3/4" is hard to find on a full-size 17" archtop, as well as a generous 3 5/8" body depth. Finally, the soundboards are parallel braced, like the Gibsons, Epiphones and D'Angelicos of the classic era, a technique that optimizes for clarity and projection. Build quality is comparable to the Sadowskys and other high end Japanese archtops, but the all-carved construction gives a much livelier acoustic tone: nicely bright and even, with fine articulation.

This rare example is built of extravagantly figured maple and is 100% original, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apart from a few incidental finish nicks, the instrument appears all but unplayed, with smooth low action over a gentle D profile neck, and a handsome jet black Armstrong JS style pickup.

An outstanding value in a highly distinctive and rarely seen handbuilt instrument. One only: call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge roundwound nickel strings (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 1/16" to 3/32" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: Original deluxe black arched plush lined hardshell case.

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