T. Haruo D45 Copy

I have a D45 copy that was made by T. Haruo on the '70's. Beautiful
guitar, great tone & action. But I don't know much about the guy or
company that made these. I found two new ones (not D45 copies, though)
in a music shop in West Covina CA in the mid 80's.

Anybody know anything about these guitars?

On a message board that I located last year I found a note that said T.
Haruo was a master builder who had worked for Yamaha at one time, but
started his own company so he could build better guitars.

Thanks!

--Steve

[Benoît Meulle-Stef]

I think a lot of Martin copies where made buy the same Japanez compagny and
hand just different logos on the headstock: Takamine, Suzuki, T Haruo...

I don't think this is one of those. I have a "Lawsuit" Takamine
12-string, and there none of the similarities in construction and finish
that would suggest they were built by the same company.

And the T Haruo also has a rectangular block of abalone inlaid into the
fretboard with the name "T. Haruo" engraved into it. It also has
Brazilian rosewood back & sides, while all the Takamines I've ever seen
used Indian rosewood--and I've NEVER seen a Takamine with a 3-piece back
like the one on this T Haruo. Take a look at the pictures on this page:

http://www.smctek.com/InstrumentListPage.html

My two Takamines are shown on this page as well. It's also interesting
to note that the two Takamines are virtually identical in construction
detail except for the headstock shape. The T Haruo is quite different
(for example, it has the traditional diamond-shaped piece at the "joint"
between the neck & headstock, and the Takamines don't have it).

And while the Takamines have pretty good playing action and tone--the T
Haruo is definitely superior in both areas.

--Steve

Post by Benoît Meulle-Stef
I think a lot of Martin copies where made buy the same Japanez compagny and
hand just different logos on the headstock: Takamine, Suzuki, T Haruo...

[Benoît Meulle-Stef]

Maybee not Takamine but definitively identical to a suzuki I have seen...

[Cyberserf]

Post by
I have a D45 copy that was made by T. Haruo on the '70's. Beautiful
guitar, great tone & action. But I don't know much about the guy or
company that made these. I found two new ones (not D45 copies,
though) in a music shop in West Covina CA in the mid 80's.
Anybody know anything about these guitars?
On a message board that I located last year I found a note that said
T. Haruo was a master builder who had worked for Yamaha at one time,
but started his own company so he could build better guitars.
Thanks!
--Steve

Steve,

The lowdown AFAIK, is that the T. Haruo models where made in Japan
(obviously), for Sam Ash sometimes in the 70-80's...the company is no
longer in operation

Again, AFAIK, these instrument are, one and all, known as Martin Lawsuit
guitars. Good quality, good build...enough to make Martin say "Cease and
Desist". Which is the reason for their disappearance.

In addition, Haruo has a distant connection to one of Japan's most famous
Luthiers K. (Kazuo) Yairi (who later merged with Alvarez to produce the
Alvarez-Yairi label). While Haruo did not (to my knowledge) study with
Kazuo, he did have some enterprise with S. (Sadao) Yairi (a distant cousin
of this prodigious luthery family). S. Yairi did indeed work for Yamaha, so
it is not improbable that they met there. Production by Yamaha did indeed
include other labels such as Takamine, Tama and Tamaka. Today, most of this
sort of farm production is done by Samick in China. HTH.

Cheers, CS

[plantsman]

Post by Cyberserf

Post by
I have a D45 copy that was made by T. Haruo on the '70's. Beautiful
guitar, great tone & action. But I don't know much about the guy or
company that made these. I found two new ones (not D45 copies,
though) in a music shop in West Covina CA in the mid 80's.
Anybody know anything about these guitars?
On a message board that I located last year I found a note that said
T. Haruo was a master builder who had worked for Yamaha at one time,
but started his own company so he could build better guitars.
Thanks!
--Steve

Steve,
The lowdown AFAIK, is that the T. Haruo models where made in Japan
(obviously), for Sam Ash sometimes in the 70-80's...the company is no
longer in operation
Again, AFAIK, these instrument are, one and all, known as Martin Lawsuit
guitars. Good quality, good build...enough to make Martin say "Cease and
Desist". Which is the reason for their disappearance.
In addition, Haruo has a distant connection to one of Japan's most famous
Luthiers K. (Kazuo) Yairi (who later merged with Alvarez to produce the
Alvarez-Yairi label). While Haruo did not (to my knowledge) study with
Kazuo, he did have some enterprise with S. (Sadao) Yairi (a distant cousin
of this prodigious luthery family). S. Yairi did indeed work for Yamaha, so
it is not improbable that they met there. Production by Yamaha did indeed
include other labels such as Takamine, Tama and Tamaka. Today, most of this
sort of farm production is done by Samick in China. HTH.
Cheers, CS
--
---
The opinions, comments, and advice offered by me, are mine alone.
As such, they carry as much weight as a feather in a snow storm.
Gear Page at: http://www3.sympatico.ca/cybrserf/Gear/Gear.htm

=======================

My brother has an almost unused Conn F27 from 1977 that looks very similar
to the Haruo with it's three-piece back and same type of rosewood, also made
in Japan. The bridge also looks very similar. I think my dad paid around
$300 for it with a cheap case. After all this time with the heavy factory
strings under tension, the neck hasn't bowed or twisted any that I can tell.
Most folks that have heard have said that it's tone is on par for a Martin.
It's a shame my brother doesn't play, he won't part with it because of being
a gift from our late father. My son would break it in quickly!

David Sizemore

[ebassist dot com]

Post by

Post by Cyberserf

Post by
I have a D45 copy that was made by T. Haruo on the '70's.

Beautiful

Post by Cyberserf

Post by
guitar, great tone & action. But I don't know much about the gu

or

Post by Cyberserf

Post by
company that made these. I found two new ones (not D45 copies,
though) in a music shop in West Covina CA in the mid 80's.
Anybody know anything about these guitars?
On a message board that I located last year I found a note tha

said

Post by Cyberserf

Post by
T. Haruo was a master builder who had worked for Yamaha at on

time,

Post by Cyberserf

Post by
but started his own company so he could build better guitars.
Thanks!
--Steve

Steve,
The lowdown AFAIK, is that the T. Haruo models where made i

Japan

Post by Cyberserf
(obviously), for Sam Ash sometimes in the 70-80's...the company i

no

Post by Cyberserf
longer in operation
Again, AFAIK, these instrument are, one and all, known as Marti

Lawsuit

Post by Cyberserf
guitars. Good quality, good build...enough to make Martin say "Ceas

and

Post by Cyberserf
Desist". Which is the reason for their disappearance.
In addition, Haruo has a distant connection to one of Japan's mos

famous

Post by Cyberserf
Luthiers K. (Kazuo) Yairi (who later merged with Alvarez to produc

the

Post by Cyberserf
Alvarez-Yairi label). While Haruo did not (to my knowledge) stud

with

Post by Cyberserf
Kazuo, he did have some enterprise with S. (Sadao) Yairi (a distan

cousin

Post by Cyberserf
of this prodigious luthery family). S. Yairi did indeed work fo

Yamaha,
so

Post by Cyberserf
it is not improbable that they met there. Production by Yamaha di

indeed

Post by Cyberserf
include other labels such as Takamine, Tama and Tamaka. Today, mos

of
this

Post by Cyberserf
sort of farm production is done by Samick in China. HTH.
Cheers, CS
--
---
The opinions, comments, and advice offered by me, are mine alone.
As such, they carry as much weight as a feather in a snow storm.
Gear Page at: http://tinyurl.com/62lhj

=======================
My brother has an almost unused Conn F27 from 1977 that looks ver
similar
to the Haruo with it's three-piece back and same type of rosewood, als
made
in Japan. The bridge also looks very similar. I think my dad pai
around
$300 for it with a cheap case. After all this time with the heav
factory
strings under tension, the neck hasn't bowed or twisted any that I ca
tell.
Most folks that have heard have said that it's tone is on par for
Martin.
It's a shame my brother doesn't play, he won't part with it because o
being
a gift from our late father. My son would break it in quickly!
David Sizemore

I too have a Haruo D-45 copy. It's in good condition and plays an
tunes real nice. My father in law bought it in San Diego in the earl
80's. I also own a 1976 HD 28 and a new Blueridge 140. the Haruo ha
the weakest tone of the trio but is not bad and well balanced. I wan
to sell it but don't know what it's worth. Anyone with any idea of it'
worth or any other info please e-mail me at ***@yahoo.com
Thanks!
Terry McKow

--
Terry McKown

[h***@gmail.com]

Terry,

I would love to buy your t-150 d45 copy. Email me at hoffman6899 at gmail