Emperador Classical

ADDITION TO REVIEW BELOW:

BASED ON A CLOSER REVIEW OF THE TOP, SOMEONE TOOK A BLADE AND DARK STAIN AND COPIED THE TOP GRAIN LINES AND THUS SIMULATED A SOLID TOP!!!

SIGHTING THROUGH THE SOUNDHOLE, IT APPEARED TO BE A SOLID TOP GUITAR BUT THIS HAS IN FACT BEEN FAKED. IT IS A GOOD SOUNDING PLYWOOD GUITAR.

FOOL ME ONCE...SHAME ON YOU

FOOL ME TWICE...

Bought as a project fixer-upper at a local Pawn shop for $70 Cdn.

Likely Made in Japan but no Manufacture location shown. I believe it may be a 1985 as there is a letter and "85" ink-stamped" inside the soundhole.

This guitar is unusual for an Emperador in that it is made from Solid woods and claims "hand made" construction. The guitar has a SOLID spruce top and lacquer finish which has aged well and been absorbed by the grain. Cheaper Poly finishes don't tend to do this.

It has a solid , one-piece mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard with two "half frets" for the A&E and B&E strings where the fretboard meets the soundhole (20th fret). There are real mother-of-pearl position dots on the side at the 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th frets. There is a rosewood veneer on the peghead with a strip of fine wood inlay in the center. The bridge is rosewood with the same wood inlay (which also appears around the soundhole).

There is a nice six-ply w/b/w/b/w plastic binding on the body. It appears to be better than you would typically see on an Asian import of the era.

The soundhole label is round, gold and simply has the Emperador name/logo and "Hand Made". No model number.
The sides and back are solid rosewood!

The tuning heads, nut, and saddle were cheap plastic. I replaced these with higher quality hardware. The saddle (bone, compensated) made a dramatic improvement in tone.

It seems higher quality than typical Japanese Emperador products and I believe it may be a rebranded "Second" from the Yamaha or Ibanez/Aria plant. These is a colour flaw in the rosewood side that likely resulted in it being rejected or deemed a second. Fortunately, the flaw is cosmetic and the guitar sounds remarkably clear, loud and well balanced. I have read that Emperador rebranded factory seconds.

I play and record a variety of styles.

After restringing with the new D'addario nylon strings (using the new hi-tension nylon for the G-string), and replacing the saddle with a compensated bone saddle, I was amazed at how good and clear the sound was. I have other nylon string guitars costing 10 times as much and it holds its own and in some respects, has more attack and low-mids.

For the money and in gneral, It sounds very good

I believe that cosmetic flaws in the rosewood sides prevented it from being sold as a name brand and thus the simplerebranding with a stick-on label & no model number.

The neck has a slight bow and appears to have been stored in a dry environment.

It came without strings and thus was a complete set-up from scratch

Playing live, I would likely use my Ovation classical; however, while I like the Ovation sound (nylon string is surprisingly good compared to steel string tones from Ovations) amplified but hate the body design which wants to slip away unless a strap is used.

This guitar looks and feels like a classical should. Its held up under 20 years despite some neglect and humidity issues. Not bad for a Japanese second.

Emperador was a import name more than a company and related to "Kent". Many products were branded Emperador but there was no specific company I am aware of and no warranty support beyond the dealer/distributor.

A nice little guitar with good features and tone hding behind a cheapo label.

A great surprise and great value. However, any "re-brands" or seconds are hit and miss where quality and sound are concerned. To buy a new classical with similar features and quality (but you can't buy a "new" 20-year old solid top)would cost around $350 - $500 .