Mountain D-41 Copy

It is a Martin dreadnought japanese clone "handmade in Japan by Hayashi" (i presume the guy who build or designed it) in the seventies , with solid spruce soundboard and rosewood back and sides , mahogany neck ,ebony bridge with a bone saddle ... See the previous description for more details . Or take a look at the Martin one , these instruments are rather rare . The stock tuners are diecast Gotoh models , not a very common feature 30 years ago ...

When i bought this guitar in 1973 i was a Neil Young and C.S.N.Y. fan , as well as other acoustic folk-rock bands (America , Fairport Convention ...). And it played with "the" sound , specially in flatpicking . To get a close idea of the guitar sound (not the guy singing together!) listen to "Cowgirl in The Sand" on the "4 way street" album . 2 or 3 times people asked me if it was a real Martin ... unfortunately not , but it did the job !
After 30 years the sound is even better but slightly less agressive in the mids , more mellow and balanced . Now i use it to play acoustic blues ... and sometimes these old songs of yesterday !
The neck is less easy for more technical fingerstyle pieces , but it depends on your fingers , hands , skillness and taste !

Nothing bad with the work ... The action is slightly too high , but for strumming and flatpicking you can play very loud without any hum , buzz or other kind of noise . It could be improved but i've kept it like that . The finish is still good and has taken a yellowish color , very "vintage" . In fact it is .

I never has to do anything on it except cleaning and changing the strings . I bought it new in 1973 and i still play it , some frets are now worn out ,i have to change them , some scratches .
That's all folks , and i play at least once a week .

I don't know anything about the mysterious Mr Hayashi , i think he has closed the workshop ! I never need to deal with him nor with the shop where i bought it .

Very good traditionnal acoustic guitar , very close to its model . If you find one second hand in good condition , buy it ! So you can get a nice vintage acoustic at an affordable price (i presume) . But this brand is rather rare :except mine i only saw three others ... in the shop when i bought it .

This is a 70's Mountain acoustic, a Japanese made instrument, essentially a close copy of a Martin D-41 with abalone around the top, abalone block inlays on the fingerboard & the name 'Mountain' inlaid vertically in the headstock. The body & sides are solid rosewood, as are the fingerboard, bridge & possibly the headstock. Mahogany neck. The rosewood has beautiful pattern. The top is solid spruce. The back is two piece with an ornamental inlaid strip dividing the sides. The fingerboard is bound. Has enclosed tuners, thin neck. Engraved on the back brace inside the soundhole it reads
'Handmade' 'Mountain Folk' & the name 'Mayashi'. Black pickguard which I replaced with a tortoiseshell.

The tone of this guitar is very nice, it is warm & loud, not muddy but very clear notes, very full sounding, well balanced. Excellent sustain. I play rock & folk & I do a lot of fingerpicking & it sounds great either strumming or picking.

The action is good on this instrument, low & comfortable to play.

The guitar has held up well for being near 30 years old, the tuners have oxidized a bit but I know that the previous owner lived in Hawaii & played this guitar on the beach a lot which I'm sure contributed to the oxidizing. The tuners still work well. The finish looks good, has bumps & scratches from play. I have never gigged with this guitar.

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I have been playing since the 70's & I own about 6 acoustics. This Mountain compares quite well to a '79 Martin HD-28 I own, it is a very full, warm, loud & well balanced sounding acoustic. I love this guitar because it is a beautiful instrument & sounds GREAT. If I found another I would buy it, but they seem to be rather rare, I never see or hear much about these guitars.