Suzuki GR-20 Three S Series

Manufactured in Nagano, Japan, by the Suzuki Violin Company. Indescriminate year. There is no indication on the guitar anywhere. 20 frets, with a solid top. It is an accoustic. It has a three-piece Brazilian Rosewood back. The finger inlays are those six-sided diamond shaped mother of pearl. The neck, I would guess, is maple; soft, yet sturdy under the fingers. The finish is bright, and the soundboard has a mother of pearl trim. The rosetta is also mother of pearl. The head is in the classic symmetrical style with a mother of pearl trim as well.

The sound is emaculate. I've never heard even an expensive accoustic sound as fantastic. It is thick, full, and surprisingly loud, out-classing many 15amp practice amplifiers. It works extremely well with jazz, or folk, or anything you're interested in.

The action is fantastic, however, I am on my third bridge. The original cracked after improperly installed strings. The second cracked in much the same manner, but the installer of the second bridge actually installed the saddle incorrectly and frets 16-20 did not work on the high e string, so I had to take it to New York to get it properly fixed. Since then, it has been nothing but a dream.

Everything seems in order as long as the strings are inserted properly!

I have never dealth with the company. Nagano is a long ways away.

I have been playing this guitar since I could wrap my hands around it. It is beautiful, and had a guitar tech tell me it was a gem that I should never sell. I agreed with him, even though I would never sell it anyway. It would probably be difficult to find a guitar like this, since they don't make new ones out of Brazilian Rosewood anymore. I was spurned to write this review after I heard on the History Channel how rare this particular wood was. My mother bought this guitar in the 70's, and I've treated it like my unborn child since then.

If anyone has any more information on this guitar, I'd LOVE to hear about it! I can find practically NO information on it whatsoever anywhere!

This fine guitar appears to be 1970s high end copy of a Martin D28, including herringbone top binding and sound hole inlay, two piece rosewood back and sides - appears all solid not laminate - and tight grained solid spruce top, 20 fret bound rosewood neck with simple pearloid dot markers. The most interesting feature visually is the headstock top shape which is a pretty, assymetrical curve, highlighted with double binding binding around what appears to be a cherry veneer. Rosewood bottom belly bridge. Square paper label inside sound hole says 'Suzuki Guitar Model GR20 Suzuli Violin Company, Nagoya, Japan'. Serial number stamped on neck block is 791207.

Big sound for all sorts of acoustic excursions and is responsive enough for finger picking too. Easily matches the volume and tone of a Martin D28H and Gibson Country Western I have had, perhaps lacking a little in the fine detail of the mids.

This guitar was obviously meticulously put together when built. Now 30+ years old, it has had a few dings and knocks to the top but otherwise fine for the age. Action is good, perhaps a little high but I like it that way. Overall finish very good.

Appears to have withstood 30 years well and expect many more to go. No trouble to use as a reliable gigging player.

The only down side seems to be the almost complete lack of info about the Suzuki Three.S models on the internet or elsewhere. I came across a catalog showing this and other 70s Three.S models on a Japanese site, http://www.t-shiga.com/sub7-5-1-40.htm. The only other two Three.S guitars I have come across in many years of playing were both tone monsters as well, so these seem to deserve a bit more info out there! If anyone has info or pics to exchange please feel free to email me at info@zot.com.au

Have been playing for 35 years, and own about 20 pieces, mostly vintage acoustics and electrics, and I trade a bit via website www.zot.com.au. I generally prefer small bodied acoustics but will keep this one as a cheap way to fill the jumbo niche in my playing needs, having owned but not been enthralled by other mainstream jumbos including a 1988 Martin D28 and 1965 Gibson Country Western. Best feature: fine crafted solid wood tone canon for pawn shap price!