Acoustic Guitar Kikuchi & Co, Phenix 85, A Parlor Guitar Made In The 70s Or 80s

Kikuchi & Co.'s PHENIX models are characterized by their rich tone and excellent playability. As acoustic guitars, they are loved by a wide range of players. This is a Phenix Number 85 model and was made in Japan probably in the late 1970s or 80s This is a perfect example of how good the Japanese were at making "laminate top" guitars in the 1960s but "laminate" is not the proper word to describe the properties of the "harmonic top". Unlike modern "western" laminate tops which are made from 3 layers sandwiched together at 90 degrees with the thickest layer in the middle and positioned at 90 degrees to the strings, the Japanese used 2 very thin layers of solid tonewood glued together at zero degrees, meaning the fibres for both layer run parallel to the length of the strings. The result is the very loud dynamics and almost as many overtones as a single layer of solid wood. It is like a double top guitar. This example can be more accurately described as a " Parlor Guitar " due to its size. Total length is 39 inches. Body length is 18 1/2 inches. Body width is 14 1/2 inches and Body depth is 3 1/2 inches. The original tuning machines had failed over time and were replaced with New Schaller model 563 tuning machines which were made in Germany for the UK market and cost around 250 USD. New Kordos Nylon Guitar Strings for Classical Guitar, Long-lasting, 85/15 Bronze, LightTension, Tie Ends, 28-43, color Silver, were just installed. Info I could find about the Manufacturer: The name Kikuchi & Co. is quite an obscure one in the history of Japanese guitar building. Unlike well-documented brands such as Yamaha, Tokai, or Morris, Kikuchi has left behind very little in the way of published company history, catalogs, or factory records. This lack of information makes it difficult to provide a precise chronology, but there are enough surviving instruments and scattered listings to sketch a picture of where the brand fits in. During the 1970s and early 1980s, Japan experienced a significant acoustic guitar boom. Many smaller workshops and trading companies—often based around Nagano or Shizuoka—produced guitars that closely followed American designs, especially Martin dreadnoughts and smaller 00-size models. These instruments were sometimes built under contract and sold domestically under brand names that are almost forgotten today. Kikuchi & Co. seems to have been one of these small-scale operations. The model name “Phenix” appears occasionally on the Japanese used market, though always in small numbers. The paper label inside reading “Kikuchi & Co.” is consistent with Japanese acoustics made in the late 1970s to early 1980s. These are features often found on instruments from small workshops supplying the domestic market. Unfortunately, Kikuchi guitars almost never carry a dated serial number or factory code, which means that giving an exact production year is not possible. What can be said with confidence is that this Phenix was made in Japan, almost certainly between the late 1970s and the early 1980s, at a time when many little-known Japanese builders were producing Martin-style dreadnoughts and smaller acoustics of respectable quality. The Kikuchi brand itself remains elusive, with no surviving company archive or known successor, but the instruments are a fascinating reminder of that vibrant period of Japanese guitar craftsmanship. For its age I feel it's in excellent condition. However, at the top of the headstock there is some paint missing. See pics, as they are part of the condition. Any questions feel free to ask

Condition

Used (normal wear)

Type

Acoustic

Brand

Kikuchi & Company