1982 Daion The '82 Flattop Jumbo Guitar

My friend Rick has a huge Daion herd and this is, by far, my favorite of his bunch -- possibly because it has that traditional/non-traditional half-way meeting-point that's the best feature of many Japanese acoustics from this time. Daion made yearly special models and this is their one for '82. It's a jumbo guitar along the lines of a J-200 in sizing, though with quite different specs otherwise.

The top is solid cedar and x-braced, the back and sides are rosewood, the neck is mahogany, and the board and bridge are both rosewood. It has boutique-style maple binding all around, elegant purfling, lots of brass inlay (and a brass saddle/nut), and a distinctive reverse "redburst" (they call it wine) finish to the top. The sound is rumbly and warm with that clear, balanced, mids-rich sound that one gets from a good jumbo body.

We did a quick setup on this guitar today and aside from adjusting the nut and saddle (and compensating the B-string slot), nothing else was needed and the guitar shows no prior work done to it.

I like the Weissenborn-style bridge shape.

Good-quality sealed tuners and a Martin-style "volute" add class to the headstock.