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Yoshiaki Masuo's Guitars

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Gibson ES-175 (about-1960 model)

This is the guitar Yoshiaki Masuo got before he entered Waseda University in 1965. His farther, a jazz pianist, went to a well-known music store in the Ginza, Tokyo, and bought this for him. Yoshiaki's aunt bore the cost of purchase. This is still one of the guitars Masuo most often uses.

You can hear Masuo playing this guitar on:
Winds of Barcelona  (Recorded in 1969), most part of Life is Good (Recorded 1995-2008 and released in 2008), and I'm Glad There is You (recorded in 2009. all finger-picked). 

Although you see this guitar on the cover arts of Acoustic Duo Lush Life-Billy-Tokyo and Are You Happy Now, it was not used on those recordings.

 Masuo's Gibson ES-175. And Mesa Boogie amplifier.   

 

 Masuo with his ES-175

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Gibson Johnny Smith model

Masuo got it early in his professional career, when he was a regular member of alto saxophonist Sadao Watanabe's band. 
This is one of several guitars that got damaged in water when Masuo's recording studio, "The Studio,"  was flooded with water in 1994. The studio was at the basement level of a building, and one winter day, frozen fire sprinkler pipes in the building ruptured. Then thawed water from the pipes flooded the studio into a pool.
His Johnny Smith is severely damaged. No attempt has been made to repair it yet, since it would be very difficult or costly. 

You can hear Masuo playing this guitar on:
part of Sunshine Avenue and Good Morning.

 Masuo with his Gibson Johnny Smith model. Photo from the Swing Journal magazine. 1974

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 Masuo with his Gibson Johnny Smith model. Photo from the Swing Journal magazine. 1974

 

 

Gibson Les Paul Standard 1959 Sunburst

This guitar survived the above-mentioned flooding incident at The Studio in 1994. Masuo still has this guitar and plays it in some situations (as of Oct. 2009).

You can listen to Masuo play this Les Paul in his recent albums "Are You Happy Now" and "Just Like Old Times". And perhaps on the Satisfaction track from Life is Good as well

Although the cover art of Are You Happy Now shows Masuo playing Gibson ES-175, he recorded the album using this Les Paul.

 Masuo playing Les Paul Standard 1959 Sunburst with Sonny Rollins in 1973. Photo from Swing Journal magazine

Masuo with his Les Paul Standard. Photo from the Jazz Life magazine. 1978

 Masuo with his Les Paul Standard. Photo from the Jazz Life magazine, 1993

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Gibson Les Paul Custom

This guitar is not owned by Masuo any more.  

Masuo got this black custom model as his first Les Paul. The photos on the right are from his album titled 24, recorded 1970. He sold the black one and bought the standard '59 cherry sunburst model. 

Masuo with Gibson Les Paul Custom. Photo from Masuo's album titled 24. Masuo with Gibson Les Paul Custom. Photo from Masuo's album titled 24.
Masuo with Gibson Les Paul Custom. Photo from Masuo's album titled 24.

 

Gibson Byrdland
-  This page is in the making.
Descriptions and photos for other guitars are to be added below.
Greco SE-1000T
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Yamaha SG-2000
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Yamaha SA-1200
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Pensa-Suhr Custom Model ( )
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Classic Guitar ( )
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