| My T Haruo Guitars Page 2 |
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| Let me say thanks to all those who have written in with their stories. Kinda adds more to the mystery though, until the real story comes to light. |
| 2/3/09 - from Paul Haines Many thanks for your informative website and to all contributors. I bought a six string second hand T Haruo in Hong Kong in the early 80’s. It had been battered around by a Morris dancer who couldn’t get on with it. I thought it was a cheap Japanese Martin copy, mainly because one deep ding in the top revealed that it was not solid spruce. The machine heads were also a cheap open variety with plastic pegs. I changed these for cast Ibanez , put an internal under bridge pick up in it and lowered the action to make it easier to play, then gigged it heavily for many years. I have a Martin D41 1979 and whilst I would never part with the T.Harua, it doesn’t have the same acoustic volume or presence, but it’s a delight to play. It has been very tolerant to temperature and humidity changes and bent quite badly when it got overheated once but returned to form later. The neck broke near the headstock and I recently repaired it, which led me to check on its history. An interesting point is that it has no serial number or model number embossed on the internal neck block or anywhere else. It has a paper label in the sound hole but any references are long gone. The tree of life head inlay is unsymmetrical with 2 dots to the left and three to the right. It has a 2 piece back with wood pattern separation inlay. The sound hole inlay and body binding is abalone. Sides and back look solid due to grain observations. Sorry that I have no contribution to make regarding the luthier Regards Paul Somerset England |
| Hello Paul, Thank you for your info. Your Haruo must be a very early model because of the asymmetrical headstock inlay and the dots. The first post on my site is from a lady who bought her T-20 6 string in the mid ‘70s and it has no dots on the headstock. Both of mine, and all the ones I have seen, have a symmetrical inlay w/ three dots on each side. Haruo must have switched to solid tops also as time went by, because both mine are solid spruce tops. This improved the sound tremendously as both have a rich ‘bark’. Many have commented on the richness of the sound. And they are a dream to play. Do you have any pics that you could send? I would like to look at yours. I might be able to tell what model by the wood used and the style of the rest of the guitars’ inlays. And no #’s anywhere eh? Again, thanks Paul and stay in touch, as we never know when we will discover the true story behind these wonderful instruments! And greetings from Utah, USA Richard |
| 12/27/08 - from Matt Pierce I have had your website saved for some time but never really got the chance to actually email you about my 12 string. So I received my 12 string from a local guitar shop about 3 years ago. I have a habit a spending a lot of time in our local guitar shop because of all the beautiful instruments he tends to get in there. I was in one day and noticed the T. Haruo on the wall and had asked him about the guitar. He said it was some off brand Japanese guitar that he had found in the dumpster and cleaned up and put strings on. He had a good selection of 12 strings there such as Guild, Gibson and Yari but after playing them and playing the T. Haruo I had decided on buying it. The funny thing is that it was the cheapest of the bunch as far as price. I believe I ended up buying it for about $150 US. I love to collect different kinds of weird guitars as you can see from my pictures. I will keep you more informed on any new ones that I get since I am in the search for them. Thanks Matt |
| 'Sup Matt, From the dumpster eh?? What a score!! You have the exact same guitar that I used to own before it went hi-order and was replaced with the T-50-12 that I have now. A T-80-12 for a measly $150?? I think that this might have been the top of the line in the 12 string dept. of T.Haruo. I have not seen a T-100 or 150-12 string ever. Own one?? let us know...I'd love to see the top of the line if this is 2nd or 3rd fiddle. Nice guitar Matt and thanks for your story and contact. If you ever get wind of anything to do with the luthier ... let us know.. Peace n notes, Richard |
| Back to T-Haruo page One >>>>>>>>> |
| 3/8/09 - from Tim Crawford Hi R.E.A At last someone has a relatively up to date site on these great guitars. I just have to share my story. I bought mine, a T-40, in a guitar shop in Melbourne Australia in 1988. The ground floor was full of electric guitars of every variety. The whole upstairs part of this store was second hand acoustics and there it was. One strum was all it took. Oh and the elaborate pearl inlay as well. I paid A$250 and I know these hold their value because 5 years later I was getting a basic set up and fret job and the guitar repair guy offered me A$300 for it. I deducted that they would have to double the price to make money on it, making it approx A$600. But that was nearly 15 years ago. Worth their weight in gold Cheers crawrie |
| 4/22/09 - from Esmond Chorlton Hi I love your site. My guitar has a number 528 0165 60 with the 60 being on a different line. The label reads that it is a T Haruo hand crafted model 60 made in 1976. It is a beautiful guitar which I would not part with for all the Martins in America. Interestingly a friend of mine asked me for my opinion on three guitars that he was thinking of selling one of which was an early 70's Yamaha. It felt and sounded like a Haruo whereas I was not generally impressed with early 70s Yamahas, having played a lot of mediocre ones in England in the early 70s. I wonder how much leeway was given to individual luthiers back then because I could have sworn it was one of Terry's! Good luck with your cataloguing, I'll keep a look out for any conclusions. Cheers Es Chorlton` |
| 3/23/09 - from Paul Haines Hi again and thanks for your previous response and site posting. I attach four photographs of my rather battered guitar. It looks to me a similar style to your T50 but I’m pretty sure that the top is composite and not solid. Apologies for dubious quality of photos but lighting was not good and neither are my photographic skills. Kind regards - from Somerset, England Paul |
| 4/7/09 - from Bob Delia i am looking to buy a haruo 12 str. i had one with a vine in the neck. (REA note: probably a T-80 12 string) know of any for sale? I am in NY. - Bob 631.471.1940 |
| Thanks Crawrie for the contact and another story from another continent and another hemisphere. These things are everywhere!! I am in the process of contacting someone in Japan about doing some actual research into the Japanese Luthiers Assoc. It's worth a try...Ssstay tuned. We all love our T-Haruos don't we? Yeah!!! REA ps - any pics you'd like to send? Serial #'s?? |
| Thanks Paul for the pics....even though they're blurry...lol! |
| Anyone out there wanting to part with any model T-Haruo 12 string should contact Bob @ the listed number... Good luck Bob! ...REA |
| Thanks Es for your input. Do you have any pics you’d like to send my way. I’d post them on the site if you wouldn’t mind. I don’t think in all my looking that I’ve actually run across a T-60. And as to the early Yam…since T Haruo worked at Yamaha (we now know he didn't) before forming his own company, it could be one of his…who knows for sure…only Haruo and no-one can find what happened to him or his company. Best to you from Utah, Richard |
| 5/30/09 - from Moosicmaster Hi- A friend passed along the link to your web site to me. I have a T.Haruo 12 string guitar.. listed on Ebay right now! ( A search for T.Haruo on Ebay should bring it up)...just in case you might or any of the members of your forum might be interested...please pass this along to anyone that you feel might be interested in the guitar! Thanks, Moosicmaster7 |
| Anyone out there wanting to buy a model T-Haruo 80-12 string should check e-bay in musical instruments under t haruo and bid away. Beautiful guitar and well worth checking out. If I had the cash right now, I would buy this baby!! ...REA |
| 6/7/09 - from Kevin Janzen I bought my guitar used in the late 70’s. It is very impressive and sounds better than any other guitar I have heard even Martin’s. The serial number has disappeared over time and all I can see is T4. It may be a T40. It is solid spruce with what appears to be a 3 piece rosewood back and rosewood sides. I do not know anything about these instruments, but the play perfect, never NEVER goes out of tune. Has substantial volume and simply perfect sound. I love it. What are they worth?? Kevin |
| Hi Kevin, Thanks for the contact. As all T Haruo owners, we all love them. Wish I knew more about them myself. As to the value... you've played it...you own it...what's it worth to you? It is a T-40 model for sure. Check the neck block, looking thru the sound hole towards the front for the serial#. Should be there stamped in the block. Could be worth anywhere from $400 - $600 easily...according to who wants it. ...REA |
| 6/8/09 - from Gino Atwoods Just wanted to let you know that I was glad to find your site. Like everyone else i found my guitar & was so impressed with it. I have a model 80-12 , which i bought in '77 in Anaheim , Cal. Then found his lil bro.(6 string model 80 ) in Lake Elsinore, Cal at a pawn shop in "84. Both are identical with the pearl & tulips ? on top. Great, sweet sounding guitars...have played since '62 & hate to part with them but....im ready to start Rv'ing now & cant take all my guitars ...if anyone out there is interested please let me know....Peace..........Gene.. plays_n_tune@yahoo.com p.s. can provide pics if interested..... |
| Hi Gene, Sad that you'll have to part with them babies. Yes please send some pics and I can post them. Out of curiousity, how much do you want for them ... either. I would love to have the T-80 12...it has the 'tree of life' inlay on the fretboard right? And I think so does the 6 strng. My T-150 has been my main guitar since '82. Yes and I love their sound also. Thanks for the contact and happy RV-ing. Peace, Richard |
| 9-3-09 Well hello out there in T.Haruo land. I ended up purchasing the T-80 6 string from Gene above. I made an offer and he accepted. Long story short, he shipped the guitar upon payment and when I received it, it was cracked on the upper back where the neck is attached. I couldn't even string it up as it had come unglued totally. So I took it to a local luthier who made wise cracks about the brand again. He told me that it would take ~$200 ++ in order to fix it right and that he didn't think it was worth it. I told Gene about what was going on thinking he would chip in to fix the guitar. I had offered to buy the guitar with the word that it was playable. Wrong! Not only did I have to pay for the guitar & shipment and now I had to have the guitar fixed. I sat on the guitar for a week or so ( I had lost Genes' ph.#), thinking what I was going to do. I really wanted the guitar, but it wasn't really worth what I paid plus what I was going to have to pay to fix it. I got to looking at the guitar and thinking that I was a pretty good furniture carpenter ... so off I went to the luthier again to pick his brain on what I needed to do. Needless to say, I figured out the right clamping mechanism, a hypodermic needle, some good water soluable glue, a bunch of quick clamps and away I went. 6-8 hrs later, the guitar was glued and clamped up in my shop. After 12 hrs, I unclamped it... after 20 hrs, I restrung it gingerly and tuned it up to a low C. After 24 hrs, up to drop D....and that is where it is at today. It has become my drop-D tuned guitar. I pulled it off...the glue held, the guitar tunes and stays tuned. The sound is outstanding and after a little cosmetic cleanup and 800 grit on the neck and inlays...this guitar is beautiful. It is every bit as worthy as my T-150 and the 'tree of life' inlay is truely beautiful. The action is easy, neck is straight, hardly any nicks on wood anywhere. I LOVE this guitar. It will become one of my standards that will see (or hear) lots-o-play. I now have a killer guitar (T-Haruo at that), but wouldn't recommend the way I got it. I still think Gene should've helped out in fixing this thing. He probably knew it was cracked when he sent it to me. As of this, I haven't heard from him since. At least the T-80 has a good new home...pics below. R.E.A. |
| 9/4/09 - from Jerry .... I am a "new" owner of a Model 80 T Haruo acoustic guitar. I found it in a pawn shop in Modesto Ca. Paid $400.00 with HSC. Love this guitar. The story goes, it was owned by a man in Modesto who was very sick (Cancer I think). He had pawned 2 of his guitars. After his death, his wife picked up the other guitar and left this one. I happened in and just fell in love with it. Sounds rich and full, not a scratch and came with a De Armond pick up, tree of life inlay and "double binding with gold trim. I am sending pictures, if there are any questions, feel free. Jerry |
| Thanks for the email and story Jerry. I too, just acquired a T-80 and just dearly love it. Welcome to the club!...and a worthy club at that! |
| Major News in the Hunt for Mr. Haruo |
| In red 'cause it's important!! ... and because we are bloodhounds on scent. I have just been recently contacted by someone in the music business who has firsthand knowledge on the 'maybe' where-a-bouts of our favorite luthier ... Mr T. Haruo. Dee Tatum has contacted me and directed me to a post he had made on the Haruo thread that I have a link to on the top of the page. This is what his post says: |
| Subject: RE: Haruo 12 String - What do we know? From: GUEST,Dee Tatum - Ft. Worth, TX. Date: 18 Aug 09 - 06:36 PM In the late 70's T. Haruo had left Yamaha, where he was a master luthier, and attempted to put his own signature line into the American market. Some pieces had been sold via wholesalers in earlier 70's, but Haruo himself travelled in USA late 70's. His desire to build the best acoustic guitar possible differed from Yamaha's desire to build affordable guitars for the masses - hence they eventually parted. One of the final stops Haruo made was to St. Louis Music Supply, who owned distribution and brand rights to Alvarez Guitars, Crate Amps, etc. They passed on getting involved with the Haruo line - maybe it was the conflict with their own Alvarez line - I don't know. Before leaving Haruo left a Model 150 with one of the sales managers. I bought it from him in 1983. Today, 26 years later, people still freak out over the warmth and sound of my Model 150. It is still breathtaking. When the strings are replaced and fresh - it almost makes you want to cry. I have played Martins, Taylors, Rainsongs, Gibsons, Larivees, etc and on and on. I have yet to meet a guitar on this planet which sounds better than my Haruo, which I paid $200 for. A contributing factor to this sound is certainly the Jacaranda - the back and sides are made from a glorious cut of Jacaranda with gold streaks, brown waves, dark almost black ripples, and rich chocolate swirls - wood that is no longer available to luthiers or anyone for that matter. I honestly believe that it is not a case where Haruo has improved on CF Martins design and brilliance - he simply stumbled upon a tonewood that we may or may not ever see or hear again. >>>>>dtnationalsales@aol.com>>>>> |
| And below is the email contact I received from Dee myself. I'll just post the whole shi-bang and let you read for yourselves. It's close people...the answer is out there!! Read on....Haruo owners |
| 10/14/09 - from Dee Tatum Hello REA, I just going through the Haruo site again – for which I thank the creator of it, and I noticed the photos of one Model 150 – maybe yours. Anyway – you have illustrated the incredible Jacaranda that I described in an earlier email. (end of Haruo thread). You will notice in the photos of your 12 string – the back and sides appear to be a AAA cut of beautiful Indian Rosewood. Great stuff – BUT – drop down to the 6 string below it AND LOOK AT THE GLORIOUS, RARE JACARANDA. I described it in the email as “gold streaks, brown waves, dark almost black ripples, rich chocolate swirls.” My point is this – any Haruo which was constructed with that rare, rich Jacaranda probably has that glorious tonal quality and warmth that makes Haruo the legend that it is. I was at the home of Terry Atkins, designer and brainchild behind the Tacoma Guitar project (started in Tacoma, Washington 1998 – later sold to Fender) recently, and he verified the rarity of this type of Jacaranda. Only one form is more rare – the same wood as in your photos, but with quilts – if you can imagine. He has a couple of bookmatched sets awaiting construction, but I have not been able to pry them away at any price. Dee Tatum International Sales Manager U.S. Music Corp. |
| Hello Dee, Thanks for the contact. The site is my brainchild and creation…out of curiosity … Yes I love my T-150 … had it since new in 82. Didn’t even realize early on what I had purchased and as time went on … I realized what I had. Score!! I just acquired a T-80 that is also a 3-piece back out of the Indian Rosewood, but not as figured as the 150. Not quite as fancy as the 150 either… but it does have M-o-P tree of life on the fretboard….nice!! The sound of both is outstanding. I read your add in the Haruo thread… interesting… did you actually ever see or meet Mr Haruo? Sounds like you’ve had a closer encounter than anyone I’ve met yet. So you have a 150 also?? Do you know anymore on the luthier? Take care … what is U.S. Music Corp? Richard .. aka .. REA |
| 10/15/09 - from Dee Tatum Hey Richard, Great to hear from you, my friend. I had also noted your efforts to learn more about T. Haruo, so I am going to step up to the plate and help you out, if I can. U.S. Music Corp is the parent company of Washburn Guitars, Randall Amplifiers, Parker Guitars, Eden Amps, Vinci Strings, Oscar Schmidt Folk Instruments, and a few other lesser known products. I was international sales manager for this great corporation from 1993-1998, and rejoined them at the same position earlier this year. Before 1993, actually in 1982 (the same year I got my Haruo, as did you), I joined IMC out of FT. Worth, Texas, as the international sales manager. At that time, our domestic sales manager was a gentleman by the name of Bob Bryan. Bob now owns Fort Bryan Straps, still based in Ft. Worth (or actually in Azle, a suburb). Bob came to IMC from St. Louis Music Company in approx. 1981, and was packing this T150 Haruo around, although he was not a player. When I talked hin out of the guitar in the summer of 82’, it had never been played. I got the story of Haruo’s meetings in St. Louis directly from Bob. He was there in St. Louis. Did he meet Haruo personally? I am quite sure he did, but I am going to call him today and verify that. I will get back to you on that. Did he stay in touch with Haruo? I seriously doubt it. Yet, Bob is not our key for learning about Haruo. That key is one Juta Sugai. Juta, a Japanese acoustic player/photographer was the Art Director at IMC, and we became fast friends. I was in my mid twenties, he early thirties, both single, so we would sit around after work (we lived across the street from each other) and get trashed and play acoustic guitars. IMC owned North American distribution rights to Akai recording equipment and Studiomaster mixing consoles and owned outright Jackson-Charvel guitars, Ross PA Gear, Hondo Guitars, Black Diamond Strings, and other lesser lines. I managed world wide distribution for all of their lines and became great friends with Grover Jackson, who was and still is one of the world’s foremost authorities on tone woods. To this day, I still tap his incredible knowledge when I have a question. Anyway, my mission now is to find Sugai. He knows more about Haruo than anyone I know, and they both live (or lived) in Japan at last accounting. Juta’s father got sick in the 90’s and he returned to Japan. It has been 11 years since I heard from him. Juta’s only other close friend in the USA was Dick Boak, curator at Martin Guitars, so I will start by contacting Dick, today. Richard – let me see what I can come with for you, and all of the other Haruo fans out there. You certainly may feel free to share any of this VERY ACCURATE, FIRST HAND DATA, on the Haruo site. By the way, his name wasn’t Terry. It was Taka….. something. I’ll get it for you. All the best. Dee Tatum |
| to T-Haruo page Three >>>>>>>>> |
| to T-Haruo page Four >>>>>>>>> |
Note: We have since discovered this wood
to be Makassar from Indonesia.
to be Makassar from Indonesia.
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