This half-long soprano with a pear-shaped body made of mountain cherry wood is a special order item.
The Soprano Half Long has a soprano body size and a string length of 366mm, roughly halfway between a standard soprano and a concert, making it extremely easy to play solo pieces. The nut width is a slightly narrower 35mm, and the neck is just the right thickness, making it highly recommended for those with small hands. The fingerboard has a gentle radius, making it easy to play barre chords.
This pear-shaped (La France) guitar has an attractive body shape that is representative of Cotan Made. The body is made of Yamazakura wood, which has a beautiful grain with varying shades, and the combined body shape gives it a striking look.
After consulting with luthier Sato, we ordered this particular piece as it was his top pick. It has a simple, rolling, and gentle tone, but it also has a rich volume and long sustain. The strings currently installed are Orcas OS-Hard.
Size: Soprano Half Long Top: Mountain Cherry Back and Sides: Mountain Cherry Neck: Fiji Mahogany Head Plate: Figured Ash Fingerboard & Bridge: Rosewood Nut & Saddle: Ebony Rosette: Mexican shell Binding: Rosewood pattern Number of self-locking frets: 18F (14F joint) Finish: Matte lacquer Tuners: UPT silver Nut width: 35mm Scale: 366mm Strings: Orcas OS-HARD
Sales price: ¥135,000 (excluding tax) Case sold separately. Brand new. 1-year warranty.
Cotan Made is a ukulele brand produced at Ukulele Atelier cotan, a ukulele workshop established by luthier Masafumi Sato in Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture.
Born in Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture in 1974, Sato graduated from the Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics, Tohoku Gakuin University in 1997. After a six-year career as a company employee, he completed the ESP Guitar Craft Academy Sendai in 2014. In April of the same year, he opened Ukulele Atelier cotan and embarked on a full-time career in ukulele crafting.
In addition to his solid woodworking skills, Sato leverages his experience as a ukulele instructor to incorporate the perspectives of players and students into his instrument making, resulting in the straightforward and appealing craftsmanship that defines his work.
