The Untold History of T. Haruo guitars
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History - Who, What, When and Where
Let's start out this history lesson by stating that T. Haruo handcrafted guitars were made @ Terada Instrument Co., Ltd., of Nagoya, Japan with CEO/President Haruo Terada in charge. Terada manufactured Haruo guitars sometime from 1974 - 1982 @ their smaller Kanie factory. The Japanese culture lists names with last name or initial first and first name last . . . thus the T. Haruo name.
Terada factory began in Japan in 1912 as the Terada family business. They have made quality handcrafted stringed instruments since that time. With the onset of folk and rock music, the guitar became a very popular instrument of new upstart musicians. In the 50s and 60s, US instruments were the ones to own and play . . . Gibson, Martin, Fender. . .
Sometime post WWII, as their society recovered, the Japanese began to do what they do best. . . take an idea and make it better, faster & cheaper. They did this with cars, motorcycles, electronics, musical instruments . . . as a few examples. Terada became an OEM manufacturer with contracts to Gretsch, Fender, Epiphone, Gipson and Martin to name a few. As such, Terada could not market any house brand guitars in the US because of infringement rights. Terada brand guitars were sold to the rest of the world market, but not allowed in the US. Terada brand is well known and valued worldwide for their sound and quality, you just couldn't buy them in the United States because of infringement.
As Japanese luthiers dialed their craftsmanship and talents to the new style instrument, the late 60s and early 70s saw an influx of dozens of Japanese brands, almost all carbon copies of their American counterparts. It was around 1974 when T. Haruo handcrafted guitars began showing up in music stores through Peninno Music Co., Westminster, Calif. At the time no-one knew the association between T. Haruo and Terada factory. T.Haruo guitars faded from the market sometime in 1982. I remember this well as I was teaching guitar at a music studio in Roy, Utah in 1982 and bought 2 models through the studio from Peninno @ cost. Shortly afterwards they became unavailable.
Terada factory began in Japan in 1912 as the Terada family business. They have made quality handcrafted stringed instruments since that time. With the onset of folk and rock music, the guitar became a very popular instrument of new upstart musicians. In the 50s and 60s, US instruments were the ones to own and play . . . Gibson, Martin, Fender. . .
Sometime post WWII, as their society recovered, the Japanese began to do what they do best. . . take an idea and make it better, faster & cheaper. They did this with cars, motorcycles, electronics, musical instruments . . . as a few examples. Terada became an OEM manufacturer with contracts to Gretsch, Fender, Epiphone, Gipson and Martin to name a few. As such, Terada could not market any house brand guitars in the US because of infringement rights. Terada brand guitars were sold to the rest of the world market, but not allowed in the US. Terada brand is well known and valued worldwide for their sound and quality, you just couldn't buy them in the United States because of infringement.
As Japanese luthiers dialed their craftsmanship and talents to the new style instrument, the late 60s and early 70s saw an influx of dozens of Japanese brands, almost all carbon copies of their American counterparts. It was around 1974 when T. Haruo handcrafted guitars began showing up in music stores through Peninno Music Co., Westminster, Calif. At the time no-one knew the association between T. Haruo and Terada factory. T.Haruo guitars faded from the market sometime in 1982. I remember this well as I was teaching guitar at a music studio in Roy, Utah in 1982 and bought 2 models through the studio from Peninno @ cost. Shortly afterwards they became unavailable.
1974 S. Aria AT-100 and a 1980 T. Haruo T-100 for comparison, both Terada made, same guitar, different brand.
Fast forward to 2009, when it was finally brought into the public eye by Dee Tatum (who had ties with Terada) and research done @ my old website, Kritmon.com that T.Haruo was Haruo Terada, CEO/President of Terada factory. So we now know that T.Haruos in fact were made @ Terada. Terada stills exists today though scaled down from those 70s & 80s years. They no longer produce acoustic guitars and now concentrate their production to hollow body electric models. Shogo Terada, Haruo's son, is now the CEO/President of Terada factory.
On a sad note, Haruo Terada took his next journey June, 2011 after a lengthy illness. He was 84 yrs old. We sure hope he knew the impact his instruments have made on musicians and music lovers around the world. Your and your craftsmen's work still sings on . . . Thank You!
Today, Dee Tatum has been given the rights to the T.Haruo brand because of his close relationship with Terada factory. With that, Terada has agreed to produce a 'Celebration' model to commemorate Mr. Terada and originally proposed by Dee Tatum and myself Kritmon.com/ Richard Anderson.
We patiently await . . . meanwhile, go to the model archives page to read about and view all the models produced by Terada under the T.Haruo moniker.
On a sad note, Haruo Terada took his next journey June, 2011 after a lengthy illness. He was 84 yrs old. We sure hope he knew the impact his instruments have made on musicians and music lovers around the world. Your and your craftsmen's work still sings on . . . Thank You!
Today, Dee Tatum has been given the rights to the T.Haruo brand because of his close relationship with Terada factory. With that, Terada has agreed to produce a 'Celebration' model to commemorate Mr. Terada and originally proposed by Dee Tatum and myself Kritmon.com/ Richard Anderson.
We patiently await . . . meanwhile, go to the model archives page to read about and view all the models produced by Terada under the T.Haruo moniker.