CalJa CJT-60 (White Blonde) w/ThroBak T-59 MXV #070

American sound, Japanese precision.
MADE IN JAPAN × MADE IN THE USA

The new brand Calja was born from the ultimate collaboration between specialists in the field, with wood procurement, processing, and painting all done in California, and then assembly and final setup carried out in Japan.

Robie Canlas, who works for LsL Instruments and Shabat Guitars and provides finishing services for numerous famous brands, was in charge of sourcing and processing the high-quality materials, as well as the painting and aging process. From assembly to final setup, Keiichi Yoshida of PGM has generously poured his honed skills, which have earned him tremendous support from many musicians, into the creation of this masterpiece.

The lightweight ash body, straight-grained neck, offset saddles, and bridge with a cut-out plate on the 1st string side are all features of this guitar, and it is packed with uncompromising attention to detail, not only in terms of sound but also in terms of playability, allowing you to feel the craftsmanship behind it.

The paint used is the same nitrocellulose lacquer that was used in the 1950s. This lacquer is known for its relatively long drying time, but it is allowed to dry slowly over a long period of time, and then aged by Robie Canlas at the perfect timing, giving the guitar a truly vintage look.

The pickups are the highly sought-after T-59 MXVs from ThroBak Pickups, a replacement pickup manufacturer. They've also been meticulously crafted, replicating the staggered polepiece pickups from the late 1950s and later. They use Alnico 5 magnets with a strong magnetic field, faithfully recreating the vintage vibe of the 1960s and earlier, with a dense midrange and a tight low end. The neck is finished with just the same lacquer impregnation as the original, and the use of a different gauge wire from the bridge is a testament to the attention to detail.

MADE IN JAPAN × MADE IN THE USA... Please experience with your own hands this miraculous masterpiece woven by two artisans, Keiichi Yoshida and Robie Canlas, using 21st century techniques.

[Robie Canlas]
Born in Manila, Philippines, he moved to the United States in 2000 and joined LsL Instruments.
Despite having no prior experience in string instrument making, he showed an incredible talent for learning new skills and became an avid researcher into the techniques of making aged guitars.
A few years later, he joined Shabat Guitars and has since worked with several companies, including Tom Anderson, Ibanez Custom Shop, and Fender Custom Shop.

[Mr. Keiichi Yoshida]
Born in Niigata in 1958. In his early twenties, he worked at a music store in Tokorozawa while self-taught in guitar construction.
In 1981, Toru Nittono (currently Nittono Guitars builder) left PGM, led by Kazuhiko Nyuui, and he took the opportunity to join the company, creating a vacancy.
Since then, he has been at the forefront of instrument making for around 40 years, and his stance of insatiable curiosity and uncompromising instrument making has earned him the support of many musicians, including Shunsuke Kikuta and Takeshi Hoshino.


Body: Ash 2pc
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Finish: Blonde
Pickups: ThroBak T-59 MXV
Switch:CRL 3-Way
Bridge:Advanced Plating
Tuners: Klson Deluxe

Approximately 3.17kg
Gig bag included