[Table of Contents]
Why is Atlantia unique?
Biography of Nobuaki Hayashi
Philosophy of Mr. Nobuaki Hayashi, the Lone Lusiar
Tracing Atlantia's path through successive models
Typical Unique Parts
The store talks about the Atlancia instrument
Afterword
The Creative Continent~ATLANSIA
It is the structure that supports, and the idea that resonates.
ATLANSIA is an ideal land of sound that continues to create and challenge itself.
1. Why is Atlantia unique?
Atlantia
based in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan, offers electric guitars and electricBasshigh-end brand of electric guitars and electric guitars. Its unique design and mechanism are not only common electric guitars/BassIts innovative designs are out of the box and full of originality.
In order to achieve this innovative design, many of the machines and equipment necessary for production are developed and manufactured in-house, and the passion and attention to detail for each and every part can be felt.
The one-of-a-kind sound and playability produced by these innovative designs are enthusiastically supported by enthusiasts.
ATLANSIA
ATLANSIA is an "isolated island in the ocean. A small island that may be swept away by rough seas.
However, it is a solitary island! It is a creative continent that constantly challenges itself to create innovative products.
Our goal is the world of grand guitar romance. N.Hayashi
(Excerpt from our website)
Hayashi Nobuaki Guitar Studio (later known as Atlancia) was established in 1978.
From the very beginning, the company has been producing unique yet practical instruments, and the word "one and only" is aptly applied to this brand.
Compared to other domestic instrument brands, it is no exaggeration to say that the Atlancia brand is "unique.
The main feature of Atlancia instruments is that they are not made with the intention of "standing out," but are instead the result of purely pursuing functionality and rationality, and as a result have an oddly shaped beauty. This uniqueness can be said not only for the instruments produced, but also for the brand Atlancia, and the beliefs and existence of the builder, Mr. Nobuaki Hayashi himself.
The uniqueness is not only in the instruments produced, but also in the beliefs and existence of the Atlantia brand and its builder, Mr. Nobuaki Hayashi.
The Dawn of Japanese Electric Musical Instruments
In the 1960s, Western culture such as rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, and surf music entered Japan. Imports and sales of expensive instruments from world-famous brands such as Fender and Gibson failed to spread the use of electric guitars in Japan, and Japanese manufacturers began producing inexpensive copycat models.
Later in the 1970s, Japanese manufacturing technology grew significantly, and elaborate copy models became popular. Numerous masterpieces, now called "Japan Vintage," appeared, and the copy model war would continue until the 1980s.
In such an era, the Aria Pro Two brand, launched in 1975, was quick to break free from the copy model wars and released an original model, the PE-1500, in 1977. The guitar was designed, engineered, and manufactured by Nobuaki Hayashi, who later founded Atlancia.
Hayashi became independent in 1978 and established his own company, Hayashi Nobuaki Guitar Studio (later known as Atlancia).
Today, there are a number of boutique manufacturers, but when one considers the year 1978, when Atlancia was founded, it is easy to see how Atlancia was the first penguin in the musical instrument industry.
The following is a brief biography of Nobuaki Hayashi, founder and builder of Atlancia.
2. Biography of Nobuaki Hayashi
He is the founder of Atlantia and one of the leading builders in Japan.
Born on September 20, 1943 in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Raised by a father who loved classical music and a mother who was a church organist, he was exposed to classical guitar while playing in a brass band during his high school years.
His interest in design led him to a junior college of fine arts.
After graduation, he returned to his hometown of Nagano and joined Matsumoku Kogyo in 1963. At first Matsumoku was a subsidiary of Singer Sewing Machine and manufactured sewing machine cabinets, and Hayashi was also designing sewing machine cabinets.
Later, the electric guitar boom arrived in Japan. Matsumoku entered the guitar industry at the request of Fujigen (formerly Fuji Strings Mfg.), also based in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. When Matsumoku began producing its own guitars, Hayashi turned to guitar design.
In 1977, he designed and developed the PE-1500, the cornerstone of the PE series, which later became the best-selling Aria Pro Two. The PE series, with its original design, caused a stir among Japanese manufacturers who at the time were popular for copying Fender and Gibson guitars, and is known as a model that showed the world the high quality of Japanese-made guitars.
In 1978, he became independent from Matsumoku Industries and established "Hayashi Nobuaki Guitar Studio.
While working as a subcontractor for Matsumoku, he began producing original guitars. The name of the guitar is "Atlantia.
Since then, he has developed numerous original models, always adhering to his belief of "being original" on the foundation of traditional instrument making.
In 1982, the company name was changed to "Atlancia Instrumental Technology.
As of 2025, each instrument is still manufactured by Mr. Hayashi and the Atlancia staff from processing to assembly, and the company continues to fly the flag of innovation as one of the leading high-end brands in Japan.
Source: Atlansia guitar world (excerpt from Guitar Graphic No. 1 published by Tateto Music Co.)
3. The philosophy of Nobuaki Hayashi, the lone luthier
The uniqueness of Atlantia tends to be discussed in terms of its unique parts and original body and neck shapes.
However, these are the result of what Atlancia has created, and the essence of Atlancia lies in the philosophy of its builder, Mr. Nobuaki Hayashi.
The word "philosophy" is a very abstract word, but it is a good way for us, second-hand musical instrument dealers, to understand the Atlancia brand and its builder, Mr. Nobuaki Hayashi.TCGAKKII would like to introduce the brand Atlancia and its builder, Mr. Nobuaki Hayashi, based on what we, second-hand instrument dealers, have actually experienced.
Atlancia, where personality and instruments are directly connected.
When we buy Atlancia instruments, we often receive them with their original cases in a high percentage of cases. There is something I look forward to when I open the pockets of such original cases.
Sometimes there is a letter from Mr. Hayashi like this one left behind.
Although it is a handwritten copy, this letter clearly conveys Mr. Hayashi's feelings toward the instrument and, through it, toward the "user" of the instrument.
There are many times when we receive the thoughts of a builder through his products, but there are not so many instruments that give us such a direct image of the builder's personality.
The handwriting conveys Mr. Hayashi's confidence in the instrument and his feeling of "I am glad you understand.
It should be noted that we, used music shops, have seen many of these letters.
This letter isNewcame with the instrument when it was purchased in the U.S., but very often it remains undiscarded, even after it has passed through several hands (sometimes one-owner, of course). It is not a thick paper like a certificate. It is an ordinary A4 paper flier that has remained beautifully intact for decades.
I am sure that users are "impressed" by this letter. I have not seen anything like this in any other brand.
And here is an example that shows that the letter has reached the users.
In some cases, Atlantia instruments that we receive have notes such as this one. Here is a repair history note written by Mr. Hayashi.
What it means is that Mr. Hayashi himself has done a lot of repairs and maintenance on the instruments after they were sold. I think this is a manifestation of the fact that "please feel free to contact us," as written in the letter, has really come true.
Of course, there are many requests for repairs through dealers, but we have heard many stories from customers who have called Mr. Hayashi directly for repairs and maintenance.
In fact, we have also asked Mr. Hayashi for repairs many times in the past. For a manufacturer, there is no benefit in being nice to a retailer that does not distribute and specializes in used instruments, but Mr. Hayashi treats us as equals. In this way, you can sense Mr. Hayashi's responsibility for the instruments he has made and his concern for their users.
The company's 10-year warranty is the best proof of this.
There are not many brands in the world that have such a close relationship between the builder and the user, much less a brand that has been doing so for nearly 50 years.
The users of Atlantia also find Mr. Hayashi's personality to be a major attraction of Atlantia.
A pioneer of the times - Beyond the myths
Next, we would like to introduce an interview with Mr. Hayashi, in which he discusses his thoughts on the instrument.
I have felt since the days when I was making copy models that there were many points where I thought, "Guitars should be this way. I think that when a Les Paul, Strat, or any other model made in a foreign country is evaluated, it is because "a certain person thought of it and made it this way," and not because "a guitar should be this way.
I wanted to make a guitar that says, "This is what I got when I made it based on my own ideas," and in many cases, ready-made parts are not enough to give concrete form to those ideas. ROCK'N ROLL NEWSMAKER October 1989 VICTOR MUSIC INDUSTRY Co.
In the topic of "tradition," Hayashi likens it to the violin, which has a much longer history than the guitar, and says in response to an interviewer who asked, "If Hayashi were to make a violin, it would likely be highly original.
When we think of violins, the names of famous instruments such as the Amati and the Stradivarius immediately come to mind. I think that is one way of doing things, but if the craftsmen in Cremona, Italy, three hundred years ago were alive today, they would probably be using state-of-the-art machine tools, However, if the craftsmen in Cremona, Italy three hundred years ago were alive today, they would probably try to make better products by making full use of state-of-the-art machine tools. I think that with all the advances in materials, technology, and other things in the world, there is no way not to use them. ROCK'N ROLL NEWSMAKER October 1989 VICTOR MUSIC INDUSTRY Co.
From this interview, it is clear that Atlantia's highly original instruments are not based on the idea of "making something different," but rather on the idea that "this makes more sense, this should be more convenient. It is a design that was developed based on a rational and industrial approach.
Mr. Hayashi continues, "The design of the instrument is not based on the idea of "making something different from the others.
It seems that cars that are "somewhat similar and somewhat dissimilar" are selling well. Is it because people seem to have a strong resistance to completely new ideas, or is it because they are reluctant to buy them? But as for me, anyway, I have a feeling that there are people who understand what I have created ROCK'N ROLL NEWSMAKER October 1989 VICTOR MUSIC INDUSTRY Co.
He also said this in an interview a few years later.
I think there are two ways to produce an original guitar. One is to analyze the market needs and design based on them. The other is to think and analyze what a guitar is, and design it based on the belief that this is the way it should be. I have done some of the former, but mostly the latter. This is not in line with the needs of the market, so its marketability is unknown. But I believe that progress will make the world of guitars more interesting and improve the level of users. I think that would be wonderful and also necessary.
I would like to continue my belief that the first thing that should always be considered with Atlansia brand guitars is originality. Atlansia guitar world (excerpt from Guitar Graphic No. 1 published by Tateto Music Co.)
Modern electric guitars and electricBassMost of today's electric guitars and electric guitars are still based on the styles created by Fender, Gibson, and others 70 years ago. There is a certain "myth" that the traditional guitar is supreme.
Atlancia does not ignore tradition at all, but pursues rational, functional, and beautiful shapes based on tradition.
The essence of Atlancia lies beyond the myth of "this is how a guitar should be" and the myth of "standard guitars sell.
In order to create instruments that are beautiful, have excellent tone, and are easy to play, we never stop thinking outside the box. That is the philosophy of Mr. Nobuaki Hayashi of Atlancia.
4. Tracing ATLANSIA's history through successive models
We will introduce some of the models based on the items that have arrived at our store, or borrowed from our staff, Atlansia, or customers.
GARLAND
Garland, Atlantia's debut model, was released around 1978.
The conical neck, which can be said to be the greatest feature of Atlancia, has existed since that time, and it can be seen that Atlancia was a unique existence from that time.
'86 garland deluxe bass
'82 GARLAND Bass
CONCORD
The second Atlantia model, Concord, was released in 1982.
The large gouged cutaway is named "parabola cut.
'91 Concord Super Model Active 3EQ
'89 Concord
Victoria
Victoria was introduced in 1985.
There are various variations such as ARS pickup type, humbucker type, piezo pickup type, and so on.
'04 Victoria Special
'89 Victoria
Solitaire
The '89 Victoria Solitaire was released in 1986, at a time when the trend toward multi-stringed solitaire was gaining momentum.Bassin the world of small stringsBasssolitaire.
Hayashi, who is not a player, came up with the idea, "If you want to play a slow song, you can play it on the first string. As a result, the solitaire has been used for percussion, and various ways of using it have been developed by users.
'00s Solitaire 1st FL
Stealth
Stealth was first introduced in 1987.
Thumb pockets are placed near the pickups and the end of the fretboard to make it easier to place the thumb on the fretboard. The head shape is also extremely streamlined, resulting in excellent body balance.
'90 Stealth Deluxe
'09 Stealth 2nd
GALAXY
This is Galaxy, which also appeared in 1987.
The body design pursues functional beauty, with a novel shape in which the horn on the first string side has been cut off to enhance playability in the high position.
'93 GALAXY BASS
JUPITER
Jupiter appeared in 1989.
It is a traditional JB style, which is rare for Atlantia. The body shape is similar to the JB style, but it has many original ideas.
Jupiter Special Freted Mod
PEGASUS
We have introduced so many one-of-a-kind models, from the body shape, wood arrangement, color scheme, bold armrests, and so on, but the design is so innovative that you may wonder if you will still be shocked. Here is an Atlantia that never stops evolving.
'06 Pegasus
PENTAGON
Pentagon was released around 1993.
This model is a crystallization of the Atlantia concept, incorporating the functionality of previous models, such as armrests, parabola cuts, and thumb pockets, and incorporating them into a new body shape.
'94 Pentagon 5st ACTIVE 2EQ
'01 Pentagone Guitar
5. Typical Original Parts
One thing that cannot be overlooked when talking about Atlancia is the fact that most of the parts are originally made and produced in our own factory. In addition, Atlancia even manufactures its own machines to make these parts.
Many of the structures that are now standard in the world of musical instruments were introduced by Atlancia long before the major manufacturers started making them." The influence of the Atlancia brand on the world is immeasurable.
When asked when he comes up with the idea for these unique parts, he replied, "I often come up with the idea when I am making the instrument, not when I am playing it. It seems that many of them feel inconvenience when they are making or adjusting the instrument, and then they think, "Why not install adjustable parts from the beginning?
This may be a repetitive phrase, but I believe that these parts are born from the constant pursuit of rationality and functionality, and constant thinking.
So long, Atlantia....BassLet us introduce some of the representative parts installed in the Atlantia.
Pegs
SLANTED WINDER
The distinctive slanted pegs are ergonomically designed.
It is now used in manyBassAtlantia has been using this structure since the first Garland was introduced in 1978.
The locking peg is also said to have been adopted ahead of the rest of the world.
Knob
SLANTED VOLUME KNOB
In addition to the pegs, there are also knobs mounted at an angle.
As Hayashi comments, "I think good or bad design depends on whether it is functional or not," it is evident that he is pursuing user-friendliness for the player.
Tension Pins
ROLLER TENSIONER
Atlantia's website has a "PATENT PAGE" that lists 170 ideas, including some that have actually been patented. The roller tension pin is the first part introduced in the list.
The roller type tension pins are designed to minimize tuning deviations and damage to the strings, and the height is adjustable so that the tension can be adjusted as well.
Nut
ADJUSTABLE STRING NUT
The part where the string rides is a screw, allowing height adjustment without the use of tools. The slot is V-shaped, so there is no need to cut a groove for strings of any gauge.
Tailpiece/Bridge
ATB-01
The saddle is an adjustable screw with a V-shaped groove that can be turned by hand to adjust the height without the use of tools.
ATB-06 W/N "WILY/NOBLE"
This part claims to be "a representative of the Atlanta Bass philosophy, an independent tailpiece for each string.
This bridge is a bridge tailpiece with tuners, jointly developed by Wilkinson and Mr. Hayashi, and is marked WILKINSON/N.HAYASHI. When Mr. Hayashi visited Wilkinson in person, they discussed the countermeasure against twisting of strings, and they came to the conclusion of joint work.
The idea was originally Wilkinson's, but Atlancia officially approved it and incorporated it into the product.
Pickups
ARC
The ARC pickups are independent for each string, the iconic pickups of Atlancia. It has a mechanism that allows it to be rotated, and the tone can be adjusted by turning it by hand. It is also possible to expand each pickup to have its own EQ and tone control, etc.
ARS
Smaller designed ARS pickups, which cannot be rotated like the ARC, but can be used to narrow the pitch between strings or to accommodate more pickups.
The photo shows a special model with 3 ARS pickups for each string, for a total of 12 ARS pickups.
6. the store talks about the Atlantia instrument
From the point of view of us used music stores, which handle several thousand instruments a year, the Atlancia is in a class by itself.
The first thing that strikes you when you hold one in your hand is the "meticulousness of workmanship. While it is built with the rationality of an industrial product, it is not mass-produced and is handcrafted with care.
And in addition to the robustness of the product itself, as mentioned above, there are a great many units that are well taken care of by Mr. Hayashi's after-sales service. Some of you may be thinking, "Isn't the setting special because it has many unique parts?" However, they can be adjusted in the same way as ordinary instruments. The mechanisms that are often thought to be special are all reasonably structured and designed to be easy to use. It is an instrument that allows the user to "read the maker's intention" as well as Mr. Hayashi's world view.
Hayashi's design philosophy is based on the consideration of the player's ease of use, and it would not look out of place alongside famous brands such as Fender, Gibson, PRS, and Spector. What is surprising is the fact that he has been creating structures and concepts that rival those for more than 40 years.
The fact that the company has been producing a small number of products is of course one of the reasons for the rarity of its products, but today, the company is a leader in its field,NewAlthough the brand was established in 1978, it has caught up with the times, so to speak.
BassThe "standard" in the world is still Fender, but Atlantia has a sound not unlike Fender's. It has a very hard sound, but with low notes. It has a very hard sound, but the bass range comes out very well, and the player feels secure that the instrument will respond to the player's intentions.BassIt is not at all inferior to the high-endBassThe sound is so profound that it makes recent high-end models seem lightweight.
I am sure that when you pick it up for the first time, most of you will think, "What a neck! But after trying it for a phrase, almost all of our customers say, "It's strangely easy to play.
It's so comfortable to play that you feel like you can only play Atlantia, and it has a sound that can only be produced by Atlantia. There is no other brand like it, and it is the "one and only" brand.
7. Afterword
In reading the interview with Mr. Hayashi, I was very impressed by his honesty in discussing his guilt over having made copies during his time at Matsumoku and his concern for Japan, which was a backward country for guitars.
It is not difficult to imagine that it was because Mr. Hayashi himself was in such a position that he was able to take pride in producing instruments like the PE-1500 and the Atlancia, an instrument that is a mass of originality.
The numerous copies that became famous instruments, known as "Japan Vintage," are certainly one of the factors that enhanced Japan's instrument-making techniques, despite such guilt.
And it is surely because of this background that Atlancia was born.
Mr. Hayashi says that during his time at Matsumoku, although he was a designer, he made his own prototypes on site. Because he is such a craftsman, he is also an inventor, developing his own original parts in the process of making his own products, and even developing his own machines and software to be used in manufacturing.
As a person who loves musical instruments, I was very happy to have such a luthier, designer, and inventor, Mr. Nobuaki Hayashi, in Japan.
The link below will take you to the newly-arrived Atlantia, the product that prompted the publication of this column. Please check it out!
If you have any questions about our products, please contact us by e-mail/chat/phone. Of course, purchases are also welcome!
Source:
Atlansia guitar world (Excerpt from Guitar Graphic No.1 published by Tate-To Music Co.)
ROCK'N ROLL NEWSMAKER October 1989 issue, published by VICTOR MUSIC INDUSTRY Co.
Atlanta official home page (https://www.atlansia.jp/)