Creation Continent ~ATLANSIA~

Creative Continent ~ATLANSIA~

Structure supports, ideology resonates.
ATLANSIA, the ideal realm of sound that perpetually pursues creation and challenge.

[Table of Contents]
Why ATLANSIA is One of a Kind
The Career of Nobuaki Hayashi
The Philosophy of Nobuaki Hayashi, the Solitary Luthier
Tracing ATLANSIA's Journey Through Its Models
Representative Original Parts
What Shops Say About ATLANSIA as an Instrument
Afterword

1. Why Atlantica is One of a Kind

"Atlantica"
A high-end brand of electric guitars and Bass based in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. Its unique design and mechanisms set it apart from conventional electric guitars/Bass, featuring innovative designs that transcend the boundaries of existing instruments to create instruments overflowing with originality.

　To realize these innovative designs, the company develops and manufactures much of the machinery required for production in-house, reflecting a passion and dedication to every single part.

　And the unique sound and playability born from its innovative design are enthusiastically supported by aficionados.

ATLANSIA　
It is an "Island in the Vast Sea." A small island that could be swept away by rough waves.
Yet it stands alone! A creative continent perpetually challenging itself to forge something new.
Its goal is the grand world of guitar romance. N.Hayashi
(Excerpt from official website)

　Established in 1978 as Hayashi Nobuaki Guitar Workshop (later ATLANSIA).
　From its inception, it has crafted instruments that are uniquely distinctive yet highly practical, truly embodying the phrase "one of a kind."
Compared to any other domestic instrument brand, the existence of Atlantica is so distinct it's no exaggeration to call it "otherworldly." <

p style="font-size: calc(17px * var(--proportional-font-size) / "Rather than being designed to 'stand out,' its defining characteristic is the unique beauty that emerges purely from the pursuit of functionality and rationality. This singularity extends not only to the instruments themselves but also to the Atlantica brand and the very beliefs and presence of its builder, Nobuaki Hayashi.

Considering the context of the musical instrument industry at the time Atlantica was founded, its distinctiveness is particularly striking.

The Dawn of Electric Instruments in Japan

　In the 1960s, Western cultures like rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, and surf music flowed into Japan. While expensive instruments from global brands like Fender and Gibson were imported and sold, they failed to popularize electric guitars domestically. Domestic manufacturers instead focused on producing inexpensive copy models.
　Later, in the 1970s, Japanese manufacturing technology advanced significantly, and sophisticated copy models gained popularity. Numerous legendary instruments, now referred to as Japan Vintage, emerged, and the copy model war continued into the 1980s.

　Amidst this era, the brand Aria Pro Two, launched in 1975, sought to break away from the copy model war early on. In 1977, they released their original model, the PE-1500. The design, engineering, and construction of this guitar were handled by Nobuaki Hayashi, who would later establish Atlantica.

　Mr. Hayashi became independent in 1978 and established Hayashi Nobuaki Guitar Workshop (later Atlantica).
While boutique manufacturers are common today, considering the era of Atlantica's founding in 1978, it becomes clear how Atlantica was a pioneer in the instrument industry.

　Next, we introduce the career of Nobuaki Hayashi, founder and builder of Atlantica.

2. Nobuaki Hayashi's Background

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Founder of Atlantia and one of Japan's leading builders.

　Born September 20, 1943, in Nagano Prefecture.
Raised by a father who loved classical music and a mother who played the organ at church, he joined the brass band in high school while also exploring classical guitar.
Interested in design, he attended a junior college specializing in fine arts.
After graduating, he returned to his hometown of Nagano and joined Matsumoku Kogyo in 1963.Initially, Matsumoku was a subsidiary of Singer Sewing Machine, manufacturing sewing machine cabinets. Mr. Hayashi reportedly designed these cabinets.
Later, the electric guitar boom reached Japan. Matsumoku entered the guitar industry by accepting a commission from Fujigen (formerly Fuji Stringed Instrument Manufacturing), headquartered in the same Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. When Matsumoku began producing guitars independently, Mr. Hayashi shifted his focus to guitar design.
　In 1977, he designed and developed the PE-1500, the foundation of the PE series that would later become Aria Pro Two's bestseller. The original PE series design threw down the gauntlet to domestic manufacturers popular for their Fender and Gibson copies at the time. Known as a model that demonstrated the high quality of Japanese-made guitars to the world, it continues to be passed down today.

　In 1978, he left Matsumoku Industries and established the "Nobuaki Hayashi Guitar Workshop".
While continuing subcontract work for Matsumoku, he began crafting original guitars. The name of that guitar was "Atlantica".

　Since then, building upon the foundation of traditional instrument craftsmanship, he has consistently upheld the belief in "originality," developing numerous original models.
In 1982, the company name was changed to "Atlansia Instrumental Technology."
As of 2025, each guitar is still crafted individually by Mr. Hayashi and the Atlansia staff, from machining to assembly. It continues to fly the flag of innovation as one of Japan's leading high-end brands.

Source: Atlansia Guitar World (Excerpted from Guitar Graphic Vol. 1, published by Rittor Music Co., Ltd.)

3. The Philosophy of the Solitary Luthier, Nobuaki Hayashi

When discussing Atlantica's uniqueness, its proprietary parts or original body and neck shapes often come up.
However, I believe these are merely the result of what Atlantica has created, and its essence lies in the philosophy of its builder, Nobuaki Hayashi.
　While "philosophy" is a highly abstract term, we at TCGAKKI, as a used instrument shop, would like to introduce the Atlanti brand and builder Nobuaki Hayashi based on our actual experiences with them.

Atlantica: Where Character and Instruments Are Directly Linked

　When we acquire an Atlantica instrument, we often receive it in its original case. Opening the pocket of that original case is something we always look forward to.

　Sometimes letters like this from Mr. Hayashi remain.
Though it's a copy of his handwriting, this letter vividly conveys Mr. Hayashi's feelings toward his instruments and, through them, his thoughts about the "users."
While it's common to receive a builder's sentiments through their products, instruments that let you feel the builder's personality this directly are quite rare, aren't they?
　His handwriting conveys his "confidence in the instrument" and his "delight at being understood."

　What's particularly noteworthy is that we, as used instrument dealers, have seen this letter many times.
　This letter came with the instrument when it was purchased New, and even after passing through several owners (though sometimes it's been a single owner), it's remarkably often preserved rather than discarded. It's not some thick certificate-like paper. It's just a regular sheet of A4 paper, yet it remains beautifully preserved for decades.

　I believe users are truly "moved" by this letter. I haven't seen anything like this from other brands.

　And there are examples showing that the sentiment of this letter truly reaches the users.

　Instruments arriving from Atlantica sometimes have notes like this attached. This is Mr. Hayashi's handwritten repair history memo.
What this means is that Mr. Hayashi himself has performed numerous repairs and maintenance on instruments after they were sold. I believe this truly embodies the "feel free to contact us" mentioned in the letter.
Of course, many repair requests likely go through retailers, but we frequently hear from customers who called Mr. Hayashi directly for repairs and maintenance.
　In fact, we ourselves have requested repairs from Mr. Hayashi many times in the past. For a manufacturer, there's no benefit whatsoever in being kind to a small retailer specializing in used instruments, especially one they don't even supply wholesale. Yet, the company treats us as equals. Even in this, one can sense Mr. Hayashi's sense of responsibility towards the instruments he creates and his consideration for the players.
The 10-year warranty they offer is the ultimate proof of this.

　Globally, few brands maintain such a close relationship between the builder and the users, especially one that has sustained it for nearly 50 years.
Atlancie users feel that Mr. Hayashi's character is a major part of Atlancie's appeal.

Pioneer of the Era ~Beyond the Myth~

　Next, I'll share an interview discussing Mr. Hayashi's philosophy on instruments.

Even back when I was making copy models, I often thought, "A guitar could be like this, couldn't it?" Whether it's a Les Paul or a Strat, when models made overseas are praised, that praise is for "this is what one person envisioned and created," not for saying "this is how a guitar must be."
I wanted to build a guitar that came from an idea I was personally satisfied with. To do that, using existing parts often wasn't enough to realize that idea concretely. ROCK'N ROLL NEWSMAKER October 1989 Issue VICTOR MUSIC INDUSTRY

When you think of violins, names like Amati or Stradivarius immediately come to mind, right?Their fame extends to the present day, and today's violin makers strive to be as faithful as possible to the original models, even mimicking the construction methods of the time, like using animal glue. Well, I suppose that's one approach. But if the craftsmen from Cremona, Italy, three hundred years ago were alive today, I think they'd probably make full use of the latest cutting-edge machine tools to create something even better.With materials, technology, and so many things in the world advancing, I can't help but think it's a missed opportunity not to use them. ROCK'N ROLL NEWSMAKER October 1989 Issue VICTOR MUSIC INDUSTRY

　This interview conveys that Atlantica's uniquely original instruments weren't developed from a mindset of "Let's make something different from others." Instead, their design evolved from an utterly rational, industrial approach: "This makes more sense. This should be more convenient."
　Mr. Hayashi continues:
"Things that are somewhat similar yet somewhat different" seem to sell well, even in cars. Perhaps completely new ideas face too much resistance and are hard to buy? But for me, I just have this feeling that "there might be people who understand what I've created." ROCK’N ROLL NEWSMAKER October 1989 Issue VICTOR MUSIC INDUSTRY

　In an interview several years later, he also stated:

I believe there are two paths to creating an original guitar. One is to analyze market needs and design based on that.The other is to think deeply about what a guitar is, analyze it, and design based on a conviction of how it should be. While I've done some of the former, I believe I've done more of the latter. This approach doesn't align with market needs, so its marketability is uncertain. However, I think the world of guitars becomes more interesting precisely because of progress, and it also leads to users improving their skills. If that happens, it would be wonderful, and I also believe it's necessary.
I intend to continue upholding the belief that originality must always be the primary consideration for Atlansia brand guitars. Atlansia guitar world (Excerpted from Guitar Graphic Vol. 1, published by Rittor Music Co., Ltd.)

　Most modern electric guitars and Bass still largely follow the styles established by Fender, Gibson, and others 70 years ago. Frankly, this represents the majority of market demand, and a certain "myth" persists that "traditional guitars are supreme."
　Amidst this, Atlantica does not ignore tradition entirely to create novel, eccentric instruments. Instead, it firmly grounds itself in tradition while pursuing a form of beauty with rational functionality.
The essence of Atlantica lies beyond the myths of "how a guitar should be" and "classics sell best."

　To create beautiful instruments with superb tone and exceptional playability, we never cease to think beyond established methods. That is the philosophy of Atlantica's Nobuaki Hayashi.
 

4. The History of ATLANSIA Through Its Successive Models

We present several models based on specimens received by our store, as well as specimens/materials borrowed from our staff, Atlantica, and our customers.

GARLAND

　Garland, Atlantica's debut model released around 1978.
Atlantica's most distinctive feature, the conical neck, was already present at this time, hinting at how Atlantica stood out as a unique presence even then.

'86 GARLAND DELUXE BASS

'82 GARLAND Bass

CONCORD

'91 Concord Super Model Active 3EQ

'89 Concord

Victoria

　Victoria, introduced in 1985.
Acoustic design featuring an F-hole. Available in various variations including ARS pickup type, humbucker type, and piezo pickup type.

‘04 Victoria Special

‘89 Victoria

Solitaire

　Released in 1986, the Solitaire was a few-stringed Bass that threw a stone into the Bass world, which was trending toward multi-stringed instruments at the time.
　"If it's a slow song, couldn't you play it on just one string?" That's the kind of thinking you'd expect from Mr. Hayashi, who isn't a player himself. As a result, it's a model that has been used percussively and developed diverse applications by its users.

'00s Solitaire 1st FL

Stealth

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　First introduced in 1987, the Stealth.
Thumb pockets are machined near the pickups and fingerboard end for comfortable thumb placement. The headstock shape, stripped down to the absolute essentials, delivers excellent body balance.

‘90 Stealth Deluxe

‘09 Stealth 2st

GALAXY

　This Galaxy also debuted in 1987.
　Its body design pursued functional beauty, featuring a novel shape that shaved off the horn on the 1st string side to enhance playability in high positions.

'93 GALAXY BASS

JUPITER

　The Jupiter, introduced in 1989.
For Atlantica, it's a rare traditional JB style. While the body shape is close to JB style, it incorporates unique ideas throughout.

Jupiter Special Freted Mod

PEGASUS

　Body shape, wood selection, color schemes, bold armrests—we've introduced so many unique models up to this point, yet here lies a design so innovative it makes you wonder if there's still room for shock. Here stands Atlantica, never ceasing its evolution.

'06 Pegasus

PENTAGON

　The PENTAGON, released around 1993.
This model embodies the Atlantica concept, incorporating features from previous models—such as armrests, parabolic cut, and thumb pockets—into a new body shape.

'94 Pentagon 5st ACTIVE 2EQ

'01 Pentagone Guitar

5. Representative Original Parts

Many structural designs now considered industry standards were adopted by Atlantica long before major manufacturers began producing them.While we've highlighted their "uniqueness" and "one-of-a-kind" nature, it's more accurate to say they've been leading the world in many areas. The impact this brand, founded by a single Japanese individual, has had globally is immeasurable

. When asked in interviews how they come up with these unique parts, they often respond, "It's not while playing the instrument, but while building it that ideas come to me."It seems the pattern is often this: while building or adjusting, he notices an inconvenience and thinks, "What if we just built in an adjustable part from the start?"
To repeat a point, I believe these parts are born precisely because he relentlessly pursues rationality and functionality, constantly thinking.
Now, let's introduce some representative parts featured in AtlanticaBass.

Peg
SLANTED WINDER

　The distinctive slanted pegs are designed based on ergonomics.
　While this structure is now incorporated into many Bass, Atlantica adopted it starting with the first Garland model released in 1978.
　It is also said Atlantica pioneered the use of lock pegs globally.

ノブ
SLANTED VOLUME KNOB

　Beyond the pegs, knobs are also mounted at an angle.
As Mr. Hayashi commented, "I believe the quality of design lies in whether it is functional," it's clear they pursued ease of use for the player.

Tension Pin
ROLLER TENSIONER

　Atlantica's website features a "PATENT PAGE" listing 170 ideas, including those with actual patents. The roller-type tension pin is the very first part introduced there.
By using a roller mechanism where the string contacts, it minimizes tuning drift, reduces damage to the string, and allows height adjustment, enabling fine-tuning of the tension applied.

Nut
ADJUSTABLE STRING NUT

　The string-resting surface features a screw mechanism, allowing height adjustment without tools. Additionally, the V-shaped slots eliminate the need to cut grooves for any gauge of string.

Tailpiece/Bridge
ATB-01

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  The saddle features an adjustable screw with a V-shaped groove, allowing height adjustment by hand without tools.

ATB-06 W/N "WILY/NOBLE"

This part is touted as "representative of Atlanta Bass philosophy: independent tailpieces for each string."
　This bridge is actually a tuner-equipped bridge tailpiece co-developed by Wilkinson and Mr. Hayashi, marked "WILKINSON/N.HAYASHI". It's said that when Mr. Hayashi visited Wilkinson directly, they discussed solutions for string twist, leading to this collaboration.
Originally, Atlantica formally obtained permission to incorporate an idea Wilkinson had into their product.

Pickup
ARC

　The ARC pickups, an iconic feature of Atlantica, are independent for each string. They feature a mechanism that allows them to be rotated, enabling you to adjust the tone by hand. It is also possible to implement features like separate EQ and tone controls for each pickup.

ARS

　The ARS pickup features a more compact design. While it cannot rotate like the ARC, it allows for narrower string spacing and the installation of more pickups.
The photo shows a special model equipped with 3 ARS pickups per string, totaling 12 pickups.

6. The Shop Speaks About the Instrument Atlantica

　Even from the perspective of our used instrument shop, which handles thousands of instruments annually, the Atlantica stands apart.
The first thing you notice when holding it is the meticulous craftsmanship. While its construction demands the rationality of an industrial product, it possesses the careful attention typical of handmade pieces, not mass-produced items.
Beyond the instrument's inherent robustness, as mentioned earlier, a significant number of units benefit from Mr. Hayashi's thorough aftercare.　Some might wonder, "With so many unique parts, is the setup special?" But like any standard instrument, it can undergo "ordinary adjustments." Mechanisms often perceived as unusual are all logically designed for ease of use. These are instruments where the player can "understand the maker's intent," not just embody Hayashi's worldview.

　Mr. Hayashi's design philosophy shows thoughtful consideration for player ease throughout, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with renowned brands like Fender, Gibson, PRS, and Spector without feeling out of place. What's astonishing is that he was giving shape to structures and concepts comparable to these giants over 40 years ago.

　While its limited production naturally contributes to its rarity, prices are soaring not only for New but also in the used market. Though the brand was established in 1978, one might say "the times have finally caught up."
While Fender is arguably the "standard" in the Bass world, Atlantica delivers a sound unlike anything Fender.It delivers an incredibly hard-hitting sound while still pushing out a solid low end, offering a reassuring sense of reliability that truly responds to the player's intent. Compared to high-end Bass costing more than double, it holds its own completely; in fact, it possesses a weightiness that makes recent high-end Bass feel almost lightweight.
　When you first hold it, you'll likely think, "What is this neck?!" But after playing just one phrase, almost every customer says, "Huh, strangely, it's really easy to play."
A playing feel that makes you unable to play anything but Atlantica, a sound only Atlantica can produce. There is no other brand like it; it truly is "one of a kind."

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7. Afterword

　Reading Mr. Hayashi's interview, it was deeply impressive how candidly he spoke about his guilt over making copies during the Matsumoku era and his concern for Japan, then a developing nation in guitar making.
Given that Mr. Hayashi himself was in that position, it's not hard to imagine how that very experience fostered the pride that led him to create instruments like the PE-1500 and the Atlantica, a true embodiment of originality.

　The numerous copies that became legendary instruments, known as Japan Vintage, undoubtedly contributed to elevating Japan's instrument-making technology, even while carrying that sense of guilt.
And it's certain that Atlantica was born precisely because of that background.

　Mr. Hayashi, who speaks of his Matsumoku era, where he was a designer yet personally prototyped instruments on the shop floor. Precisely because he is such a craftsman, he develops unique parts during the creation process, thinking "this might be more rational," and even invents the machinery and software used in manufacturing himself.
As someone who loves instruments, I strongly feel it's fortunate that Japan has a person like Nobuaki Hayashi – a luthier, designer, and inventor.

　The newly arrived Atlantica, which inspired this column, can be viewed via the link below. Please check it out!
For product inquiries, contact us via email/chat/phone. We also welcome trade-ins!

Source:
Atlansia guitar world (Excerpted from Guitar Graphic Vol. 1, published by Rittor Music Co., Ltd.)
ROCK’N ROLL NEWSMAKER October 1989 issue, VICTOR MUSIC INDUSTRY Co.
Atlanta Official Homepage (https://www.atlansia.jp/)

Atlanta Official Homepage (https://www.atlansia.jp/)