The Daion Year Series
Daion’s Year Series acoustic guitars, produced from 1978 to 1980, showcase exceptional craftsmanship, rich tone, and long-lasting reliability. When you first pick one up, you immediately notice the attention to detail. These guitars use solid spruce or cedar tops paired with mahogany or Nato necks, which creates a balanced voice with strong projection. Rosewood fingerboards, bridges, and veneers add warmth and clarity. Because of this thoughtful design, the Year Series quickly earned a reputation among solo artists, ensemble players, and collectors. Even today, they remain practical musical tools as well as beautiful historical instruments.
Design and Materials
The Year Series combines solid spruce or cedar tops with mahogany or Nato necks. Rosewood fingerboards, bridges, and veneers reinforce a warm, full, and balanced tone. Thanks to carefully selected tonewoods, the Year Series ranks among the most respected Japanese acoustic guitars of its era. Each instrument reflects Daion’s commitment to quality, durability, and musical depth.
Distinctive Finishes and Details
Elegant finishes and refined details define this series. For example, many models feature sunburst finishes, maple binding, and brass nuts and saddles. Some versions include oval soundholes or tortoise-shaped pickguards. Hand-formed logos and fine edge work give each guitar personality. As a result, every instrument feels visually unique and sonically expressive.
The ’78 Century – Classic Elegance
The ’78 Century features a spruce top with an antique-stained mahogany finish. Ovangkol back and sides produce a rich tonal base, while a Nato neck and rosewood fingerboard and bridge support smooth playability. A bone saddle, mother-of-pearl inlays, and a rosewood headstock veneer with a hand-formed logo complete the design. Decorative lines around the soundhole and synthetic borders on the body and neck add classic style. It ships with tuners built for light strings (.012–.054).
Original price (11/1982): $379.00 (ƒ 1,057.41)
The ’78 Heritage – Warm Tone and Style
The ’78 Heritage pairs a solid cedar top with Ovangkol back and sides. This combination creates warmth, depth, and strong projection. A Nato neck and rosewood fingerboard and bridge ensure stability and comfort. Brass nut and saddle enhance clarity and sustain, while brass dot markers and rosewood pins contribute to a cohesive look. Maple binding and a hand-formed headstock logo add refined contrast. Gold-plated tuners support light-gauge strings.suring smooth performance and an elegant finish.
Original price (11/1982): $479.00 (ƒ 1,336.41)
12-string versions share the same specifications, priced at $509.00 (ƒ 1,420.11)
The ’79 Heritage – Power and Contrast
The ’79 Heritage offers either a spruce or cedar top and comes in black (B-model) or brown (BR-model). Ovangkol back and sides provide a balanced, powerful sound. The Nato neck keeps the feel stable and comfortable. Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, paired with brass nut, saddle, and inlay rings, deliver clarity, sustain, and visual character. Brass trim, rosewood pins, and a hand-formed headstock logo highlight craftsmanship, while gold-plated tuners handle light strings (.012–.054).
Original price (11/1982): $549.00 (ƒ 1,531.71)
The ’80 – Flagship Model
The Daion ’80 features a solid spruce top with Ovangkol veneer and a hand-stained mahogany sunburst. Its oval soundhole shapes a distinctive tone. A tortoise pickguard, brass nut and saddle, and rosewood headstock veneer enhance its character. Maple binding and gold tuners complete the premium build.
Original price (11/1982): $529.00 (ƒ 1,475.91)
12-String Variant
The 12-string version maintains the same specifications but features a larger headstock with six tuners per side. It delivers a fuller, richer tonal range.
Original price (11/1982): $549.00 (ƒ 1,531.71)
The ’80 W Double Neck – Double Expression
The ’80 W Double Neck combines a 6-string and 12-string in one instrument, offering wide musical range. A solid flamed mahogany top and mahogany/rosewood construction deliver sustain, warmth, and power. Both necks use rosewood fingerboards, brass nuts, and brass bridges for consistent tone. Daion-branded tuners — closed on the 6-string and open-plate on the 12-string — ensure smooth tuning. Maple binding and a thin polyurethane finish add visual elegance and reson
Original price: unknown
Conclusion
The Daion Year Series captures a golden era in Japanese guitar building. These instruments combine top-tier materials, fine details, and forward-thinking design. From the ’78 Heritage to the commanding Double Neck, the Year Series continues to inspire musicians and collectors who value timeless tone and craftsmanship.