Vol.1
MAS HINO
Born in Japan, raised in America.
The identity of a luthier/bass and guitar builder living as a Japan-US hybrid.
Born in Tokyo in 1966, Mas Hino moved to New York at the age of 9 due to his father's job. At 19, he was scouted by the music store "Rudy's" in Manhattan's instrument district, entering the path of luthier/guitar building as a direct disciple of the genius John Suhr. In 1993, he became the head builder. He has been involved in the production and repair of instruments for many top musicians. Currently, he is highly acclaimed worldwide for his guitar and bass design, production, setup, and repair work.
In a residential area just south of Brooklyn, New York, there is a guitar store. The man who runs the original guitar and bass brand there is Mas Hino, a man with a distinctive beard who always keeps a cheerful expression on his face. The name 'Hino' may ring a bell in the music world for those with keen intuition. Yes, he is the eldest son of Terumasa Hino, the world-renowned Japanese jazz trumpet player, and the nephew of the late jazz drummer Motohiko Hino. He hails from a prestigious jazz family in Japan.
At the age of 9, he relocated to New York City and embarked on his journey as both a luthier and a guitar builder. A luthier is a general term for a string instrument maker, while a guitar builder is a professional responsible for overseeing the entire guitar-making process.
Hino is a luthier who has crafted guitars and basses for numerous renowned musicians, including Pat Metheny, Eric Clapton, and Sean Lennon. "I have established my own guitar and bass brand, Mas Hino NYC, based in New York," Hino stated, "and I also collaborate with the long-established string maker La Bella Strings to produce basses." Additionally, Hino mentioned his involvement in repair work: "I handle repairs for a wide range of instruments, including electric guitars and basses, acoustic guitars, upright basses, ukuleles, and various other stringed instruments. Some of the guitars I repair have endured turbulent histories, like being thrown from the second floor during domestic disputes."
Reference：
"Discovering Our True Calling: Exploring Beyond Japan's Borders"
『日本を飛び出して、世界で見つけた僕らが本当にやりたかったこと』Michinori Mori