Vintage Guitars
I'm happy with this
This website uses cookies to personalise content and adverts, to provide social media features, and to analyse traffic. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. See terms and conditions
MATSUMOKU

Matsumoku Electric Guitars and Basses

Instruments produced at the legendary Matsumoku plant

Japanese guitars are pretty well regarded today, but at the start of the 1960s, manufacturers producing guitars in Japan were pretty much non-existent. The market was dominated by American and European makers, many with decades of experience, and producing very fine instruments. It is, then, a testament to Japanese skill and ingenuity that by the end of the decade these same makers were contracting a large part of their manufacture to companies in Japan, with the majority coming from one place, the Matsumoku factory in the city of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture.

Although Matsumoku were relatively new to guitar manufacture, the company were well regarded in cabinet building, for televisions, amplifiers, sewing machines and traditional Japanese furniture. The name Matsumoku derives from "Matsumoto Mokko" - translating to "Matsumoto Woodworking Company". Electric guitar production began in the mid 1960s, and continued through to 1986.

Matsumoku and Aria

Initially, Matsumoku didn't build and market their own guitars - as was the case with their sewing machines, Matsumoku were subcontracted by other companies, the most important being Aria. Aria designed a series of instruments, some quite original, some clearly based on guitars by existing manufacturers; and although available with Aria branding, the same guitars were re-badged for different guitar distributors across the globe. The guitars were effectively identical, using many of the same parts (see Matsumoku guitar parts), but with plastic peghead logos pinned in place.

Re-badged Matsumoku guitars

From around 1966 Merson/Unicord distributed Aria/Matsumoku guitars labelled Univox, with the best known-model, the Mosrite-styled Hi-Flier appearing in 1967/68. David Wexler of Chicago badged them as Conrad, C. Bruno as Ventura, L.D. Heater as Lyle, and Maurice Lipsky as Domino. In the United Kingdom many were imported branded as Eros (Rosetti), Angelica (Boosey & Hawkes), and Commodore. Over the next five or six years there were numerous other examples: Electra, Granada, Tempo (Merson), Toledo, Jedson (Dallas), Arbiter and Shaftesbury (Rose-Morris) to name just a few.

1971 Shaftesbury 3400
1971 Shaftesbury 3400
1971 Epiphone 1802T / ET-270 solid body electric guitar
1971 Epiphone 1802T (ET-270)

Matsumoku Epiphones

But the best known Matsumoku guitars of the early seventies were those branded Epiphone. Aria struck a deal with Gibson to start production of Epiphone guitars in Japan in late 1970. Whilst functionally the same instruments these guitars were a step up from the previous offerings, having Epiphone-style headstocks, with inlaid logos and branded scratchplates / truss rod covers. Initially the Epiphone models kept the original Aria model designations, but these were soon revised to differentiate these guitars from the numerous similar models out there. Perhaps one of the best known of these early Japanese Epiphones was the ET-270 solid body later wielded by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana

Gretsch and Dorado

But Gibson was not the only Big American company to offer a Matsumoku-made 'entry level' version of its guitars. In 1973 Gretsch attempted the same approach, offering a very nice version of Epiphone's ET-270 solid body as the Dorado 5985.

In 1975 Aria guitars were sold as Aria Pro II. The brand had gained in confidence and there was a distinct move away from copies towards more original designs.

Got an opinion on the contents of this page? Disagree with something written above? Please comment

Vintage Matsumoku guitars for sale

Vintageguitarandbass.com is funded by its visitors. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. For more info see terms and conditions.
Ebony Univox "The Mother" U-1983 Les Paul with Case MIJ 1968-70 w / case

Ebony Univox "The Mother" U-1983 Les Paul with Case MIJ 1968-70 w / case

Lynchburg, Virginia, 245**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$900

Up for sale is a
Ebony Univox "The Mother" U-1983 Les Paul with Case MIJ 1968-70
Solid Mahogany Body - Single Cut
Fretboard - Rosewood with black side dots and mother of pearl inlay
Frets - 21
Finish - ebony / black
Pickups - pre maxon chrome humbucker
Manufacturer: Matsumoku
Please see the pictures for a more detailed view of the items condition
We stand behind everything we do 100%. Please ask us any question. Everything pictured is included in the listing
If ... more
eBay logo
Vintage Epiphone Rivoli EA-65 Bass Amplifier 1962-1963

Vintage Epiphone Rivoli EA-65 Bass Amplifier 1962-1963

Nashville, Tennessee, 372**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1800

Vintage Epiphone Bass Amplifier from the early 1960s
15" Speaker (with jack for an external speaker cab), 25-35 Watts
Tube Circuit. My understanding is the "Photon Circuit" is a built in compressor .so this thing maybe fun on electric guitar. I've had it in the studio for 16 years and it's only been used on pedal steel .which it sounds amazing on
Works great. Original owner played accordion through it and he added the old school TV casters which can be easily removed (I'm happy to do ... more
eBay logo
Epiphone EA-250 Riviera 1972 - 1974 Cherry  /  Rare Cherry neck

Epiphone EA-250 Riviera 1972 - 1974 Cherry / Rare Cherry neck

Estes Park, Colorado, 805**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$589

OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY
Refurbished Vintage Beauty
Epiphone EA-250 Riviera 1972 - 1974 Cherry / Rare Cherry neck
Very rare red cherry neck, most EA-250's have natural maple necks
Refurbished Epiphone EA-250 Riviera by Cat Caster Guitar Shop
DEMO VIDEO LINK / played clean through a Fender Blues Jr , no fx pedals
https: / / drive google com / file / d / 1wNrhqd0avjqSwBIpthDukv5MyvZDUkaj / view?usp=sharing
This beauty took a little work, a barn find that was literally a ... more
eBay logo
1970s Univox Ripper Clear Electric Guitar Made in Japan

1970's Univox Ripper Clear Electric Guitar Made in Japan

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1500

1970's Univox Ripper clear coated Electric Guitar Made in Japan.
Proceed with caution . This guitar is guaranteed to bring out your inner rock god! The body has an A- / B+ condition with a few signs of use as shown in the pictures. One of the screws holding down the pickguard is absent. Two of the three humbucker pickups are original to this guitar. A whammy-bar came with this guitar, and although it shows similar signs of patina, we are unable to confirm its provenance. The pictures of ... more
eBay logo
Epiphone FT-90 El Dorado 1968

Epiphone FT-90 El Dorado 1968

Fort Myers, Florida, 339**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2400

Vintage guitar with original case. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or make an offer. Thank you
... more
eBay logo
Vintage Univox Les Paul Copy w /  HSC

Vintage Univox Les Paul Copy w / HSC

Mesquite, Texas, 751**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1100


Item: Vintage Univox Les Paul Copy w / HSC!
Description: You are purchasing a Vintage Univox Les Paul Copy w / HSC! Awesome & all original without any issues. Gorgeous aesthetics and comfortable playability. Please inquire with any questions prior to purchase
Shipping: $80 00 shipping to the Lower 48 States! We ship overseas. Overseas shipping prices will vary. Overseas buyers pay their own import taxes Payment: We accept Paypal for your convenience. Payment ... more
eBay logo
1969 vintage univox ulm 6 tube guitar amplifier amp

1969 vintage univox ulm 6 tube guitar amplifier amp

Painesville, Ohio, 440**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$675

Very nice vintage 1969 Univox Ulm 6 tube amp in good condition! Sounds amazing, takes pedals really well. Known as the ?fender champ killer?? everything works. Sold as is thanks... more
eBay logo
Sweet Memphis Semi-Hollow Body 335-style Guitar w /  Case - c 1979 Matsumoku Japan

Sweet Memphis Semi-Hollow Body 335-style Guitar w / Case - c 1979 Matsumoku Japan

East Hampton, New York, 119**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1100

Another Made-in-Japan beauty, from the era when Japanese copies of Gibson guitars were at top quality. This 335 tribute has been professionally set up and plays like a dream. Two Japanese humbuckers drive the classic sound of a legit semi-hollow body electric. Made in the Matsumoku factory, the fit and finish on this set-neck instrument is excellent. Shows minor signs of honest play wear throughout. The one cosmetic issue is that the binding along the upper bout, side bout and bottom bout shows... more
eBay logo
1970s Univox Coily 4 string Bass Guitar Vintage NOW U CAN HEAR IT

1970's Univox Coily 4 string Bass Guitar Vintage NOW U CAN HEAR IT

Olmsted Falls, Ohio, 441**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1000

1970's Univox Coily 4 string Bass Guitar Vintage NOW U CAN HEAR ITThis guitar has a great history was played by a member of the mushroom heads I was asked to sell his guitar but only if it was made like new by professionals Well it was taken apart, new wiring and a new rheostat, neck put back to it's proper place, buffing, replace a piece of plastic edge trim, and adjusting the resonator Etc. and last 4 new strings Last tested, made to go through it's scales, as you can see and hear in the video... more
eBay logo
1970s Ventura ES-175 Natural

1970's Ventura ES-175 Natural

Nazareth, Pennsylvania, 180**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1299

Just in is this killer Japanese made 70's Ventura ES-175 copy. This was made right along side the ibanez guitars and sold under the Ventura brand
Quick Details
weight 7 2lbs
Nut width 1 11 / 16th
Depth at 1st fret 0 86
Depth at 12th 1 06
This is a killer Lawsuit era Ventura ES-175 Guitar
This guitar was rescued from being up in an attic for years. The strings still had tension on them so the Glue in the neck loosened up when it was hot so we had it reset and now it is in ... more
eBay logo
Classic 1977 Aria Pro II Stagecaster - Matsumoku - Ash Body! - Made in Japan

Classic 1977 Aria Pro II Stagecaster - Matsumoku - Ash Body! - Made in Japan

Pompano Beach, Florida, 330**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1399

1977 Aria Pro II Stagecaster
Lawsuit Era '50's Stratocaster Style Copy
Serial 771218
Nut Width: 1 62 "
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: 0 83 "
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: 0 91 "
Radius 7 1 / 2
U Shape Maple Neck Shape
Comes in Original Hard Case with Tremelo Arm
$$$ Professionally Set Up and Dialed in for Immediate Rocking. Truly Stage or Studio Ready / Worthy! (Fret work, Action Set, Truss Rod Adjusted & Intonation is Spot On)
Top tier quality straight from the... more
eBay logo
1973-75 Bradley Greco Ibanez SG Matsumoku Vintage Made In Japan Refinish Lawsuit

1973-75 Bradley Greco Ibanez SG Matsumoku Vintage Made In Japan Refinish Lawsuit

Flower Mound, Texas, 750**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1100

1973-75 Bradley Greco Ibanez SG Matsumoku Vintage Made In Japan Refinish Lawsuit.
I just finished another mid 1970??s SG style guitar
These were made by Matsumoku in Japan and badged with several brands, the most popular were Greco, Burny, and Ibanez. There are probably 40 other badged brands of the same guitar
All of the poly coating has been removed and left open pored and stained with dark walnut and coated with lacquer. It was then wet sanded fairly smooth on the alder caps and ... more
eBay logo
1970s Epiphone ET-285 Electric Bass with OHSC - 3 Tone Burst - Vintage

1970s Epiphone ET-285 Electric Bass with OHSC - 3 Tone Burst - Vintage

Woodbury, New York, 117**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$900

1970s Epiphone ET-285 Electric Bass with OHSC - 3 Tone Burst - Vintage
For sale, a 1970s Epiphone ET-285 in very good vintage condition - functionality and playability are perfect whereas the cosmetic condition is pre-loved showing surface scratches and minor indentations. The original bridge pickup was swapped by the previous owner sometime ago, and was replaced with a now vintage Dimarzio J Bass Split Coil pickup. This pickup choice gives the bass even more of a nice well rounded sound ... more
eBay logo
1973-75 Ventura ES-335 Style Semi Hollow Guitar Flame Maple Trans Red W / OHSC

1973-75 Ventura ES-335 Style Semi Hollow Guitar Flame Maple Trans Red W / OHSC

Flower Mound, Texas, 750**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1300

Ventura Semi Hollow ES style electric guitar in excellent condition with original case
This guitar is very rare and nice. The gold hardware is still in great condition, and the finish is nice. It has two cracks on the rear of the body adjacent to the inspection cover (see pics)
The frets show minimal wear, and the guitar has just been cleaned, polished, and setup
The electronics are all original, and have the highly sought after Maxon pickups. The guitar was manufactured at the ... more
eBay logo
Univox Gimme Les Paul Sunburst 1970s W / Original Hard Case   FREE SHIPPING

Univox Gimme Les Paul Sunburst 1970s W / Original Hard Case FREE SHIPPING

Neosho, Missouri, 648**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$899

FREE SHIPPING Any questions, just ask ;)
Appears to be all original, except for the tuners, they've been replaced, and the original holes were filled in There is a thin hairline crack near the High E tuner, but doesn't effect the guitar at all Plays great, it has very low frets, which is why it feels like a Les Paul fret-less wonder Shows lots of MOJO wear throughout, I've circled in yellow; the bigger nicks Lots of buckle wear
But in very good condition, and a solid guitar, considering ... more
eBay logo
1970s Epiphone ET-285 Electric Bass with OHSC - 3 Tone Burst - Vintage

1970s Epiphone ET-285 Electric Bass with OHSC - 3 Tone Burst - Vintage

Evansville, Indiana, 477**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$899

1970s Epiphone ET-285 Electric Bass with OHSC - 3 Tone Burst - Vintage. Condition is Used. Shipped with USPS Ground Advantage.... more
eBay logo
1960s Hofner copy Beatle vintage bass guitar Univox or Tiesco

1960s Hofner copy Beatle vintage bass guitar Univox or Tiesco

Hopewell, New Jersey, 085**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$456

This is a nice Hofner copy of the Beatle Bass Paul used. We believe it to be a Univox or Teisco 1960's. Electronics all work however the tone just has a little static noise when you turn it volume works great and so does the tone other than that drop of static while turning (probably a very good electronics cleaning is in order). There are a few extra screw holes in the headstock some shown in pics. There is a ding on the fingerboard shown in pics at the 4th fret. Selling as is with the ... more
eBay logo
Epiphone ET-285 1972-1977 Vintage Bass Sunburst MIJ   FREE SHIPPING

Epiphone ET-285 1972-1977 Vintage Bass Sunburst MIJ FREE SHIPPING

Neosho, Missouri, 648**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$659

FREE SHIPPING
Any questions, just ask ;)
This is a super cool, and rare bird
Made in Japan, vintage, and all original, except for the truss rod cover
This one even has the original bridge plate cover
She's definitely been rocked, with signs of wear throughout, I've circled the 2 biggest dings on the bass
Otherwise, the rest are just scratches and minor dings from common wear expected for a 50 year old instrument
Plays great, no issues
I'll ship it to you with a ... more
eBay logo
Univox Vintage Guitar Amplifier (Amp) U-235-PB

Univox Vintage Guitar Amplifier (Amp) U-235-PB

Collegeville, Pennsylvania, 194**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$755

Welcome. Thanks for stopping in. Up for sale is one of my Univox U-235-PB Amplifier restorations. This unit is SN42791 manufactured in Japan in the late 1960s, most likely 1967-68. This amp is fully restored and in excellent condition
Originally sold as a Bass Amp, this amp is also good for guitar. It has Bass, High, and Low inputs, Deep and Sharp switches, and incorporates the James tone stack which uses Bass and Treble controls. This amp sounds great, has low noise, has been burned in, and... more
eBay logo
Univox Unicord Stage 720 Solid State Guitar Combo Amp with Footswitch - Vintage

Univox Unicord Stage 720 Solid State Guitar Combo Amp with Footswitch - Vintage

Woodbury, New York, 117**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$450

Univox Unicord Stage 720 Solid State Guitar Combo Amp with Footswitch - Vintage
Discover the iconic Vintage Univox Unicord Stage 720 Amp, a treasure of yesteryears, meticulously crafted to deliver 70W of solid-state power. This vintage gem boasts two 12" speakers that resonate with rich tonal warmth, adding a touch of nostalgia to your sound. Experience the unmatched versatility of its 2 channels, channel mixing, distortion, and comprehensive EQ controls - treble, middle, and bass - allowing ... more
eBay logo

Find more vintage Matsumoku guitars for sale at vintageguitarsforsale.co

There are 0 comments on this page so far. Add your comment

Comment on this article

Anti-spam question - to catch web robots

Contact
info@vintageguitarandbass.com

mailing list

Follow

Facebook  Instagram  YouTube

Other Great Sites

Recent posts on vintage guitar and bass

1971 Selmer guitar catalogue

1971 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1971 Selmer guitar catalogue showing the range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Gibson, Yamaha, Selmer, Hofner and Suzuki. 1960s Selmer had always placed Hofner at the front end of their catalogues, no doubt these were the better sellers - but into the 1970s Hofner were slipping somewhat and only appear at the tail end of this publication, pride of place going to Gibson, and to a lesser extent Yamaha. In fact this is the last Selmer catalogue to include the many Hofner hollow bodies (Committee, President, Senator etc) that had defined the companies output for so many years - to be replaced in the 1972 catalogue by generic solid body 'copies' of Gibson and Fender models. A number of new Gibson models are included for the first time: the SG-100 and SG-200 six string guitars and the SB-300 and SB-400 basses.

1968 Selmer guitar catalogue

1968 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Other electric models include: HOFNER ELECTRICS: Committee, Verithin 66, Ambassador, President, Senator, Galaxie, HOFNER BASSES: Violin bass, Verithin bass, Senator bass, Professional bass GIBSON ELECTRICS: Barney Kessel, ES-330TD, ES-335TD, ES-345TD, ES-175D, ES-125CD, SG Standard, SG Junior, SG Special GIBSON BASSES: EB-0, EB-2, EB-3 - plus a LOT of acoustics branded Gibson, Hofner, Selmer and Giannini

1961 Hofner Colorama I

1961 Hofner Colorama IHofner Colorama was the name UK distributor Selmer gave to a series of solid and semi-solid guitars built by Hofner for distribution in the UK. The construction and specifications of the guitars varied over the period of production, but by 1961 it was a totally solid, double cutaway instrument, with a set neck, translucent cherry finish, six-in-a-row headstock, and Hofner Diamond logo pickups. Available as a single or dual pickup guitar, this sngle pickup version would have been sold in mainland Europe as the Hofner 161.

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)Commodore was a brand applied to a series of guitars produced in Japan at the well-respected Matsumoku plant from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s - and sold primarily (perhaps exclusively?) in the United Kingdom. The models bearing the Commodore name were all guitars available from different distributors with different branding. Although there may have been some minor changes in appointments (specifically headstock branding) most had the same basic bodies, hardware and construction. Equivalent models to the Commodore N25 (and this is by no means an exhaustive list) include the Aria 5102T, Conrad 5102T(?), Electra 2221, Lyle 5102T, Ventura V-1001, Univox Coily - and most famously the Epiphone 5102T / Epiphone EA-250.

1960 Hofner Colorama II

1960 Hofner Colorama IIThe Hofner Colorama was the name given by Selmer to a series of solid (and semi-solid) body Hofner guitars distributed in the United Kingdom between 1958 and 1965. The Colorama name actually applied to some quite different guitars over the period, but in 1960 it was a very light, semi-solid, set necked guitar with one (Colorama I) or two (Colorama II, as seen here) Toaster pickups. Although an entry-level guitar, it was very well-built, and a fine playing guitar; certainly a step up (at least in terms of craftsmanship) from many of the Colorama guitars that would follow, and a good deal of the guitars available in Britain circa 1960.

1971 Epiphone 1820 bass (ET-280)

1971 Epiphone 1820 (ET-280) bassBy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.

1981 Gibson Marauder

1981 Gibson MarauderProduction of Bill Lawrence's Gibson Marauder began in 1974, with production peaking in 1978. But by 1980 the model was officially discontinued, though very small numbers slipped out as late as spring 1981. Over 7000 examples shipped between 1974 and 1979, and although no totals are available for 1980 and 1981, it is unlikely production reached three figures in either of these years. These final Marauders were all assembled at the Gibson Nashville plant, and had some nice features not available through the later years of production, such as a rosewood fretboard, and in this case, an opaque 'Devil Red' finish. It's a great looking and fine playing guitar!

1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

1971 Pick Epiphone catalogWhen Epiphone production moved from Kalamazoo to the Matsumoku plant in Japan, a whole new range of electric, flattop and classic acoustic guitars was launched. Between late 1970 and 1972 the new models were launched and refined. This 'folder' catalog contains various inserts released over these years detailing four electric six-strings (ET-270, ET-275, ET-278, and thinline EA-250), three bass guitars (ET-280, ET-285, and thinline EA-260), three folk/steel acoustics, four jumbo flattop acoustics, two 12-string jumbos, four classic acoustics, and a banjo.

1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bassRose-Morris were selling Shaftesbury-branded Rickenbacker copy instruments from the late 1960s right through the 1970s. The 3263 bass was one of the first models, (alongside the 3261 six string and 3262 twelve string) available from late 1968 until about 1974. The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. But production quickly moved to Italy. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either.

1961 Hohner Zambesi

1961 Hohner ZambesiThis very early, and pretty rare British-built guitar is branded Hohner London. Hohner were, of course, a German company, better known for their harmonicas and accordions, but they were keenly expanding into guitars at the birth of the 1960s. This model, along with the Hohner Amazon and (particularly) the Hohner Holborn, bear some similarity with Vox guitars of the same period; furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins constructed bodies and necks for both brands, with Fenton Weill assembling them using their hardware and pickups. These guitars do have some hardware peculiarities, and they are not the most adjustable of instruments, but they actually play very nicely, being solidly built out of some very nice woods. Check out the video on this page.

1963 Vox Super Ace

1963 Vox Super AceThe Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area

1966 Vox New Escort

1966 Vox New EscortThe Vox New Escort was Vox's version of the Fender Telecaster, at a time when American guitars were out of reach for most British musicians. It was made by JMI in England, for the British market, and unlike the majority of other models, didn't have an Italian-made equivalent. But the New Escort wasn't a slavish Fender copy, adding Vox's stylish teardrop headstock to the tele-style body, with a stop tailpiece and two Vox V2 single coil pickups. And it's a pretty substantial, and nice playing guitar, with a very comfortable neck. Check out the images, specifications, and watch a video of it in action. There is also extra content in the vintageguitarandbass supporting members area.

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin CareCatalog scan. The 1969 Fender Lovin' Care catalog consisted of 48 pages of electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, steel guitars, acoustic guitars, banjos and keyboards. Like the previous catalog, this featured the company's guitars in a variety of interesting settings around California, from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, to the Hollywood Bowl. Several instruments were making their first appearance amongst it's pages: the Telecaster bass, Montego and LTD jazz guitars, and the Redondo acoustic. It was the final catalog appearance, however, of the Electric XII, Bass V, Duo-Sonic, Coronado I and Coronado Bass I.

1973 Eko Ranger Folk

1973 Eko Ranger FolkThe Eko Ranger series of guitars was incredibly popular in the second half of the 1960s and through the 1970s, selling in very large numbers. The Ranger Folk was 1 1/4" smaller, and 1" shallower than the Ranger VI and XII - and with a narrower waist. Not a bad guitar; a little quiet, but pretty playable. These were great value in 1973, and because they sold so many, they are easy to find and excellent value today.

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitarThe Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.

1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog

1968 Shaftesbury catalogThe 1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog was just four pages long, and contained four guitar models: the six string Barney Kessel-style 3264; and three Rickenbacker-styled semi-acoustic models: the six-string 3261, the twelve string 3262 and the 3263 bass. Shaftesbury was the house-brand of major UK distributor Rose-Morris, and seems to have been launched as a response to the company's loss of it's distribution deal with Rickenbacker. The guitars were mid-priced, and built in (initially) Japan, and later Italy, by Eko

1970 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns Celebrated Classics' catalog

1970 Rose_Morris catalog1970 Rose-Morris catalog, dated April 1970. It featured 6 electric guitars, 32 acoustic guitars, 3 basses and 1 steel guitar. It contains the following instruments, over 20 pages: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3262, 3264, 3265, 3400; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Colorado, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12; Aria 1674, 1675, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1695, 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk; Rose-Morris 15-11, Kansas, Georgian, Florida; Suzuki 1663, 1664, 1665, 3054, 3055, 3060; Tatay 1713, 1714, 1715; Peerless 3052; Steel guitar: Aria 3425

1971 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns' catalog

1971 Rose_Morris catalogThe sixteen-page 1971 Rose-Morris catalog featured electric guitars by Rose-Morris' own brand, Shaftesbury, and budget brand Top Twenty; aswell as acoustics by Eko, Aria, and for the first time Ovation. The catalog contains the following instruments: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3264, 3265, 3400, 3402; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Ovation: Balladeer, 12 String, Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell 12 string; Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12, Colorado, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Studio 'L'; Rose-Morris Florida; Aria 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk

1972 Fender Precision bass

1972 Fender PrecisionA detailed look at an early 1970s Fender Precision bass guitar in custom black finish, with rosewood fretboard. 1972 list price, $307.50. The Fender Precision had been shipping since at least very early 1952 - with just one re-design circa 1957. This example, then, shows a model already two decades old, but barely changed since the '57 revamp. Fender got it right first time around, and although there are numerous minor cosmetic differences, the essence of this bass is effectively the same as it was in '52: a simple, single pickup instrument with a GREAT sound. Check out the demo video through an old Ampeg B15. It's no wonder this is the bass that everybody wants!

1967 Vox Stroller

1967 Vox StrollerThe Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.

1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)

1963 Vox Clubman Bass left handedA nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale

1977 Gibson ES Artist 'prototype'

1977 Gibson ES Artist prototypeNot to be confused with the Gibson ES Artist launched by Gibson in 1979; this ES Artist was an early model designed by the Gibson research and development team in Kalamazoo in 1977, the instruments themselves constructed by Gibson artist Chuck Burge. It was planned for launch as a high end semi acoustic with 335-style construction (central maple block) and innovative circuitry - but was pulled at the last minute, being deemed too expensive. Apparently, several examples were produced with varying specifications, though exactly how many actually left the Kalamazoo plant is unclear. Certainly two guitars were sold to LaVonne Music by Gibson in around 1980. Read more about the development of this guitar, with details from Chuck Burge and the story of it's sale to LaVonne music

1959 Hofner Committee

1959 Hofner CommitteeThe Hofner Committee was a truly beautiful guitar produced in Germany, primarily for the UK market. It was a large bodied (initially 17 1/2") guitar with a carved spruce top, available as an acoustic or electric guitar. By the early sixties the carved top was replaced with a laminate, and although still a very fine guitar, the earlier carved top examples, with frondose headstock (like the example shown here) are far more highly prized amongst musicians and vintage guitar collectors.

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins TennesseanThe Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean, or model 6119 was Gretsch's best selling hollow body of the 1960s. This wonderfully faded example from 1965 was originally Dark Cherry Red, but has turned a mid-orange brown. The original color, however, can be seen underneath the pickup surrounds. 1965 specs: maple body, two-piece neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard and Hi-Lo 'Tron single coil pickups. Nickel plated Gretsch Bigsby tailpiece.

1965 Gretsch 'For the Spectacular Sound of the Times' guitar and amp catalog

1965 Gretsch catalogThe 1965 Gretsch catalog, or catalog #32, featured 10 hollow body electric guitars, including the newly launched Gretsch Viking; four solid body electrics, including the Astro Jet - making it's only catalog appearance; just one bass, the single pickup PX6070; nine acoustics and 12 tube amplifiers. Pride of place went to the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman that adorned both the front and back covers. 24 pages, six of which are in full color.

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret ends

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret endsLoose frets are especially problematic in certain old guitars, but are generally very easy to fix. You'll be amazed at the difference you can make with just a few tools, a bit of knowledge, and a little time. Fixing loose frets can eliminate fret buzz, remove sharp fret ends, and greatly improve the tone of any guitar. If your luthier bill will be greater than the value of your guitar, definitely time to have a go yourself!

1966 Hagstrom 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog (Merson USA)

1966 Hagstrom guitar catalogHagstrom guitars were distributed in the mid-1960s United States by Merson of USA. This eight page 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog, printed in two-colors contained six solid body electrics, three solid body basses, two electric acoustic guitars, two electric acoustic basses and five acoustics.

1965 Hofner President

1965 Hofner PresidentThe President was produced by Hofner in Bubenreuth, Germany, specifically for Selmer, who distributed the brand in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other commonwealth nations. The President was a hollow body electric acoustic, available as a full body or thinline, and with blonde or brunette finish. It was a great playing guitar that sold fairly well in the second half of the 1950s, throughout the 1960s, and into the very early 1970s. The example shown here is a full-body depth guitar in blonde - and as a 1965 guitar, one of the last to feature the rounded Venetian cutaway. From late 1965 until 1972, the President sported a sharp Florentine cut. Naturally, such an electric acoustic suggests jazz and blues, but many of the original British Hofner President players were part of the rock 'n roll, skiffle and beat scenes of the late 50s and early 60s.

1963 1964 Fender catalog

Fender 1963 catalogue"The Choice of Professional and Student Musicians Everywhere" This eight page catalogue was included as an insert in the 1963 annual "school music" issue of Downbeat magazine (September 1963). As well as keyboards and pedal steels, this catalog contains seven guitars, three basses and ten amplifiers - from student guitars such as the Musicmaster and Duotone to professional models like the new Jaguar.