I have an old Kawai too that I can't identify. It has one of those cool pickguards that kinda look tiger striped but it also has a full scale neck. Not sure if someone just replaced the neck but the neck is also a Kawai and is really nice Brazillion rosewood.
The one on the left is like mine.
Statistics: Posted by spencersolo — Tue May 12, 2009 3:56 pm
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I guess finding out the history of Japanese guitars takes a bit more time then on an American one, butit can be done.
Statistics: Posted by Drew — Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:46 pm
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Here is a picture of your bass guitar's cousin. Note the deep beveling, the chrome control panel, similar pickups, etc. This guitar is a Kingston built by Kawai around 1967. I think your bass was also built by Kawai around this time. Additional evidence for my attribution are the tuners on your bass; they match the tuners Kawai was using on their 1967 models. I hope you are having fun with your new instrument. sb
Statistics: Posted by VintAxe — Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:43 pm
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I'm posting a few pics from your auction so visitors can have a look at your purchase. It is certainly an interesting instrument. Whadaya think fellas, can you ID a manufacturer and a year of production? I've got some ideas but I'd like to hear other opinions first. sb
Statistics: Posted by VintAxe — Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:48 pm
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I just joined this forum, it looks like a great place to spend time to learn about vintage guitars. I guess I'm re-living my youth having recently gotting interested in these 1960's and 70's guittars...spent lots of time in the 70's with my friends high school band Pegasus. I am unable to play because of a spinal cord injury back in 1980 that effects my hands, but Think these instruments are pieces of art-
Drew
Statistics: Posted by Drew — Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:00 pm
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The bass won't have been made by Bruno - they were a US importer/distributor and Conqueror was one of their brands. It might be possible to have a guess at its factory of origin & age if you could post some pics.
The chances are it will be the same/similar to other brand Japanese guitars - in fact other Conquerors I've seen are similar to Aria brand instruments from the early 70s.
Jon.
Statistics: Posted by Bassassin — Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:04 pm
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C Bruno & Son were importers/distributors, they didn't make any guitars. Like most budget guitar distributors in the 1960's, they imported their guitars from Japan.
I've never seen a document that relates either patent numbers or serial numbers of these Japanese imports to a year of manufacture. So, I don't think the patent number does us much good.
I think your best bet for getting an ID on this guitar is to subscribe to the Catalogs and start looking for a match among the Japanese import guitars represented, or post a picture of your guitar on this forum and let some of our very knowledgeable members have a look at what you have. Instructions for posting pictures are at the top of the Forum under "Forum Help and Guidelines". A full view of the guitar along with a good look at the pickups and tuners will be most useful. I bet if you post a picture someone will be able to give you a pretty good idea concerning year of production. sb
Statistics: Posted by VintAxe — Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:52 am
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