I have seen a number of similar looking instruments under the badges of teisco (ep-8T) being the most popular, as well as jedson (along with other, more niche 70s japanese guitar names), due to the fact that these guitars got a different badge depending on the importing company, country of shipping, etc. These tended to have a more gibson-style headstock. However, I have only seen the columbus brand having such an intense, candy-red colour, the more popular colour seemed to be deep, dark 'redburst', or a kinda tobacco-burst. As to the date, I would personally estimate late 60's to early 70's, but as none of the 70's columbus brochures I've seen have this model, I would be leaning towards the late 60's.
The copy I have had acoustic strings on when I bought it, with a pretty high action, and haven't yet bothered to change them due to the fact it plays slide pretty well. The bridge pickup seems slightly misaligned with the strings, that is, the poles aren't directly under them, which perhaps suggests that this was more of an entry-level instrument, although it could of course just be the case with my copy. The pickups give rather good, clean tones, pretty jazzy really, but of course they'll do your country, blues, and garage rock fairly well also. Lastly, the neck is pretty thick and narrow, the trem arm works really well, and everything stays in tune!
Hope that helps anyone out there
Statistics: Posted by Maixn — Fri Apr 11, 2014 8:15 pm
]]>
]]>
Thank you very much for your help!!
I think the guitar I'm looking for is NEARLY like the one whose link you have uploaded in second place, i.e.:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Semi-Acou ... 0282453515
BUT... I think neck & head was also red. I don't know why but I think it was smaller...
I will show those photos to several colleagues from those old times. Maybe they can remember the instrument better than me...
Anyway we are in the right way... Thank you very much!!
Crisanto
Statistics: Posted by Crisanto — Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:02 pm
]]>
Crisanto - I have a mental picture of the guitar you're describing - did it have a metal headstock logo badge, and chrome, probably single-coil pickups? Ones like that come up on Ebay from time to time, I think they're quite early, possibly late 60s or early 70s - sometimes the name's spelled "Colombus".
There's this one on at the moment, but I don't think it's exactly what you're describing:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Columbus-Guitar-s ... 0255202880
This is a no-brander - was it anything like this?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Semi-Acou ... 0282453515
I'm familiar with seeing the Columbus range in Bells catalogues - although I don't know if they were the brand owner/distributor. Columbus was one of the most common brands of "budget" guitar in the UK in the 70s - most music shops seemed to sell them! VA - I take it you don't have any specific Columbus catalogues?
Jon.
Statistics: Posted by Bassassin — Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:52 am
]]>
1st of all..., thanx A LOT for your help!!
And unfortunately no: that is not 'my' guitar...
The model I'm looking for was SMALLER than the "335" models. Body was smaller (=I think it was more similar to the Fender Coronado body), red cherry coloured, or 'very' red indeed, and probably 'fatter' than the "335" (=I mean with 'higher' body sides...) I remember that some mates usually laughed as the guitar resembled for them a 'toy' guitar...
I think (=although I'm not sure) that head was with the...'all_in_a_line' tuners...
I know it's not a very good description (=and my English is not good enough to do it better) but is all I can remember...
Regarding year, I'm talking about an instrument in N.W. Spain in 1979, something which could point to a 1976-78 instrument...
Anyway... thanx a lot for your help!!
Best,
Crisanto
Statistics: Posted by Crisanto — Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:20 am
]]>
I don't have a complete collection of 70's Bell literature but I do have 1970, 73-74, 74-75, 76, 77-78, 80-81.
Were there other UK distributors that sold Columbus? I associate the Columbus brand with Bell but that is probably just my ignorance.
Statistics: Posted by VintAxe — Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:03 pm
]]>
I've seen a few like the one you've pictured from that catalogue, on ebay recently. they seem to be more of a red and black sunburst
i seem to have a knack of getting guitars that are different to the catalogue version...my Ibanez Ric 480 copy has a different tailpiece to the published versions(and a set neck)..but is most definitely original..and the Ibanez forum guys are pretty convinced it's an Ibanez oddity..and there's no sign that my Columbus tailpiece isn't original
Statistics: Posted by Say No To Vorderman — Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:14 pm
]]>
I have looked in some of my Columbus literature and all the "335" models I have seen are similar to the pictures posted by SNTV. However, all the published pictures I have seen have a trapeze tailpiece rather than the stop tailpiece on SNTV's guitar.
Here is a typical example of what I see. This picture is from a 1980-81 Bell Musical Instruments catalog. They are a London distributor.
Is this your guitar?
Statistics: Posted by VintAxe — Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:11 pm
]]>
]]>
having said that..as I look at the collection with a view to trimming it down I'll probably let it go soon..I never even get it out of the case these days
must take some better photos but here it is...
Statistics: Posted by Say No To Vorderman — Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:00 am
]]>
]]>
Best if you can post a few detailed photos - then I am sure the folks here will be able to help. Instructions are here:
http://www.vintaxe.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=592
Statistics: Posted by jedistar — Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:22 pm
]]>
This is my 1st post here and I should beg your pardon as English is not my native language...
I'm looking for information about a Columbus guitar model a friend of mine had in Spain in 1978. It was red coloured, hollow body and this one similar to the type of the Fender Coronado although smaller.
With these facts..., could you help me to find the model of that guitar?? And photos??
Thank you in advance!!
I will wait for your answer.
Best!!
Crisanto
Statistics: Posted by Crisanto — Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:41 pm
]]>
This one sold for 28UKP with an amp in January:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Columbus-Series-1 ... dZViewItem
One currently for sale in UK 150 UKP
http://av.uk.freeads.net/Columbus_serie ... 143467.htm
and this guy want 129UKP
http://www.cibola.co.uk/planetguitars/d ... ¶m=g13
no reviews on harmony central
best I could do...
www.jedistar.com
Statistics: Posted by jedistar — Sat Mar 24, 2007 4:16 am
]]>
I don't have any information on the Columbus Series I guitars in particular, but this is what Blue Book Publications has to say about the Columbus brand name. sb
Instruments previously built in Japan, then manufacturing switched to Korea during the late 1960s.
The Columbus trademark was the brand name of a UK importer. Although the first models were cheap entry level guitars, subsequent Japanese-built guitars raised up to medium quality copies of American designs. The manufacturer then switched to Korean production (source: Tony Bacon and Paul Day, The Guru´s Guitar Guide).
Statistics: Posted by VintAxe — Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:37 pm
]]>