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Help id this guitar.
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I recently bought this guitar from a post on craig's list and I am having a heck of time trying to find out what brand/model it is. I have not seen similar pickups and bridge on any other guitar. The bottom of the bridge has a decal that says "made in Japan" but other than that there are no other markings, except for a serial number on the back of the headstock. The tuners are kluson deluxe. Something else that's strange is that the neck has no truss rod adjustment. I'd appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.
- davech
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:46 pm
Hey davech.
I agree with everything Hans had to say about your guitar and I may be able to add just a bit more information you might find interesting.
First, your guitar was part of the Lexington Series introduced in 1965. If you go here you'll see an early version of your instrument featured on the cover of the 65 Supro catalog.
The 2 prefix on your serial number label indicates the guitar was built in early to mid 1968.
The feature I find most interesting about your instrument is the toggle pick up switches. According to the guitars pictured in Supro catalogs, the Lexington always had push button switches like these:
This difference suggests to me that your guitar was made at the very end of the production run in 1968 when Valco was about to go out of business and they didn't bother to restock the push button switch units to install in the guitars. I guess it is also possible that using the toggle switches was a cost cutting measure as the company attempted to survive.
It has been reported that some Supros were made from parts aqcuired from Valco when the company assets were auctioned. It is possible your guitar is one of these. The fact that it has a serial number sticker suggests to me it was made at the Valco factory. However, the lack of a headstock label could be interpreted as the guitar being made after Supro went bankrupt.
Is there any evidence that the guitar had a headstock label in the past?
I agree with everything Hans had to say about your guitar and I may be able to add just a bit more information you might find interesting.
First, your guitar was part of the Lexington Series introduced in 1965. If you go here you'll see an early version of your instrument featured on the cover of the 65 Supro catalog.
The 2 prefix on your serial number label indicates the guitar was built in early to mid 1968.
The feature I find most interesting about your instrument is the toggle pick up switches. According to the guitars pictured in Supro catalogs, the Lexington always had push button switches like these:
This difference suggests to me that your guitar was made at the very end of the production run in 1968 when Valco was about to go out of business and they didn't bother to restock the push button switch units to install in the guitars. I guess it is also possible that using the toggle switches was a cost cutting measure as the company attempted to survive.
It has been reported that some Supros were made from parts aqcuired from Valco when the company assets were auctioned. It is possible your guitar is one of these. The fact that it has a serial number sticker suggests to me it was made at the Valco factory. However, the lack of a headstock label could be interpreted as the guitar being made after Supro went bankrupt.
Is there any evidence that the guitar had a headstock label in the past?
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VintAxe - Site Admin
- Posts: 2196
- Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2006 10:52 am
- Location: USA
Residue could have easily flaked off by now.
Any small pinholes? Often the headstock emblems on this era of Valco-made instruments were "tacked" on.
Any small pinholes? Often the headstock emblems on this era of Valco-made instruments were "tacked" on.
- Michael Ambrose
- Posts: 453
- Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:52 am
- Location: South Bound Brook, NJ
- davech
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:46 pm
- sneakypete
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 6:13 am
I'm positive this once had a decal logo.
I don't want to give out too many trade secrets, but try hitting the headstock with a high-intensity black light (if you have access to one). A regular one might do the trick, too. You should see a discoloration where the logo used to be.
I don't want to give out too many trade secrets, but try hitting the headstock with a high-intensity black light (if you have access to one). A regular one might do the trick, too. You should see a discoloration where the logo used to be.
- Michael Ambrose
- Posts: 453
- Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:52 am
- Location: South Bound Brook, NJ
Excellent detective work Hans 
I didn't think to take a look at the National literature. I guess that solves the mystery of the toggle switches/pups. I wonder why it appears to have never had a Supro logo.
Break out that black light davech
I didn't think to take a look at the National literature. I guess that solves the mystery of the toggle switches/pups. I wonder why it appears to have never had a Supro logo.
Break out that black light davech
-
VintAxe - Site Admin
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- Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2006 10:52 am
- Location: USA
11 posts
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