(All but) no-brand Japan ES-335 copy

[heks]

Hello

First time here - really enjoyed browsing this forum!

Not really a question, this, more of an addition to the list of known Japanese 335 copies. This fair approximation of a cherry finish 335 just says "ES-S" (or ES-5?) on the headstock in lieu of a brand name. Underneath the trapeze-style bridge assembly there's "Made in Japan". No serial anywhere apart from the ones behind the covered humbucker style PU's.

I got the guitar from a friend for free (broken headstock, see). He'd got it from his cousin in the late 70's (broken fingers, see). After a quick-and-dirty repair job the guitar plays very well. Needless to say, I have no idea about the make or how it ended in music store in Finland.

Cheers
heks

[VintAxe]

Hi heks and welcome to the Forum. A few pictures of the body, headstock, etc. of this instrument would be greatly appreciated.

[heks]

Here's some pics of mylabel-less 335ish. The vibrato device is a later addition (I had a spare one & couldn't resist though the color is wrong). The crack in the headstock is very conspicuous as you can see but, well, one learns to accept imperfections.

There's also a picture of a symbol behind the not quite period style tuners. Perhaps that should be my clue as to who made this. By all means let me know if you have seen the kind before!





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[Bassassin]

Hi Heks - very easy ID for this one - it's made by Kasuga - the symbol on the backs of the tuners is a stylised K, which is the logo the Kasuga Gakki factory used from around 1975.

Very nice guitar, Kasuga are becoming increasingly respected for the quality of instruments thy manufactured.

The "ES-S" logo isn't a Kasuga factory brand as far as I know, so it's almost certainly a brand used by the importer or retailer who originally marketed the guitar.

Jon.

[heks]

Hello

Well, this is just wonderful, thank you very much for the information. What fun, these guitars!

heks

[DeMontGuitars.com]