Stafford Electric Solid Body

[too2tall]

I am a Texan living in Japan. Always looking for a rare gem in little second hand stores around Japan. Can't really get a great deal at the big stores in Ochonomizu and other Tokyo areas anymore. Anyway I ran across an electric that is probably about 20 to 30 years old judging by the chrome hardware but could be off a little either way. It is much like a Les Paul but with a altered cutaway on the bottom side. I am pretty sure it is a T. Kurosawa & Co. made guitar but I thought they only made acoustic and hollow body electrics. The Logo is the same on the headstock as their acoustic guitars. Wanted to know if anybody has ever seen or heard of anything like this?

[Spud1950]

There is a 1999 Stafford catalog in the VintAxe collection and there are indeed some modified Les Paul designs just as you describe.

Edit- Here's one just like in the catalog, a Stafford Rare Bird model. The catalog also shows how this model is constructed.Looks solid,but it's actually a semi hollowbody.

[too2tall]

Thats it. Exactly the guitar I saw. Do you have any idea of its value?

[Spud1950]

I really have no idea about value.The price in the 1999 catalog is listed at 250,000 Yen with the case. I just stumbled upon this one for sale on the Tokyo Craigslist for 60,000 Yen($698.85 US). There's really no info about these guitars that I can find. It may very well be that they were only sold on the Japanese domestic market and not exported,at least not to the USA. Being in Japan,you'll probably have an easier time finding info then us here in the States.

[too2tall]

Much appreciation Spud. That really helps me decide what to do. The problem with info here is its all in konji or kata kana and I can read neither.
I am going to buy the guitar because the price I have found it for is 59,000 y¥ and it is in superb condition. Most Japanese are extremely careful with their instruments and keep them in wonderful shape. I purchased a 1978 Ibanez MC200 musician that was almost mint with incredible wood grain last year.