mystery mij les paul id, please

[chunkstyle]

hi guys --

i'm a newbie here, and was wondering if anyone could please help me identify the manufacturer / model of this old japanese guitar. i recently got it thru ebay, but am unsure as to what exactly it is. some previous owner sanded the name off the headstock.

i'd be grateful for any help anyone could offer.










thank you!

drew joseph

[VintAxe]

Don't give up hope chunkstyle, someone is going to recognize the remains of that headstock logo and tell you the brand name that once appeared there.

Somebody had some serious guitar shame to do that to the headstock

[Bassassin]

Just from looking at the scratched-off area, I'm pretty sure it's read "Spitfire", in an italic script font, preceded by a logo or symbol to the left.

I had a quick Google & found a reference to a Spitfire-brand Strat copy, but no pics. Otherwise the word is quite common as a product name, but not a brand.

Anyone ever encountered "Spitfire" as a brand name?

I can't positively ID the guitar, either, although trussrod covers of that shape appear on later Cimar-branded guitars, as do neckplates with the MIJ stamp on the lower part. It's unclear who made these, and despite the brand's association with Hoshino Gakki & Ibanez, it's believed that copy-era Cimars did not come from Fujigen Gakki.

Apropos of nothing, the same style truss covers & plates also appear on later instruments bearing the UK Avon brand. Which is entirely unhelpful because as yet no-one knows who made them, either!

JapCrap: Great, but clear as mud.

Jon.

[chunkstyle]

thank you for the replies thus far.

here are a few more pics, for what they're worth. seems to be a solid body -- no ply. there's also a sticker in the pot cavity -- does that help at all?





and here's a pic of the tuners, if that helps.



thanks! i'll look into the 'starfire' possibility.