Anyone got an Azumi?

[Adey]

Anyone got an Azumi? I think that they were mainly sold in Australia from what I can gather. I have seen the odd picture of a Nanyo and one of a Victory Guitar, although there seem to be a few Victory Basses about

I've just picked up this Azumi Victory...








It plays really nicely, with a lovely low action (after a bit of adjustment)

I think it is probably late 70's or early 80.

I can't find any serial number on it, so I took out the pick-ups to see if there were any marks under there, but there weren't. The pick-ups were stamped up GOTOH on the back though and give a good solid sound. They seem to have been a good choice at the time from what I have seen posted elsewhere.

It's difficult to see on the photos, but it is a brown burst effect on an ash (?) body with a clear brown lacquer over it. The lacquer on the headstock is peeling a bit unfortunately, but everywhere else is good, other than a bit of age related wear, by way of the odd scratch and ding.

I'm not sure where they were made, but the shape, with the slightly sharp pointed horns, is very similar to a Cimar Strat copy I have seen on Ebay. So maybe Ibanez had something to do with it.

Anyone else have any info?

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://www.altusflutes.eu/en/produkte/altus-azumi.html

AZUMI is probably a child brand of ALTUS, who makes
the flutes today in japan. ALTUS probably made some
electric guitars and exported to the world before.
AZUMI is the name of the valley in nagano, japan.
where many stringed instruments makers are located
now and then. FUJIGEN and many others are from
nagano.

joe japan

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://www.altusflutes.eu/en/menue-oben ... torie.html

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azumi_Basin

[VINTAGE JOE]

hope ALTUS made AZUMI guitars!

joe

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://www.azumiflutes.com/

[VINTAGE JOE]

its difficult to know who made your AZUMI guitar exactly
since there are many guitar factories in the AZUMI valley
now and then. its probably just an export guitar from there
with the name of there simply. or possibly some quality
brand of the past that existed in there and no longer today.
but ALTUS/AZUMI connection seems possible so you maybe
email them for the answer. there is a man who is responsible
for all their/his products at ALTUS/AZUMI today.
japan really exported many guitars back then and its now a
good memory in the history. they never survived much unless
the major japanese brands but still lovely and useful in the world
today. the guitars you guys had grown up with and forgotton
with your past as you became older with the real guitars.
still alive and ok sometimes somewhere, the pawn shop babies!

g'day!

joe

[VINTAGE JOE]

FROM THE NET INFO.

Nanyo is a musical instrument brand owned by Louis Musical [Source: Trademark]

Nanyo is a mysterious brand with some relationship to Azumi. One of the pictures of an Azumi guitar on this site has Nanyo inscribed on the truss rod cover.

There have been Nanyo acoustic guitars reported at Gutiarsite where a person who bought one in 1985 was told they did a one off line of acoustics.

There is a Bass Collection brand by SGC Nanyo range of bass guitars

The following info is from an archived post on Facebook by Troy Miller.

"SGC Nanyos were originally made in Japan. It shut its doors in or around '93.
After that, ...the company SEXTON began making copies. There were 3 different series of SGC Nanyo Bass Collection series basses. SB 300, SB 320 & the SB 400 series."

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://www.nbk.co.jp/english/index.htm

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/r2y0s1t0h/GALL ... 66348&no=0

[VINTAGE JOE]

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/r2y0s1t0h/GALL ... 66348&no=1

[VINTAGE JOE]

many AZUMI guitars has a trussrod cover which says NANYO on it.
NANYO is an export/import trading company in japan.
which products are from the foods to the japanese electric products to many.
NANYO seems to have the musical instruments brand names like
AZUMI, BASS COLLECTION, MAXTONE, more in the past.
NANYO does not make the instruments by themselves but order from
the quality guitar factories in japan, korea, china, ?.
BASS COLLECTION was so highly wanted in the world and some quality
japanese guitar factory in nagano made them. ( in AZUMI valley )
this story above seems true and accurate mostly. yet the real truth remains
mysterious somehow. suprised that BASS COLLECTION was loved so much
by many bass players around the world now and then.

joe

[VINTAGE JOE]

エレキギターOEMの中信楽器製造（株）（長野県安曇野市三郷明盛３２２８、代表：宮澤裕司）は１２月５日事業停止、事後処理を三浦守孝弁護士（電話０２６３－３９－２０３０）に一任して、自己破産申請の準備に入った。同社は昭和２３年５月創業の楽器製造業者。エレキギターの製造を手がけ、米国の有名ブランドへのOEM供給に主業としており、以前は９億円以上の売上高を計上していた。しかし、リーマン・ショック等から平成２２年７月期には４億円台まで売上高が減少、その後売上高は幾分回復したが、平成２３年期は円高で大幅赤字となり、今期に入っても円高はますます厳しく、赤字が続き今回の事態に至った。優秀な技術を持つ会社だけに残念である。技術だけでも引き継ぐ会社があることを望む。

CYUSIN GAKKI quit their guitar manifacturing on 5 Dec, 2011 and was ready for the bankrupt. the company was established in may,1948 for manifacturing the electric guitars, mainly for the OEM for the major USA brands. the company business & economy were very good until the leaman-shock but had gone bad after that. it was a company with the excellent skills so its very dissapointing to know their end. we hope there would be some company who takes over their heritage to continue.

CYUSIN GAKKI probably made all those guitars like BASS COLLECTION & AZUMI & more.

[BluesHawk]

Thanks, Joe, for so much research and helpful information.

[Adey]

Looks like I have a load of research to do....

Thanks for all the links and other info

But....

... my question still remains...

Has anyone else got an Azumi?