Unknown Japanese Guitar

[yorelrecords]

Hello,
i am new to this forum. I have been looking around for a few days and decided to join. I want to know what guitar is this? I bought it a few years ago from a flea market and the guy did not know the brand name. I have been playing on it off and on. It says made in Japan on the back.







Any help is greatly appreciated.

Leroy

[bob2]

Sorry, but I have no idea. But it just dawned on me that the old Asian guitars look a lot like old European guitars. I wonder why that is, why didn't either one copy American guitars from the start? I have no clue, I hope someone can help you with the answer.

[yorelrecords]

It says on the back Made In Japan. I dont know if it had a name on the headstock or if it came off at some point.

[VintAxe]

Hi yorelrecords.

The sidebar fret markers are the give away on this guitar. They are exclusive to Teisco during the period around 1964-65.

[yorelrecords]

Hey Thanks! I was thinking along the lines of a Teisco. Thats earlier than my dads's Teisco Del Ray ET-200.

[DeMontGuitars.com]

[wietse]

[DeMontGuitars.com]

[VintAxe]

Sorry, I mis-spoke. I just mean to say the side bar markers were commonly used by Teisco in 1964-65.

The book Bizarre Guitars of the 60's pictures Teisco guitars with side bar markers from 1963-66. Spud has found evidence that Teisco used side bar markers even in the late 1950's.



I wasn't trying to date the guitar in this thread, just indicate it was likely a Teisco product. I agree that the guitar looks post merger since it has several Kawai characteristics. So, we may need to push the range of dates for Teisco side bar markers from the late 1950's to 1967 or 68.

My basic point was that Teisco was the only Japanese Company to use this style of fret marker. Does anyone know different?

[DeMontGuitars.com]

[DeMontGuitars.com]

i've been looking into this more, and actually, in "Bizarre Guitars" there is a Zen-On / Morales made Victoria bass that uses the same neck and headstock, though without the truss rod cover.

I also have a fuji-gen gakki made guitar with the same inlays on the neck, but a different headstock.

I still believe this one is teisco/kawai though