Conqueror Bass Patent number

[Drew]

My Conqueror bass, Jaguar style, circa 1960's has on it's plastic truss rod cover - "Patent 34-4127". Is this bass made by Bruno & is there a way to date it?

[VintAxe]

Hi Drew,

C Bruno & Son were importers/distributors, they didn't make any guitars. Like most budget guitar distributors in the 1960's, they imported their guitars from Japan.

I've never seen a document that relates either patent numbers or serial numbers of these Japanese imports to a year of manufacture. So, I don't think the patent number does us much good.

I think your best bet for getting an ID on this guitar is to subscribe to the Catalogs and start looking for a match among the Japanese import guitars represented, or post a picture of your guitar on this forum and let some of our very knowledgeable members have a look at what you have. Instructions for posting pictures are at the top of the Forum under "Forum Help and Guidelines". A full view of the guitar along with a good look at the pickups and tuners will be most useful. I bet if you post a picture someone will be able to give you a pretty good idea concerning year of production. sb

[Bassassin]

Dating 60s Japanese guitars is very tricky - there's really no existing record of their guitar making industry back then, so your best bet is to find it in a catalogue - and fortunately you're in the right place.

The bass won't have been made by Bruno - they were a US importer/distributor and Conqueror was one of their brands. It might be possible to have a guess at its factory of origin & age if you could post some pics.

The chances are it will be the same/similar to other brand Japanese guitars - in fact other Conquerors I've seen are similar to Aria brand instruments from the early 70s.


Jon.

[Drew]

Thanks for the info. I do not yet have the bass, just bought it on ebay - number 260077762569.

I just joined this forum, it looks like a great place to spend time to learn about vintage guitars. I guess I'm re-living my youth having recently gotting interested in these 1960's and 70's guittars...spent lots of time in the 70's with my friends high school band Pegasus. I am unable to play because of a spinal cord injury back in 1980 that effects my hands, but Think these instruments are pieces of art-

Drew

[VintAxe]

Hey Drew,

I'm posting a few pics from your auction so visitors can have a look at your purchase. It is certainly an interesting instrument. Whadaya think fellas, can you ID a manufacturer and a year of production? I've got some ideas but I'd like to hear other opinions first. sb

[VintAxe]

Hi Drew,

Here is a picture of your bass guitar's cousin. Note the deep beveling, the chrome control panel, similar pickups, etc. This guitar is a Kingston built by Kawai around 1967. I think your bass was also built by Kawai around this time. Additional evidence for my attribution are the tuners on your bass; they match the tuners Kawai was using on their 1967 models. I hope you are having fun with your new instrument. sb

[Drew]

Thanks for the information sb, this makes sense, I found a photo of another Kawai bass...same tuners and various other matching details. Some further research indicates they are a very large important company, second only to Yamaha making intruments up to and including grand pianos which sell for $65,0000! Kawai America corp. was launched in may 1963. Check out www.answers.com/topic/Kawai-musical-ins ... ing-co-ltd
I guess finding out the history of Japanese guitars takes a bit more time then on an American one, butit can be done.

[jtucci1991]

Hi, I recently bought the exact same bass, I was wondering if it would be any trouble if you could sketch a picture of your pickguard as mine came with one handmade from some kind of thick industrial plastic like that used on truck bed liners and I like to reconstruct one that fits with real pickguard plastic. I would be very thankful if you could. Thanks.

[spencersolo]

That is one bad bass. I would love to find one of my own. If you ever get sick of it let me know.

I have an old Kawai too that I can't identify. It has one of those cool pickguards that kinda look tiger striped but it also has a full scale neck. Not sure if someone just replaced the neck but the neck is also a Kawai and is really nice Brazillion rosewood.

The one on the left is like mine.