4pu Jazzmaster-like guitar

[Phoenix59]

When I was in high school, I found an interesting guitar in a pawn shop in Lawton, Oklahoma. A couple of years later I made friends with a guy who, as it happened, owned the identical guitar, except in a different color. Both of the guitars are long gone, but as I read these posts and look at pictures on this and other sites, I start to wonder about that guitar, because I have never seen another one in the 35 years since. I'll describe it to you all and see if anyone can ID it.

The body was shaped somewhat like a Fender Jazzmaster. It had a rosewood fingerboard and the headstock was six-on-one-side, but larger than a Fender.

If I recall correctly, it had a tortoiseshell pickguard. It had four silver pickups with covers that were perforated like the grill on an old fashioned microphone. There was a row of slider switches along the bass side of the pickguard; it seems like there were 6 of them, I'm not sure, but there were enough that they could select every possible pickup combination.

I'm assuming it was Japanese, but I could be wrong. Any ideas?

[offset59]

Did it have big metal guards? If so, it could be a Teisco SS-4L or a Kawai S-180. I'm a big Jazzmaster fan and I just picked up a St George (Kawai) S-160. It sorta looks like a Jazzmaster.

Your description of the pickups makes me think it was a Teisco SS-4L... (see my avatar) but then again, you mention tortoise shell. I'm not sure. Perhaps a Harmony Silhouette?

[Phoenix59]

I checked Google Images for both of those, but no, neither one is the one.

I almost wonder if it was Italian -- an Eko or similar.

[Spud1950]

Your description,except for the tortoise pickguard,also sounds very similar to the Japanese made Inter Mark Cipher. It came in 2,3 and 4 pickup models. I have seen the 4 pickup version in the past,but at the moment I can only find pictures of the 3 pickup version. 4 pickup version looks exactly the same except for the addtional pickup.

[Phoenix59]

[offset59]

[mike_C]

[Spud1950]

Interesting.Very similar.The Guyatone pickups appear to be longer and narrower. I found this full on picture of the Guyatone. The two guitars have a lot of similarties. I wonder if the Cipher was actually made by Guyatone? From what I've been able to find, Inter Mark was only an importer and distributor,not a manufacturer. This Guyatone is way cool!

[Professor Batty]

[mike_C]

[Professor Batty]

[Professor Batty]

Hey Mike- here are pics of Guyatone LG-200t pickups:

http://picasaweb.google.com/dktrfz/Guit ... Cdn9ru6wE#

Typical strat pole pieces are 5mm, spaced 10mm o.c., these are 6mm spaced 9mm o.c.

Bobbin was wrapped with waxy tape, fits snugly in cover. Foam pads on the bottom had crumbled, but probably damped pickups, to cut down on microphonics.

These pickups would probably be a pretty cool remake- although probably too microphonic for most players. The body cavities are completely shielded, the guitar is quiet.

Guitar should be re-assembled in a few weeks...

[mike_C]

thanks proff. batty!!

so all three working pups measure in 7.9k range?

please post some pics when you get guitar finished.

best,
m

[Professor Batty]

All pickups are 7.9kΩ + or - a few hundred ohms. Are you bidding on that Prestige Mosrite copy currently on eBay? I am, and
I am thinking those PUPS might be the same...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :MEBIDX:IT

[VintAxe]