Chimes?!

[cheepaxes]

Someone just emailed me a picture of an old girlfriend of mine. The pic was probably taken about 35 years ago. In the corner, behind a bed is a guitar that looks like some sort of Teisco or Kawaii. Zooming in on the headstock I see a label: "Chimes." Anyone ever heard of Chimes guitars? Did someone just stick a non-guitar label on there?

See:

www.scottmcknight.com/CHIMES.JPG

www.scottmcknight.com/CHIMESCU.JPG

-Scott

[VintAxe]

Hey Scott,

Those fret markers say mid 1960's Teisco. The only thing that throws me is that huge truss rod cover, looks like something Aria would use; very un-Teisco like.

I've never heard of Japanese imports badged Chimes. You may have documented another unknown importer badge.

I'll check into it and see if we can get an ID. I presume this is not your guitar in your girlfriends room. Is there more to this story that you want to share sb

[wietse]

that trusrod cover was used by sakai often, but the headstock and tubers are very kawai like, a picture o the whole guitar would help.

[cheepaxes]

Unfortunately that's all there is in terms of seeing the guitar. When I first saw the picture I thought maybe it was taken at a friend of mine's house. We all used to hang out together and he owned a Kingston. Now that I see the Chimes label I wonder. Think it's possible that's his Kingston with a random label pasted on?

If it's not my friend's room I don't know where the picture was taken. Or who's bed my my old girlfriend may have been sitting on. Hmmm.

-Scott

[grae]

I will try to add to this chimes delema (sp). As right at this time a "Chimes 335 copy is on Ebay with just <5 hours left to bid. Heres some pics.
Nevermind...i cant post pics...i don't know how.

[VintAxe]

Hi grae,

There are instruction for posting pictures under "Forum Help and Guildlines" at the top of the forum.

If you post the link to the ebay auction, I will post the pictures for you. sb

[cheepaxes]

I looked for completed eBay auctions with the word "Chimes" but couldn't find one.

This is an interesting bit of news though, as it suggests that there was a company selling guitars with that name.

[grae]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &rd=1&rd=1
Thats the ebay link for the next 40 minutes.

[grae]

No rush now...when it comes i'll just take pictures. By then maybe i will know how to post No problem...i'll just tell my wife, when ups delivers "another guitar", its the forums fault...they couldn't find the link in time so i had to buy it, since it's so rare so i can send them pictures. Especially since it was so cheap.
By the way, i'm a newby at this vintage guitar thing. I bought a Seiwa Strat awhile back and it hasn't got here yet and now this Chimes 335. I better delete the link to ebay
Try again...heres the headstock and body:

[cheepaxes]

Very interesting. Thanks. :)

I found a Vintage Guitar Magazine online article about resonator guitars which contains the following paragraph:

"After ’37 Regal used the f-hole and crossed-window dies on metal guitars and sold them with or without pickguards. Distributors, studios, and mail-order houses sold Regal-built resonator instruments under brand names that included Alhambra, Broman, Bruno, Gretsch, Magno-tone, More Harmony, NIOMA, ***Norwood Chimes,*** Old Kraftsman, and Orpheum."

I can't find anything that would link this "Chime" brand to anything Japanese in the '60s or '70s.

-Scott

[grae]

[grae]

I'm still trying to get some clues as to where this guitar originates. I have seen Silvertones/Kays with the same general headstock and same overall layout. The on/off switchs puzzle me. I've only seen one guitar yet with this particular type of switchs. It was a Sekova. It of course had a different headstock.
Heres a picture of the switchs:

OK pic didn't work heres a link:

[grae]

Another piece to the puzzle is the tailpiece. Is this a common tailpiece of 60's guitars. I found at least one in this sites gallery. I guess it's called a trapeze tailpiece with a bigsby tremolo. Here's the guitar on this site: It's and i quote: conrad/aria diamond 1202t hollowbody guitar ca.1967 (paul's) Of course the headstock is not the same and my 2 little white on/off switches are missing but it's a start

[VintAxe]

Hi grae,

That tailpiece is common on Aria hollowbodies from 1967-69. I've also seen that tailpiece on a Guyatone violin shaped hollowbody from 1969.

Did you see the Greco picture I posted under the stereo 335 thread? It also has some characteristics shared by your Chimes.

I'm not sure why the image tags are not working for you, I'll have Don take a look and see if he can figure it out. sb

[grae]

sb
That Greco is quite similar but take those switches off that Sekova and put them on that Greco and that will look more like my Chimes. Those are the switches i've been looking for and i couldn't remember where i saw them. And thats the only place i've seen them too except on my Chimes. I don't know why image tag isn't working either but i suspect it's me... . Coincidentally, it happens on 3 other sites as well.