MIJ “Made In Japan” Vintage Guitar Collection Seven guitars sold as a collection

MIJ “Made In Japan” Vintage Guitar Collection Seven guitars sold as a collection

 

Description

MIJ
“Made In Japan”
Vintage
Guitar
Collection
Seven guitars sold as a collection (single lot sale) including brands:
Conrad
Merlin
Greco
Lyle
Crown
National
Silvertone


Another “LITE Collection To Go” (“lite” is Norwegian for small) from my large collection of vintage guitars. I am labelled this collection as: MADE IN JAPAN-early vintage acoustic electric guitars.
 
COLLECTIONS TO GO. FROM MINE TO YOURS.
 
In 1999 I began collecting guitars. I focused on buying guitars that I liked but also on those brands that were no longer around, especially those that were Made In The USA. I have named them “Americana” brands.
 
At the same time, I believe that vintage, and some custom handmade, guitars are still among the best investments anyone can make. Especially “niche” guitars like many of mine. I cannot give investment advice, nor am I attempting to persuade anyone to buy guitars as investments, but can tell you that my guitar collection has increased in value many times over my real estate, stock, and other investments.
But more than that, I think for those of us who love guitars and like to have our own little “stash”, yet do not want to blow the grocery and rent budgets, it makes sense to look at these former Made In The USA brands as well as some high quality Made In Japan brands.
 
To make that easier for beginning, and seasoned, collectors I have decided to begin offering small packages of my guitars for sale as a group that represents the variety of products offered by a manufacturer.
 
“Guitar Collections To Go”
I have done the work for you:
 
1. I have done the collecting for you.
2. I have checked all of them and cleaned them up.
3. I have combined a group of complimentary guitars into a personal collection for you.
 
Why a “MIJ” collection?
Once guitars began to become popular in the consumer market in the USA in the late 1950’s, thanks to Elvis, Buddy Holly, and many others, the always enterprising Japanese builders began to offer their own “renditions” of American products, which for the most part in the 1960’s were copies of American made guitars. And as very common during this time period, the Japanese pieces were many times better built and of higher quality than the original American made pieces. This carried through into the 1970’s but with a bit of a twist, the Japanese became more creative than their American counterparts and produced some of the most stylish guitars that consumers had ever seen. More about those later. Notice in this group that six are Cibson “inspired”. Four are “Barney Kessel” style with the double-cutaway “horns” and two are “ES-335” style. And of course, that is the iconic “Beatle bass” violin style bass.
Unlike most American brands, MIJ guitars are better known by their builder (factory) than by their branded names simply because these factories were selling guitars to US companies, especially catalog companies, who “branded” them with their own label. I am including information on the actual builders of these guitars at the end of this ad.
This offering includes seven high quality instruments that were “Made In Japan” during this time period. Each instrument alone can be considered a “collectible” and “playable” instrument but together they are an excellent collection for anyone who currently collects guitars or for anyone who wants to begin a collection.
 
THE GUITARS OFFERED IN THIS COLLECTION TO GO.
 
A. CONRAD “Electric Bison” guitar. Model 40080. Another “Barney Kessel” copy guitar. Manufacture of this guitar is ascribed to “Tokai” but most likely was actually built by the “Kasuga Guitar Co.” who Tokai turned to for help when its demand exceeded its production capability. Most MIJ collectors consider these “Kasuga” built guitars as the best built Japanese guitars of this time period (early to mid-1970’s). Conrad was a chain of hardware stores in Chicago. A brand of David Wexlar Co of Chicago.
B. MERLIN “Arthur Smith Country Squire” by GRECO (Kanda Shokai) which was most likely manufactured by MATSUMOKU for GRECO (another Barney Kessel style). Model# for this guitar sold as GRECO is #921 (3 pups). These were manufactured in 1967 for Arthur “Boogie Woogie” Smith, the well-known guitarist from N. C. who had a long running radio/tv show in Charlotte, NC and were branded “MERLIN”, Model “Country Squire”. Incredibly beautiful guitars with Florentine cutaways and “Rosewood” tops and backs. Necks are laminated. Weight is: 7.3 lbs. Condition is: VERY GOOD. Case is non-original.
C. GRECO. Model 980. 1969. Manufactured by MATSUMOKU. This is another high quality ES-335 type guitar branded “GRECO”. It appears to be from 1969. Earlier versions in catalogs from that time period show this guitar having a different headstock but all else is the same. Stunning Greenburst. Double cutaway ES335 style. Two pickups with tremolo. Weight is: 7 lbs. Condition is: GOOD. No case.
D. LYLE Model A740. Lyle guitars were made in Japan sometime between 1960 to the late 1970s out of the Matsumoku guitar factory that produced Univox, Arai, Aria and other guitars. Lyle guitars were distributed in the US solely by the L. D. Heater Music Company of Beaverton, Oregon, USA. Still another Barney Kessel style double cutaway guitar with two pickups and tremolo system. Beautiful sunburst finish. Weight is 6.3 lbs. Condition is: VERY GOOD. No case.
E. CROWN. Crown and Crown Professional guitars were imported to the US by Crown City Imports in Pasadena California. The company was owned by Jules Steinman and his brother. They originally owned a pawn broker shop called Crown City Loan & Jewelry. One of the items they sold in the shop was guitars. It’s not known if they were selling used guitars or new ones from a distributor in the US. They were in a position to observe that there was a huge market for guitars and this was a growing market. At some point they decided that would source their own guitars from Japan and import them. This was the beginning of a new company called Crown City Imports, based on the shop name. The Crown name came from the nickname for the City of Pasadena, which is the "Crown City". The two brothers would fly to Japan, were they would go and visit various musical instruments suppliers and order shipments to be sent back to the US. Crown City imports, imported acoustic and electric guitars, amplifiers and drums from 1966 to 1973. The guitars were supplied from a number of different manufacturers in Japan. The guitar offered here was made by KAWAI/Teisco. It’s not known if they only sold the guitars in their shop, but given the catalogue below, it is probable that they would sell their guitars wholesale to other retail outlets. Still another ES-335 style guitar. Beautiful sunburst finish. Very high quality with two pups and tremolo system. Condition is good. Weight is: 6.6 lbs.
F. NATIONAL “German Style Bass” Model EG 700V-2HB. YOM: 1972. Details about this guitar: a. Size: 43 ½” x 10 ½” x 2”, b. Body Length: 18”, c. Scale: 30”, d. Frets: 21, e. Adj. Pickups: 2, f. Adj. Bridge: Chrome with Rollers., g. Machine Heads: Chrome with Cover, h. Body wood: Birch., i. Neck wood: Laminated Maple. j. Fingerboard: Rosewood. k. Binding: Celluloid. White. Black and white lines around body and fingerboard. l. Color: Acorn Sunburst. Comes with Original Case (shows some wear) and Instructions. Appears to have been built by “Kasuga Guitar Co.”. Condition is: Very Good.
G. SEARS “Silvertone”, Model 1460? This guitar is labelled Silvertone. I do not believe this is correct. Although it is the same guitar in all aspects it is missing one detail. It is sunburst and all Silvertone Model 1460 guitars were finished in red. Regardless of its label it remains as an original “Barney Kessel” copy by GRECO (Kanda Shokai) which was most likely manufactured by MATSUMOKU for GRECO. This one was manufactured in 1969 or the early 1970’s. This model shows up in the 1969 Sears Roebuck catalog. Weight is 6.5 lbs. Beautiful sunburst finish. 2 pups and tremolo system.
 
WHO BUILT THEM?
As noted in the opening of this ad, MIJ guitars are less “Brand” name guitars than they are “Manufacturer/Builder” guitars. That is why it is always important when discussing MIJ pieces to ask: “Who Made it?)
 
1. MATSUMOKU (Merlin, Silvertone, and Lyle)
In 1951, Matsumoku was founded as "Matsumoto Mokko" (In English: Matsumoto Woodworking Company) by Mr. Tsukada in Matsumoto, Japan. It was a family owned woodworking business that finally ventured into guitar and violin production in 1963. Matsumoku set out to distinguish itself by producing high quality acoustic and electric archtop guitars. Matsumoku had acquired new mills, lathes and specialized presses and began to increase musical instrument production. Combined with its staff of skilled craftsmen, Matsumoku was able to realize the mass production of high quality guitars. However, because it mainly manufactured guitars under contract, the role of Matsumoku was largely unknown outside of Japan's guitar making circles. By the early 1970s, Matsumoku had begun using computer numerical hand worked process yielded high quality instruments with unique character. Matsumoku produced guitars, or parts of guitars, for Vox, Guyatone, FujiGen Gakki, Kanda Shokai (Greco), Hoshino Gakki (Ibanez), Nippon Gakki (Yamaha), Aria and Norlin (parent company of Cibson). American owned Unicord contracted Matsumoku to build most of its Univox and Westbury guitars. St. Louis Music Company imported Matsumoku built Electra Guitars. J. C. Penney sold Matsumoku built Skylark guitars through its catalog division. Matsumoku built many early Greco guitars as well as Memphis, Vantage, Westbury, Westminster, Cutler, Lyle and Fell. Washburn Guitars contracted Matsumoku to build most of its electric guitars from 1979 through 1987.
2. Kasuga Music Instruments Manufacturing Co. Ltd (builder of “CONRAD” and “NATIONAL” branded guitars above) of Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1935 by Miki Bukichi (who went on to become chairman of the Japanese Democratic Socialist Party in the 1950s). Before going bust, the company was mainly an acoustic guitar brand, although it made a small range of electric guitars too. Kasuga also made lots of bluegrass instruments (banjos, mandolins, etc). In fact, Kasuga was more known for being an OEM manufacturer, usually for Tokai, C.F. Martin and B.C. Rich, among others. Like most other Japanese manufacturers, Kasuga sold importers’ own brands around the world. Also during the ’60s and ’70s, Kasuga partnered with Tokai to make the Conrad guitars for export to the USA. In the 1970s, it was in partnership for a while with Roland for a guitar synth. By the 1980s and ’90s, Kasuga was OEM-ing a lot of guitars for well-known brands like Yamaha,Burny/Fernandes and the early Navigators. Guitars built by Kasuga are considered to be the best Made In Japan guitars available.
3. Kawai (who built the branded “Crown” guitar above) was founded in 1927 in the town of Hamamatsu Japan with the goal of building quality pianos. The founder was Koichi Kawai. Mr. Kawai made a decision in 1954 that his company would enter the guitar market. At first, Kawai turned out mostly inexpensive acoustic guitars at first and then branched into electric models. Around 1964, the British Invasion hit and subsequently flooded the market with inexpensive Asian made instruments, most of which were wild designs based on some American models. By 1967, Kawai purchased the Teisco company and began exporting guitars under the Teisco, Telestar, Kimberly and Domino brand names. They also built guitars for the large St. Louis Music company under the Apollo brand Kawai continued to build guitars throughout the 1970’s. These instruments were a big improvement over those of the 1960’s and were based on popular American guitars.



PRICE FOR THIS COLLECTION.

Sum of individual prices for these seven guitars sold separately is: $9,495.00.
 
PRICE FOR THIS COLLECTION OF ALL SEVEN GUITARS: $6,995.00
 
-More than 25% off individual sum total for all seven guitars.



NOTE: I will consider trades of vintage guitars and amps for this collection.
 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
 
Please ask all questions before bidding or buying this vintage guitar.
 
ALL TRADES WILL BE CONSIDERED.
 
NOTE: I am not a DEALER. This guitar comes directly from my PERSONAL COLLECTION consisting of 1,600+ pieces. Thank you for viewing this auction and please look at the other items I have for sale on ebay and Reverb at this time.
 
NOTE: The following terms and conditions apply to the entire 7-piece collection as a single lot so all references to a single guitar applies to the entire lot. Individual returns will not be allowed, i.e., if you are not happy with one of the guitars, then the entire collection must be returned. In the case of repairs being needed, then those can be dealt with individually.



Understanding the normal hesitation of buying a guitar without first playing it, I want to make sure this guitar makes you happy. To accomplish that, I want you to try it for 72 hours (three days). Play it, hold it, walk around with it on your back, sleep with it-whatever it takes for you to make sure it is the one for you. During that time, you can return it for a full refund of your payment price (but of course it needs to be treated well while you have as I expect you will) less shipping cost and you must pay the cost to ship it back to us.
If it arrives damaged, please let me know immediately by email. Be sure to hold onto all packing material and the box. I will contact the shipper for an inspection. Remember that this can take up to a couple of weeks but I will rush it along.
Minor problems. If there is a problem with the guitar when it arrives, e.g., loose wires etc. then I will work with you to get it repaired by someone in your area.

POLICIES:
A. Payment Policy: PAYMENT DUE WITHIN 24 HOURS OF PURCHASE.
B. Shipping Policy: I will ship to the continental USA ONLY.
C. Return Policy: (applies to all pieces as a single lot).
1. Returnable within 3 days of delivery. Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging and no signs of use. Buyer assumes responsibility for all return shipping costs.
2. Returns of undamaged and unmodified instruments may allowed, with permission of Seller, for a period of up to 14 days following delivering but will be subject to a 20% restocking fee. Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging and no signs of use. Buyer assumes responsibility for all return shipping costs.
D. Refunds: Buyer receives a full refund in their original payment method less any shipping charges and restocking fees if appropriate.
E. The guarantee:
1. The guitar is in the cosmetic condition as described in this ad. Used guitars will all have signs of use to include dings, dents, scratches, smudges, etc.
2, The guitar is in fully operational condition.
3. Buyer has 72 hrs. to inspect the guitar or have it inspected. Any defects, damage, misrepresentations or other problems must be reported within that time period in writing to the Seller.
4. In the case of damage during shipment, Buyer shall immediately inform seller of such damage and will maintain all original packing materials and box for inspection by the transportation company.
5. If other problems are discovered, Seller will either arrange for repair etc. at a location near the Buyer or request that the Buyer return the guitar to the Seller. Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging and no signs of use. Buyer assumes responsibility for all return shipping costs.
Seller will correct indicated problems and ship the guitar back to the Buyer within 7-10 days of receiving it.
6. Refund Procedure.
a. In the event that the guitar cannot be repaired or replaced with a similar item from Seller’s inventory, the Seller will provide a full refund in their original payment method less any shipping charges and restocking fees if appropriate.
b. During this 72-hour evaluation period, the Buyer may return the guitar for any reason by notifying Seller and receiving a Return Authorization number. Guitar must be in the same condition as received by the Buyer. Buyer pays cost of shipping guitar back to Seller.
c. Returns may be allowed, with permission of Seller and issuance of RA#, after the 72 hour evaluation period for up to 14 days total but a standard 20% Restocking Fee will be charged for the return. Guitar must be in the same condition as received by the Buyer. Buyer pays cost of shipping guitar back to Seller.
 
NOTE: I want each Buyer of a guitar from my collection to be pleased and happy with his/her purchase so let me know immediately of any problems with your purchase so that we can work it out. Thanks.



Thank you for looking at this incredible VINTAGE guitar collection from my collection.

Payment

PAYPAL.

Shipping

SHIPPING CHARGES. The charges listed in this ad are for the continental US only. Shipment outside that area is at actual cost and Buyer must pay all tariffs, duties, and other charges that may be levied on the item when it is imported into its final destination. And for foreign buyers, please request a quote for shipping cost before you bid. No surprises are always good. And please do not ask that we use a lower value for an export shipment. NOTE: WE WILL NOT SHIP TO ANY THIRD PARTY AND WE WILL NOT DO SHIP TO ANY FIRM, SUCH AS Shop Airlines America or sekaimon WHO RESHIPS THE ITEM OUTSIDE THE USA. SHIPPING DAMAGE. Any external, or internal, shipping damage MUST BE REPORTED to Seller and to Carrier within 24 hours of receipt of delivery. IT IS THE BUYER?S RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY SELLER IMMEDIATELY IF THE INSTRUMENT HAS INCURRED ANY DAMAGE DURING SHIPMENT. IN THE EVENT OF SUCH DAMAGE, PLEASE RETAIN ALL SHIPPING MATERIALS FOR INSPECTION.NO EXCEPTION.

Terms of Sale

1. Payment must be received within five days of the end of the auction. 2. NO REFUNDS. Please ask your questions before you bid. As noted under "Shipping", we will repair any defective item. This does not apply to shipping damage or to damage after receipt. Please note that every guitar we sell has been fully audited, tested, set up,inspected, and photograph prior to shipment.

About Us

ABOUT TUNEYOURSOUND. Tune Your Sound Sound Your Tune Guitars make Sounds ! Guitar players make Tunes. But which guitar makes your Tune best?The beginning point in making a tune is You. The music in your head goes to your hands which form chords and notes. The end point is the Tune heard by those listening created by the Sounds of the instruments in between. Our job at TuneYourSound.com (TYS) is to fill in the middle. Or, in other words, "complete the chain". We are guitar players and collectors at TuneYourSound.com. Collectively we have personally owned and played over 1800 guitars. And we have seen guitar players play-from Jimi using his teeth to Jimmy using his bow. And now, we want to tell you what we have learned over the years and under the stages. First: There should be two primary guitars in your life. The one you start with (by choice or coincidence) and the one you finish with (once you find it, you'll know it and keep it). But of course, humans are acquisitive by nature, so we are prone to own more than we need-but a guitar player must have what he really needs. Two: Sometimes it's better for a guitar to be heard than seen and other times it's better for a guitar to be seen than heard. So, play it both ways. Buy a guitar that does both. Three: Avoid the hype. Especially now with the Internet overloading us with data. Buy a guitar that you trust from someone you trust. Four: Make it personal. Establish a relationship with your seller. That way you will never be disappointed-nor abandoned. After all, it is still about money-your money. And you deserve to get more than you give. At TuneYourSound.com, we have the answer!

Contact Us

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MIJ “Made In Japan” Vintage Guitar Collection Seven guitars sold as a collection

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