Recent content by Glenno

Good read 👍 You can see why the catalogues were very similar, and now I want to see what factory made my 84 Ibanez acoustic. I’ve had that thing since 93 and I still love it This is my son who I’ve passed it to, he mainly a bassist but he’s quite good at any instrument he picks up

Very true, I have a es78 (335 Chinese made) . Did Fujigen make any instruments other than for Fender? Don’t know about you but the finishes on the Japanese instruments wear in ways I’ve not seen from any other instruments. Locally I’ve seen paint flaking off music man basses.

Interesting observation, but did these manufacturers really choose carefully as to who made what to protect their own brand?

I was tempted to buy an aria bass as a project but the neck felt terrible. It’s been sitting in this pawn shop nearby for about three years for way too much money, they think it’s got the Metallica lineage. Anyway I did try to find its year and model and saw that headstock from the early 80’s in...

I have seen some similar headstocks from the period on Aria basses? Have Tokai done work for them?

I wouldn’t be too worried about identifying Chinese models, they are definitely not the sought after models, I personally like them but others don’t value them to the same degree. Just value it for what it is

I have a Chinese Es 335 copy, cannot complain about the quality, the good timbers are not used but the Finnish is better than most chinese and even Korean models, some of the components like input jacks are rubbish and I changed out my bridge. If you like guitar modifications they are great...

Tokai definitely, you may end up with an instrument worth more when it comes time to sell or you will want to hang on to it. The classic vibe is a really good guitar (I had a thinline Tele) but it was not worth anything like a Tokai layer.

True true, Leo made his guitars on the basis of availability of material, and the Japanese built on what was possible. That’s why they are cherished by us now, take a look at the Chinese built instruments, I won’t ever criticise the finish, the standard has flow on effects

Keeping in mind too, Jacaranda is a loose interpretation of rosewood, and fender initially laminated timber for solid colour guitars before then

Very true, my assumption was also based on the 09 in the number. But again don’t write it off, for entry level they are great feeling instruments, the neck profiles are amazing for any player, the quality is pretty darn good too. You won’t find figuring or super exotic material but I can’t...

Three screw truss cover indicates a Chinese guitar, my Es73 is Chinese made. Don’t write it off though, I think they are really good instruments, the bridge and tuner’s are not great but easy to upgrade without overcapitalising on value

I once saw a doco on some of the manufacturing techniques used in Japanese guitar building, neck’s for instance are rough cut and stacked in a drying room for periods of time (3 years +) before use, I suspect the supply of timber during time would have been sporadic.

Such stunning timber. Wow 👏 This is Blackwood from an Australian Maton guitar, nowhere near the figuring seen on your guitar, but nice nonetheless

Jacaranda (Jacarandá da bahia) is another name for Brazilian Rosewood, so again you are right, it’s rosewood, but the name jacaranda could have also been used by guitar manufacturers to import exotic timber into a country, Gibson were guilty of illegally importing exotic timber in the 80’s from...