Lotus Telecaster - Japanese or Korean?

[dcochran4]

This Lotus is listed near me for a fair price, and my nephew has “telecaster” on his Christmas list, but I’m hesitant to make the drive for it if it’s a Korean guitar.

I’ve read that Lotus was first manufactured by Morris/Moridaira in its nascent days, but quickly moved to Korean manufacturing by Cort/Samick, and subsequently to China and India.

Anyone recognize the headstock shape or tuners as particularly indicative of Japanese or elsewhere?

Thanks!

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

Not sure if the country of origin makes any difference in the baseline category, if the price is right and the guitar plays well... However, when a guitar doesn't say "Made in Japan" somewhere, more often than not it isn't. Other examples with that label have the typical round Korea QC sticker (like this one).