Takeharu LP can anyone shine some light

[keychange]

Hi - I just obtained a Takeharu LP sunburst - I already own a Takeharu accoustic and know what little there is to know about the brand - but I don't think Kiso Suzuki would have made these themselves I think it would have come out of one of the standard factories. Any suggestions on which and when would be apprciated.

It has been gigged but is in very good general condition. It looks like a nitro finish ( very clear nice quality) It has 3 pickups ( the 3rd middle has been added) the original 2 pickups are marked Dimarzio Made in USA ( braided wiring) . The body is solid one piece (I can't see any joins) as is the neck I think mahogony. The set neck appears to be like the Burny with a screw hidden behind a small wooden block inset under the fretboard.

I have just replaced the pickup rings and switch washer as they were a mixture of black and whites. The tuners look original logo looks like a bent arrow see photos - thanks in advance

See http://www.andrewhunter.com/guitars/takeharu.html

 

[Ozeshin]

Hey Andrew....
I did a search over at matsumoku.org for you:
http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2202&p=10700&hilit=Takeharu#p10700

 

[keychange]

Thanks Ozeshin - I had found that , didn't really shed any light I think the tenon is the secret - I have read before of this set up but can't find anything specific to the factory that used a vertical screw as opposed to dowled joints

 

[Ozeshin]

.Built by Suzuki apparently....I found a crapload of threads that name the Takeharu as a Suzuki...which does make sense as Suzuki and Pearl were both built in the same factory I believe.

http://takeharuguitars.blogspot.com/

 

[leadguitar_323]

My first LP was a Suzuki and it was a beauty, should never have sold it..

Mick

 

[keychange]

EUREKA...Built by Suzuki apparently....I found a crapload of threads that name the Takeharu as a Suzuki...which does make sense.

http://takeharuguitars.blogspot.com/

Yes but as I said Kiso Suzuki were much more into acoustics ( The Kiso Suzuki Violin Company) not to be confused with modern Suzuki guitars, the Kiso company disappeared in early 80's - some say taken over by ESP however their acoustics guitars are very good or at least my Takeharu (brazillian rosewoods back and sides etc) I expect they outsourced their electrics but the short tenon throws me - I am guessing the screw I am referring to is to set the neck angle on what some call a rocker tenon joint ( as per Gibson Studio and Standard) but it is very unusual in an MIJ guitar.

 

[Ozeshin]

Does the neck tenon look like this?
http://imageevent.com/chingo123/february2009/ariaproiilpstsb4003;jsessionid=sjis0ajti2.panda_s?p=30&n=1&m=-1&c=4&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=2

 

[keychange]

Well it does to the extent the hole to the angle adjuster is there. But it looks different shaped hole etc - see new picture posted http://www.andrewhunter.com/guitars/takeharu.html

The aria you show looks to have a screw in the extended tenon where as the screw I refer to is inside the tiny chamber you can see under the fretboard - there is no extented tenon in the PUP cavity

[/img]

 

[Ozeshin]

That "chamber" just looks to involve the Truss rod rather than the tenon itself...just looks to be a standard glued in tenon to me.
Have you had a good look with a torch?....can you see the truss rod?

 

[keychange]

No all you can see in there is a philips head screw going vertically down into the neck join (not horizontally along the neck) - you can't get it as the fretboard board goes over the top - which makes me think it is used pre-fretboard installation and I am guessing that the most likely purpose is neck angle adjustment.

I have several MIJs and have never seen a neck join like this but I note in pictures of Burny's that they have a small square wooden block which appears to cover the same hole so they may be similar but I can't find a picture of a burny with the small block removed.

 

[Ozeshin]

I STILL like the Suzuki connection...
The joint seems to be a bastardized Mortise and Tenon system that Suzuki used to use for their Nylon string guitars...although a traditional screw for a mortise and Tenon joint is mounted horizontally not vertically.

 

[gordon]

I still have my first Suzuki and all I can tell that the tenon, pickup cavity, wiring, pots all look just like mine. Mine has a more reddish finish.
After letting it sit around for ages I recently put decent tuners and pickups in it and it is a pretty cool guitar for dirty and distorted sounds. It sounds kinda dead if you play it clean to my ears and compared to my other Les Pauls.

 

[keychange]

Yes Gordon - I agree with the dirty sound particularly on the bridge pickup - not exactly a jazz delight, but I have a framus for that role. The tuners on this are very good, I wouldn't be replacing these- but I suppose like all brands there are different models. This looks like a high middle end ie: no fret edge binding, although it has probably been refretted and in closer inspection the fret side of the binding has been cut back. Although at upper end of the range you would expect real MOP on neck ( my WT300 acoustic has real MOP) - but the WT is 1970 and this probably late 70's or even early 80's