Matsumoku

Around 1900 Matsumoku began in Matsumoto, Japan, as a family owned woodworking business that specialized in tansu (Japanese for chest of drawers) and butsudan (Japanese for Buddha altar).  Shortly after WWII, the Singer Corporation established the Singer Sewing Machine Company and set up production facilities in Nagoya, Japan.  Matsumoku was contracted to build its sewing machine cabinets, and in 1951 became a partially owned subsidiary of Singer, Japan.  Matsumoku also built amp cabinets, speaker boxes and wooden cabinets for audio and tv makers.  By the mid 1950's  Matsumoku began to look into other woodworking markets and, as it had on its staff several skilled luthiers, ventured into production of  modest classical guitars, small steel stringed acoustic guitars and violins.  However, other Japanese companies were producing similar instruments, Matsumoku set out to distinguush itself by producing high quality acoustic and electric archtop guitars.  Several of Matsumoku's early archtop guitars survived most owing their basic designs to Hofner, Framus and Gibson.  By the early 1960's, Matsumoku had acquired new mills, lathes and specialized presses and began to increase musical productions.  Combined with its staff of highly skilled craftsman, Matsumoku was able to mass produce guitars of high quality. 
         However, because it mainly manufactured guitars under contract, the role of Matsumoku was largely unknown outside of japan's making circles until it's name began appearing on neck bolt plates, headstocks and sound hole labels in the late 1970's.  Matsumoku produced guitars, or parts of guitars, for Vox, Guyatone, FujiGen, Gakki, Kanda Shokai (Greco),  Hoshino Gakki, Nippon Gakki (Yamaha) Aria (please see my post on Aria) and Norlin (parent company of Gibson).  American owned Unicord contracted Matsumoku to build most of it's Univox and Westbury guitars.  St. Louis Music Co. imported Matsumoku  built Electra guitars.  J.C. Penney sold Matsumoku built Skylark guitars through it's catalog division.  Matsumoku built many early Greco guitars as well as Vantage, Westminster, Cutler, Lyle, Fell,and no name copies of Gibson and Fender guitars and Basses.  Washburn contracted Matsumoku to build most of it's electric from 1979 through 1885.  in 1979, Matsumoku began to market it's own guitars under the Westone name
          Gibson decided to move Epiphone production to Japan in the early 1970's, and chose Aria as its contractor.  As a subcontractor to Aria, Matsumoku manufactured most electric Epiphones made in Japan from 1970 through 1986.  The models include the solid body ET series (Crestwood)the SC series (scroll) and the Model 1140 (flying V) as well  as Epiphone's archtop electric guitars: 5102T/EA-250, Sheraton, Riviera, Casino and the Emperor.  Early Matsumoku made Epiphone archtops had bolt on necks.  While production cost of bolt on necks guitars were less, many guitars regarded the as inferior guitars.  Set neck archtop guitars followed in late 1975. 
         Many Matsumoku built guitars, including Epiphone archtops, utilized a 3 piece maple neck with the center section's grain oriented 90 degrees from the side wood.  This created a very strong neck not prone to splitting or warping.  An often used variation of this is the 5 piece neck with 2 thin strips of walnut or ebony separating the 3 sections.  Matsumoku made many neck through body solid body electric guitars and basses most with 5 piece necks.
           Matsumoku often utilized the Nisshin Onpa company who own the Maxon brand as a subcontractor for its pickups.  Some Maxon pickups have Maxon's "M" logo stamped on the back.  Many Matsumoku set neck guitars and basses have the insprctor's hon (name stamp) stamped inside the neck pickup cavity.
          Players of Matsumoku's guitars: the late Kurt Cobain of Nirvana (Univox Hi-Flyer), John Taylor of Duran Duran (Aria Pro II SB-1000 bass), the late Cliff Burton of Metallica (Aria Pro II SB-1000 Bass), Elvin Bishop (Electra Model 2281), Neal Schon (Aria Pro II PE series guitars)
         Gibson restructured after being sold by Norlin, and began to move it's Epiphone production to other Japanese maunfacturers and to Korea.  By 1986, the home sewing machine market was in heavy decline and Singer was nearly bankrupt.  Matsumoku could not afford to buy itself out of Singer and in 1987, closed down.
     

Aria

Vintage 1981 Aria Pro II Cardinal CS-350, Rare Color

Aria was formed in Japan in 1953 by Shiro Aria as Aria and Company.  They began retailing acoustic guitars in 1960, although the company didn't actually start manufacturing their own until 1964.  Aria arranged for Matuemoku to build guitars under contract.  Aria and Matuemoku started building acoustic guitars in 1964 and electric guitars in 1966 using Arai, Aria, Aria Diamond, Diamond.  The Aria brandname was changed to aria Pro II in late 1975.  Aria Pro II did some copies of famous American guitars like the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul though it also did it's own style of guitars.  In the 70's and early 80's the company came into its own the U.S with a series of high end professional guitars.  The company had professional endorsements from the late Cliff Burton, Herb Ellis, Yngwie Malmsteen, Neal Schon, John Tayler, and many more.  All guitars were made in Japan until 1988, when production of less expensive models (Magnga MAB/MAC and Integra IGB series) was moved to Korea.  In the mid 90's a few models (including Fender Stratcaster inspired Fullerton series guitars and the Steve Bailey 6 string fretless signature bass) were made in the U.S.  They have also built and distributed guitars under the Univox and Cameo labels as well.

Silvertone Guitars

 1958 Silvertone model 1305

The trademark Silvertone was a house brand owned and used by Sears and Roebuck between 1940 to 1972.  There was no factory; Sears  owned the name and applied it to various guitars from manufacturers such as Harmony, Valco, Danelectro, and Kay.  Sears and Roebuck acquired  Harmony in 1915 to control its respectable ukulele production.  In 1916 Sears and Roebuck introduced Supertone.  Sears and Roebuck Sold Harmony to a group headed by Jay Kraus in 1940 and Silvertone replaced Supertone.  Silvertone has been know best for their line of well made and inexpensive guitars.  The brand became popular with novice musicians like Jerry Garcia, Rudy Sarzo, Chet Atkins, Bob Dylan, Garry Nutt, John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Jack White, James Hatfield. The Canadian band Chad and The Silvertones, who would go on and become The Guess Who, took their name from the guitar. 
Silvertones from the '60's are becoming collectable, BUT a word of caution, Just because it says Silvertone DOES NOT mean it was made by Danelectro.   Harmony, Valco and Kay were built in Illinois and Daneletro was built in New Jersey.  Today, Silvertone is a brand used by Samick Music Corporation and was endorsed  by Paul Stanley of Kiss from 2003 to 2006.

Fender Telecaster

 
The Fender Telecaster was developed by Leo Fender Fullerton, Ca. in 1949.  In the period roughly  between 1932–1949, several craftsmen and companies experimented with solid-body electric guitars, but none had made a significant impact on the market. Leo Fender's Telecaster was the design that finally put the solid-body guitar on the map.  The initial single-pickup production model appeared in 1950, and was called the Esquire. Fewer than fifty guitars were originally produced under that name, and most were replaced under warranty because of early manufacturing problems. In particular, the Esquire necks had no truss rod and many were replaced due to bent necks. Later in 1950, this single-pickup model was discontinued, and a two-pickup model was renamed the Broadcaster. From this point onwards all Fender necks incorporated truss rods. The Gretsch company, itself a manufacturer of hollowbody electric guitars (and now owned by Fender), claimed that "Broadcaster" violated the trademark for its Broadkaster line of drums, and as a newcomer to the industry, Fender decided to bend and changed the name to Telecaster, after the newly popular medium of television. (The guitars manufactured in the interim bore no name, and are now popularly called 'Nocasters.') The Esquire was reintroduced as a one-pickup Telecaster, at a lower price.

Cort Guitars

Cort Guitars is a South Korea-based manufacturer of acoustic, electric and bass guitars.   Cort has no particular signature guitar, instead opting to manufacture many different types--some of which bear a striking resemblance in both quality and looks to those built by more well known companies such as Fender and Gibson. This has brought Cort some legal trouble over the years, but the company remains one of the world's largest manufacturers of guitars.  Cort was founded in 1973 by Yung H. Park, along with Jack Westheimer, a prominent business figure behind the importation of musical instruments from Japan. Westheimer has been involved in bringing Silvertone guitars and Pearl drums to the United States since the early 1960s. Cort also manufactures a line of high-quality guitars under the Parkwood moniker.  Cort makes many acoustic and electric guitars made to fit different budgets and playing styles. Their most popular electric guitar models include the EVL, G and VX series. Popular acoustic guitar models include the Earth, Limited Edition and Classical series. According to rumor on guitar.com, Cort was threatened with legal action by Gibson guitars after the company produced a guitar that Gibson officials thought was too similar to its very popular Flying V.  In recent years, Cort has shifted its focus from making guitars under its own name to manufacturing instruments for other large companies on a contract basis. The Schecter and G&L guitar companies have been very successful in selling guitars made by Cort under their own brand names. Though most consumers do not know that these guitars are made by Cort, this still has helped Cort's stock to rise among guitar players and collectors.

This fine Cort guitar is one of the originals designed by the famous Jim Triggs and built in Korea. I had one in 2005-06 and was the best hollow body guitar that I ever played(and I wish I had it back).  It came fitted with a Benedetto pick up and has a very nice action.  A great compact jazz guitar that sounds good acoustically or plugged in.

The Axl trademark was tntroduce in 2001 as a line of electric and acoustic guitars as well a line of amplifiers.  These instruments are procuced with modern equipment and the best available material to create a quality at affordable prices.  Electric models are mainly based on popular American designs (Stratocaster, Telecaster).  Instrements currently built overseas.  Distributed by the Music Link
These are real nice guitars for the price.  I repaired (had a stickey pot) one a few months ago and was real impressed with the quality,  I may have to get one for myself.
David

Ever thought that a guitar might be a more reliable investment than the stock market?  Vintage guitars are becoming a hot item in the collectibles market.  While a few months' savings might have bought a guitar in the 1960s, some of those instruments are selling for big bucks today.    The guitar was perfected between the 1930s and the 1960s, depending on the model, and instruments from this period are highly regarded.  Some people think that in fifty to a hundred years, guitars from the mid 20th century will be thought of in the same way as violins and cellos from the 17th and 18th century. The appeal of any guitar grows over time, and there hasn't yet been a period when the market sank.  That makes a vintage guitar a great investment choice, as well as a visually and emotionally rewarding collectible.  Recent stock market unpredictability has meant that people are more interested in guitar collecting as an investment.   For collectors who want to cover all the bases, consider a varied collection of acoustic, electric, exotic, antique, vintage, contemporary and even custom guitars.  The American brands that stand out when it comes to collecting vintage guitars as an investment (and also as a great guitar) are Guild, Martin, Gibson, Gretsch, and Fender.  Each of these manufacturers also has an era that collectors agree upon as having been the best.  Of course, make isn't the only way you decide how much a guitar is worth.  The rarity and condition of the guitar are important.  If you want a great investment that's also a piece of the past, look into vintage guitars.  Collecting them can be rewarding in many ways, and it's a lot more stable than playing the stock market!

Guitars For Vets

This is really a great service.  Guitars For Vets provides six lessons and a acoustic guitar to veterans at VA Medical & community based centers.  Veterans are referred by the Veteran's Administration Team and the program is integrated with a specific treatment regimen.  If you are a vet and would like to have more information on this program contact you local Va or contact Guitars For Vets.  Please check out their website and donate your time and/or guitar or maybe a little cash.  So please check out their website for more information
http://guitars4vets.org/

Whether Your looking for a guitar for an investment or a player there are a few definitions that you need to know

Mint Condition: The condition the instrument was in when left the factory.  No signs of play wear,      and still has the factory case. Very rare in older instruments.

Excellent Condition: Very clean, may have some minor finish and or play wear but, still has all the original parts and finish.

Very Good Condition:  Instrument is in solid playing condition, but may have significant wear, non-original or missing parts.

Good Condition:  Still playable, but may have modifications and or extensive playing wear.

Poor Condition:  May have major problems and or heavily modified, may or may not be playable.

Collecting Guitars As An Investment

The appeal of any guitar grows over time, and there hasn’t yet been a period when the market sank. That makes a vintage guitar a great investment choice, as well as a visually and emotionally rewarding collectible.

Vintage guitars are a great investment that only increases in value. You might be asking yourself whether a guitar can really be a good investment. After all, to the untrained eye, most guitars are the same. However, the right guitar can be worth a lot to a collector. Guitars that have been owned by celebrities, or which are rare or unusual, can command very high prices indeed. If you’re worried about getting a return on your money, don’t be.

Vintage guitars have consistently performed with more stability than the stock market. There are a number of reasons that collecting vintage guitars is an excellent strategy. For one, they’re more tangible than a stock or bond. They give you an attractive piece to display, and are fun to collect, too. Guitars also don’t lose value over time. In fact, it’s just the opposite - vintage guitars consistently gain value as they get older, as long as you take the time to keep them in good condition.

Vintage Guitars

Guitars must meet several criteria’s to be worth money. One of the most important aspects is originality. Any modifications, replaced parts or repairs, no matter how practical, will decrease the value of a vintage guitar. Even replacing the original case or re-fretting the guitar will decrease value. For example, a “beat-up” original finish guitar will always be worth much more than a perfectly refinished one. Even if the new finish is done professionally and looks perfect, it will be worth approximately half the price of an original finish guitar. This is because once the original finish is gone there is simply no way to replace it. The materials, the procedures, the patina will all be different on a refinished instrument. Also it can be refinished many times and done perfectly, but it is still “refinished” and will never be “original” again.