mplsscott Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Hi - anybody know anything about this baby? I've had it for about 3 years or so, but haven't seen any others quite like it. It's label says it's an Emperor AS, but it's thin compared to others I've seen. Also it has two pickups. It's a great guitar - really well built, comparing well to my '79 Guild Starfire IV in build quality. Serial #4043812. I've just always been curious about it. Thanks for any help, -mplsscott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Hi - anybody know anything about this baby? I've had it for about 3 years or so' date=' but haven't seen any others quite like it. It's label says it's an Emperor AS, but it's thin compared to others I've seen. Also it has two pickups. It's a great guitar - really well built, comparing well to my '79 Guild Starfire IV in build quality. Serial #4043812. I've just always been curious about it. Thanks for any help, -mplsscott[/quote'] Yeah, I can shed some light on it. In fact, I've been searching for one for awhile now. It's a Emperor T, made in Japan (Matsumoku) April 1984 judging by the serial # & the light brown label: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplsscott Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 Yeah' date=' I can shed some light on it. In fact, I've been searching for one for awhile now. It's a Emperor T, made in Japan (Matsumoku) April 1984 judging by the serial # & the light brown label: [center'][/center] Wow - thanks JerryMac! I'd read somewhere that it might have been made in Japan, but that's about all I knew. The label says "Emperor A S", so it never would have occurred to me to search for "Emperor T". The photo you linked sure looks to be exactly what I have, though. My copy had the bridge PU replaced with a Gibson. I still have the Epi original PU, but have been thinking of changing at least the neck PU out also. Other than that, it's one sweet guitar. I hope you find one - worth the effort, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Wow - thanks JerryMac! I'd read somewhere that it might have been made in Japan' date=' but that's about all I knew. The label says "Emperor A S", so it never would have occurred to me to search for "Emperor T". The photo you linked sure looks to be exactly what I have, though. My copy had the bridge PU replaced with a Gibson. I still have the Epi original PU, but have been thinking of changing at least the neck PU out also. Other than that, it's one sweet guitar. I hope you find one - worth the effort, IMO.[/quote'] AS actually stands for Antique Sunburst. I have the full body Emperor (also Antique Sunburst), and thought the thin line would make a nice companion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplsscott Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 AS actually stands for Antique Sunburst. I have the full body Emperor (also Antique Sunburst)' date=' and thought the thin line would make a nice companion. [center'][/center] Ah - 'Antique Sunburst' - makes sense now. And I'll bet the thinline model would make a nice companion. No doubt a very different sound too. Sadly, there don't seem to be many of these around. At least I haven't seen 'em. They're such nice guitars, it's a pity more aren't available. Thanks again, jerrymac! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkwire Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Hey, mplsscott...welcome to the forum! I'm in St. Paul...nice to have another local here. Forum member TWANG is a Minnesotan as well. That Emperor is beautiful. I have a 1984 Washburn HB-35 that was also made by Matsumoko in 1984. It's a great guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplsscott Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 Hey' date=' mplsscott...welcome to the forum! I'm in St. Paul...nice to have another local here. Forum member TWANG is a Minnesotan as well. That Emperor is beautiful. I have a 1984 Washburn HB-35 that was also made by Matsumoko in 1984. It's a great guitar.[/quote'] Thanks Funkwire! Yeah, I just found this forum a few weeks ago. It's great to have a source of info on these great guitars. I didn't know anything about Epiphone's Japanese-made era. Doesn't seem to be well documented, or at least I haven't found it yet. I'll be paying more attention to Matsumoko (also spelled 'Matsumoku' sometimes??) - they seem to be high quality, if mine's an indication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Thanks Funkwire! Yeah' date=' I just found this forum a few weeks ago. It's great to have a source of info on these great guitars. I didn't know anything about Epiphone's Japanese-made era. Doesn't seem to be well documented, or at least I haven't found it yet. I'll be paying more attention to Matsumoko (also spelled 'Matsumoku' sometimes??) - they seem to be high quality, if mine's an indication.[/quote'] Wikipedia article about Matsumoku Matsumoku web site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Hi,as Jerry has given you the run down on your "Uncle Mat"Emperor,there is little else to add,except that i notice the bridge on your guitar is not original,and is in fact a Westone bridge(also made by Matsumoku!),and,because it`s gold probably from either a Rainbow II,or Prestige II.Matsumoku made some very nice stuff,and it`s sad they no longer exist,although there are plenty of their guitars still around,and an increasing appreciation of them.I myself am a big fan of their guitars,and own several,including three Casino`s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 That's a beautiful guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplsscott Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 Wikipedia article about Matsumoku Matsumoku web site Thanks again, jerrymac! This is really interesting reading. Makes me wonder how many terrific guitars I've passed on over the years, not knowing anything about the high quality of many Matsumoku guitars! I bought my Emperor after communicating with the seller on eBay, and trusting what he said about the guitar. Always risky on eBay, but this time it worked out. Question: The catalog photos you posted earlier of the Emperors - is there a source for those? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotcanX Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Wow; a very lovely and I would assume extremely collectible guitar. Hopefully you have all the original parts for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplsscott Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 Hi' date='as Jerry has given you the run down on your "Uncle Mat"Emperor,there is little else to add,except that i notice the bridge on your guitar is not original,and is in fact a Westone bridge(also made by Matsumoku!),and,because it`s gold probably from either a Rainbow II,or Prestige II.Matsumoku made some very nice stuff,and it`s sad they no longer exist,although there are plenty of their guitars still around,and an increasing appreciation of them.I myself am a big fan of their guitars,and own several,including three Casino`s.[/quote'] Hi frenchie! Man, you have good eyes - I would not likely have spotted any difference in the bridge! I've wondered about the tuners too, but don't really care if they're original. This guitar holds tuning very well as it is. I'm going to be studying more about Matsumoku guitars, and watching for more examples of their work. May have to add a couple to my collection eventually! :~) -mplsscott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplsscott Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 That's a beautiful guitar. Thanks Jeffrey - she's a keeper! :~) -mplsscott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplsscott Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 Wow; a very lovely and I would assume extremely collectible guitar. Hopefully you have all the original parts for it. Thanks RotcanX, it is beautiful, and a joy to play too. I do have the original bridge pickup. Frenchie noted that the bridge is not original, but I don't have any others. Not sure about the 'collectible' part. I'll be keeping it, just 'cause I love the guitar. When I bought it from an eBay seller, the auction wasn't getting much attention. Maybe that'll change, who knows. I guess it's collectible in the sense that I haven't seen these around. That, and I'm really happy with it, so it's collectible to me. :~) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 I'm going to be studying more about Matsumoku guitars' date=' and watching for more examples of their work. May have to add a couple to my collection eventually! :~) -mplsscott[/quote'] Here's a couple of 335 style Matsumokus I have. a Vantage (top) and an Electra Elvin Bishop: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplsscott Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 Here's a couple of 335 style Matsumokus I have. a Vantage (top) and an Electra Elvin Bishop: Those are both beautiful. I really like the woodgrain in the Vantage, but the Electra is no slouch either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarxBros Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Samick Bennett has a thinline very similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplsscott Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 Samick Bennett has a thinline very similar. I just Googled those, and you're right - very similar. Nice looking stuff. Probably Korean made, I'd guess? Korean stuff's been getting much better - wonder how the build quality compares to the Matsumokus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubstar Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 that is one fine guitar...epiphone should reintroduce that one...in lefty ha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarxBros Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 I just Googled those' date=' and you're right - very similar. Nice looking stuff. Probably Korean made, I'd guess? Korean stuff's been getting much better - wonder how the build quality compares to the Matsumokus.[/quote']The top of the line Samick Bennetts are nice guitars for their price point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayGLongBeach Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Hey Mplsscott, Don't listen to any of these guys! That guitar is not worth anything! Just leave it on the front porch tonight and I'll be happy to haul it out for you! He he he! Welcome to the forum! Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplsscott Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 Hey Mplsscott' date=' Don't listen to any of these guys! That guitar is not worth anything! Just leave it on the front porch tonight and I'll be happy to haul it out for you! He he he! Welcome to the forum![/b'] Jay LOL!!! Yeah, I'll leave it out there on, er, Tuesday...yeah, that's the ticket! Thanks Jay - wish I'd found this forum sooner! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleeko Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Ahh, mplsscott - you have such GOOD taste. I like these thin line guitars. I'll bet she's comfortable to play fursur! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplsscott Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 Ahh' date=' mplsscott - you have such GOOD taste. I like these thin line guitars. I'll bet she's comfortable to play fursur![/quote'] Me too, L4Sleeko. I've had a few of 'em over the years - this is one of my favorites. I like it almost as much as my Guild SF4 for playing - but it is a close call. :~) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.