foamface Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 So, I have this 70s Epiphone, it is from Japan (still has original case with a Japanese sticker on it). Beyond that I know nothing, and I can't find any images of any Epiphones that look anything like it. Anybody have any knowledge about Epiphones that were only sold in Japan? Also, I am wondering what its value may be. Any general ideas about this matter would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SketchyEtchy Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 So, I have this 70s Epiphone, it is from Japan (still has original case with a Japanese sticker on it). Beyond that I know nothing, and I can't find any images of any Epiphones that look anything like it. Anybody have any knowledge about Epiphones that were only sold in Japan? Also, I am wondering what its value may be. Any general ideas about this matter would be appreciated. http://www.epiphonewiki.com/index.php?title=Main_Page try here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Wow !!!!!!! I love Japanese guitar cases with the original stickers on them !!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 That's a new one on me. It looks like it rolled off the same production line as the Epi Scroll guitar, but with a neck-through and no scroll. Maybe it was a one-off prototype. It's not in any of my reference books, but I'd say it's worth at least $700, maybe more to the right collector. I'd like to see a better picture of the headstock and the control cavity. Very cool and unusual guitar you have there FF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneil Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Cool, I have never seen something like that before. It looks a little bit like a genesis crossed with a Yamaha SG, I would like to see some more pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaj Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Cool, I have never seen something like that before. It looks a little bit like a genesis crossed with a Yamaha SG, I would like to see some more pictures. It does look a lot like a Yamaha SG. I wonder if RTH or Jerry may know something about this. Looks great by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I'm clueless on this one. I dont have any experience with oddball Japanese models...if this is even a genuine Epi. The headstock and neck-through are sort of a red flags. I would like to see some closeup shots though. Like the headstock and even the back of the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I wonder if that guitar is somehow related to the Vantage brand gutars that were being produced in Japan in 70's: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not-Too-Late Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I wonder if that guitar is somehow related to the Vantage brand gutars that were being produced in Japan in 70's: You could be right, but I would like to see the comparison of headstocks between yours and foamface's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I wonder if that guitar is somehow related to the Vantage brand gutars that were being produced in Japan in 70's: Thats what I was thinking. There were also some Arias that were similar. And check out these Skylarks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I wonder if that guitar is somehow related to the Vantage brand gutars that were being produced in Japan in 70's: Vantage, Aria, Epiphone, Vox, Westone, Westbury etc, all shared various design traits, and were all built by Matsumoku during the 70`s and 80`s. Matsumoku`s higher end stuff was on a par with the best of Ibanez/Greco (Fugi-Gen). Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamface Posted August 9, 2011 Author Share Posted August 9, 2011 Thanks for the replies! Here are some more pics to help. I think the notion that it is a relative of the scroll has considerable wait only because that is the only thing I can find that has a beveled contour anything close to this one's. Japanese company Matsumoku was making epiphones in the 70s and I guess they were known for thru-body guitars. Still I can't explain the headstock. Also, you will notice in these pictures that the brown paper from the factory is still attached on the two pieces of whit plastic on the back, and around the switch on the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamface Posted August 9, 2011 Author Share Posted August 9, 2011 A couple more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneil Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Odd! even though its a through neck, it has been shaped into a heel instead of carved into a smooth sort of shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Everything about this guitar says Matsumoku, but nothing about it, other than the logo, says Epiphone. And again, like that strat that came through here a couple weeks ago, the closeups are blurry and provide little help in determining its authenticity. A couple of things that are very non-epiphone: -The TRC covering up the "inlay" -The headstock (obviously) -The headstock inlay -The headstock logo looks sloppy ( no seperation between the "i" and the dot) -1970's Epi with a exposed 5-ply neck-thru -The rounded-corner block fret markers -The LP-style switch on the upper horn (for the era) This is either a mock-up or a "hoax" model, as Lefty Bill pointed out in that superstrat thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I'm betting it's a one-off prototype or trade show model that never went into production. If so, hang onto that sucker, it'll only increase in value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Those are production models.... I used to see them around, and they had like five of those at Singer Music back in the 70's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Those are production models.... I used to see them around, and they had like five of those at Singer Music back in the 70's Any idea what the model name or number is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamface Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 I am currently selling this if anyone is interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I am currently selling this if anyone is interested. In that case, I need to revise my valuation to $175, but I'll do you a favor and give you $200 'cause you're a nice guy. Seriously, good luck with the sale, but if I were you I'd hang onto it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I'm still not sure if this is a legit guitar, but if it is anything, its got to be a version of the Japanese Domestic Market Olympic. This is the closest Epiphone I could find. There are a lot of differences, but the only 1970's Epis with a German Carve are the Scrolls and the JDM Olympics. It is very similar, if not very different as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straybeat Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 Double posted somehow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straybeat Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 Man that guitar is a beauty, I agree with everyone else that you should keep it. You'll never get what you deserve for it and you'll always regret selling it. I looked on Ebay for similar guitars and there is a Vantage that looks close to yours, but it has a BIN of $375; http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vantage-Vintage-Matsumoku-Set-Neck-Electric-Guitar-1970s-1980s-great-condition-/270828443421?pt=Guitar&hash=item3f0ea2171d#ht_1567wt_1159 I tried to get the blue Skylark pictured above 2 months ago on Ebay and it went for $800, But it has the built-in pre-amp, coil splitting and all those sorts of goodies. The brown one in the middle of the pic has been selling for $400 to $600, depending on whether or not people bid it up? I posted a couple of your pics over at MLP to see if any of those guys might know what it is.I'll keep you posted if they come up with anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggs Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Hello... who was ripping who here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straybeat Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Hello... who was ripping who here What's your bottom pic, the Yamaha SG-3000? Take a look at an Epiphone Genesis, they're nearly identical. I believe they were made by the same factory? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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