Can anyone identify this guitar?

[Gruuve]

Hey folks:

 

Bassist peeking in over here...

 

Someone has this bizarre guitar for sell locally for cheap. I'm tempted to pick it up just because it's so unique.

 

Does anyone know what this actually is, and if it's worth anything?

 

http://b.im.craigslist.org/8D/9P/HCq7K0EbxiwMK9IBoTblieqNDi33.jpg

 

http://b.im.craigslist.org/xs/8w/8iJrRzVvy3vnjm3EyqCA7KMY3uAA.jpg

 

http://b.im.craigslist.org/7w/7U/c0JekKmXLqVxrVAlwx1RJzm4oLoc.jpg

 

http://a.im.craigslist.org/HQ/qR/et8VoRxih8bzFjxUAgNRHysKU2mv.jpg

 

TIA!

Dave

[Bluesape]

Looks like an old Kent, but I'm not up on them. Definitely an overseas cheapie from the 60s/70s. Some of these sound strangely cool, but ya wanna hear and play it, and if ya really like it, it's still not worth than a C-note - closer to half of that.

[Ricardo.]

If it really is $25, I'd pick it up. I thumbed through my 'Electric Guitar Encyclopedia' and looked at the Kents and looks like Reif is right. That exact model isn't there, as it wasn't a big brand, but the bigsby and pickups are consistent with Kents. It's no Fender, but it's an odd guitar. That's worth $25, right

[S. Yeti Bigfoot, Esq.]

Oh, hell yeah. I'd definitely pay $25 for it.

[AeroG33k]

Same here, everyone needs a cheap bizzarro guitar!

[A String]

Yeah, for $25 bucks, you can't go wrong.

[BillWelcome Home Studios]

It is a cheap japanese piece of junk. In the 1960s I worked in a guitar store, and we used to get flyers offering similar guitars all the time. Those pickups, that hardware, and the various component parts have been slapepd togetger on numerous body styles and pickup combos, with a hundred different names. (We could even have ordered custom names for a few bucks more.)

 

They were cheap, intro models designed to be sold to beginners as their first electric, to take advantage of the musical instrument craze of the '60s. As an instrument, it has NO VALUE. Crappy parts, barely playable,lame sound. Cool factor may be a different thing. I'm always fond of cool instruments, I've even nailed some to the walls of my apartment. And I have even used toy keyboards, bought for 2 or 3 bucks each, on recordings, so there is no doubt that a dedicated individual could find a use for one. But it will never replace your Strat or Les Paul, or whatever you have designated as your basic instrument.

 

 

Bill

[S. Yeti Bigfoot, Esq.]

Originally posted by Bill@Welcome Home Studios:

Cool factor may be a different thing. I'm always fond of cool instruments, I've even nailed some to the walls of my apartment.

 

Bill

That would be my use for it. It is so FUGLY and bizarre, that it's interesting-looking. You can pay more than $25 for a cheap poster or print of a guitar to hang on your wall...this way you have (sort of) the "real thing".

[A String]

Remove the Scoobie Doo Stickers though.

 

You can see on the head stock where a plastic brand name plate used to be screwed on. I wonder if he still has it somewhere.

[Gruuve]

Awesome...thanks for the info guys! I actually have a Godin Solidac that I use on the rare occasion when I play guitar (usually for a demo recording or something), but this might be worth hanging on the wall for decoration...

 

Dave

[S. Yeti Bigfoot, Esq.]

By the way...I think it's actually an Apollo guitar from the late '60's (actually made for St. Louis Music by Kawai/Teisco). The color was called "greenburst".

[S. Yeti Bigfoot, Esq.]

Originally posted by Sasquatch51:

By the way...I think it's actually an Apollo guitar from the late '60's (actually made for St. Louis Music by Kawai/Teisco). The color was called "greenburst".

 

 

[BillWelcome Home Studios]

Originally posted by Sasquatch51:

By the way...I think it's actually an Apollo guitar from the late '60's (actually made for St. Louis Music by Kawai/Teisco). The color was called "greenburst".

as I said, it is not 'actually' any brand name. And yes, they were indeed offered with the plain headstock. The painted headstock is likely a later mod, as it is far cheaper to have plain necks that you can stick onto any guitar, rather than colored headstocks that require matching. But in terms of 'brand', you could have had "Sasquatch51" decals or plastic logos put on the instrument for a large enough order, same with other options. Just like the custom Chinese microphones that you see so many group buys for on the internet. St Louis was a major distributor in the US for this type of merchandise. But not the only one.

 

Bill

[picker]

El Cheapo guitars are always great for slide, The cheaper the better. Grab that sucker for $25, tune it to an open chord, crank the little combo amp up past patent pending, slap that bottleneck or brass tube onto a set of heavy gauge strings, and magic will happen! Aw yeah! Even if it only has one p/up it will be at least cool, but if it has 3 or 4 p/ups and a load of Vegamatic switches, you might even swoon!

[LeftyBlues]

Originally posted by Picker:

crank the little combo amp up past patent pending...load of Vegamatic switches

Loving your verbology Pick!!!

[Mudcat]

Remember, Eddie Van Halen started off on a four pick-up Teisco!

 

That thing is way cool. Definitely worth $25.00.

[alittlebatty]

I think it needs more switches & knobs.....For the price,why not? Hey-does it come with a remote?

[picker]

Originally posted by LeftyBlues:

Originally posted by Picker:

crank the little combo amp up past patent pending...load of Vegamatic switches

Loving your verbology Pick!!!

Well, the bit about vegematic switches was mine, but I stole the "patent pending" bit from Billy Gibbons...

[dave esmond]

Well worth $25. It may play fine and it'll have it's own tone for sure. Some are junk no doubt, but I've played plenty of Kawai/Teiscos that play just fine. Knopfler's using one lately. They don't all suck.

 

 

If you don't like it you can always make your money back and more on ebay.

[BillWelcome Home Studios]

Originally posted by dave esmond:

...I've played plenty of Kawai/Teiscos that play just fine.

These do not rise to the level of a Teisco. And it is rare to find one that is in good playable condition, nevermind the fret locations. But as I said above, as an interesting and diffferent diversion, any of these things can be fun. They are much easier to use for slide. Always fun, though....

 

Bill

[wietse]

for 25 $ get it!

they are getting highly collectable and i would get this one for sure.

this is a typical kawai produce with these pickups, slide switches and rollerbridge.

thewy made guitars like this under hunderds of different names.

most likely the neck is straight, and if the frets are not worn down to the fretboard he's still playable.

that's one good thing of kawai the necks, feel good and never held one which really warped or bend beyond repair.

these pu's aged nice have a nice and jazzy sound to it.

so get it, and when you don't like it sell it on ebay collectors easely pay 100+ $ for it.( i would if it's still playable)

[Guitar Geezer]

and Mr Weitse knows his old Japanese guitars, check out his pics on his site.

[Guitarzan]

Originally posted by Picker:

Originally posted by LeftyBlues:

Originally posted by Picker:

crank the little combo amp up past patent pending...load of Vegamatic switches

Loving your verbology Pick!!!

Well, the bit about vegematic switches was mine, but I stole the "patent pending" bit from Billy Gibbons...

Billy always has a way with words.

"spank the plank" is one of my fave Billy quotes

and "wiggle stick"