Japanese Vintage Guitar Manufacturer II

	R.K. Herby – Kasuga & Roland collaboration
	This guitar was made by Kasuga & Roland. Kasuga made the wooden parts, Roland made a pick-up area. Almost impossible to see the real guitars in the market. It can be one of good collection JV guitars.

Hisonus -- – Weston Music – Chushin Gakki

Hisonus was started in 70’s for targeting middle/Upper class guitar player. The manufacturer is Chushin which made Grover Jackson recently. The price range is over JYE 50,000. For the Stratocaster Replica ST-650 use the white Ash body and Alnico magnet single PU. Hisonus is upper model of Gibbon brand. I have Hisonus ST. The sound is very dry and good tone even compare with Fender USA. Well, if you could find out this guitar, probably good value JV guitar
I have a Stratocaster as collection. You can see it at "other stock" area.

Holly --- Kiso Suzuki Violin

Holly is second brand of "Tomson". Maybe Kiso Violin made this guitar. I have a Stratocaster Model. The wood material is not Maple, Ash or alder. The neck was made by the Lauan which is very right wood. The body should be same material. Very light. The sound is also very light. No Bottom tone. However, as a guitar, it works well and looks not so bad. Of course, this guitar was made by low cost material. However, I feel it is very lovely guitar. I have a Stratocaster as collection. You can see it at "other stock" area.

Hondo --- Some Tokai made

Hondo is a musical instruments whole seller in the States, currently produces beginner level electric guitars and basses which are based on the designs of Fender and Gibson. Between 1974 and 1983 Hondo produced guitars by Tokai Gakki in Japan. These models are good quality. I saw several model is market. Tokai Made seems to be very expensive (well almost like Greco, Fernandes level… Hondo is not popular brand name). The current models are probably made in Korea or China.

H.S. Anderson --- Mr.Hidesato Shiino - Morris

This brand was started by Mr. Hidesato Shiino due to Morris Guitar' request in 1973. Morris offered the own brand early 70's. But after Greco and Fernandes started the marketing, their brand electric guitar sales became very poor. Mr. Moridaira of Morri owner asked Mr. Shiino to produce the new electric guitar range. Mr. Shiino designed several guitars incluing the headless and etc... Most famous guitar is "Mad- Cat" which Prince played. H.S. Anderson exported the guitar for HOHNER, Germany as OEM base. Prince played HOHNER brand one. Also, they offered the model "Houston" which is pretty famous here as "Apple" guitar. H.S. Anderson offer the replica of Les Paul STD, Les Paul Custom, SG, Stratocaster, TV model, Explore, Modern, ES-335 and others. It is very difficult to find out the original good condition guitar now. Mr. Shiino established ESP after H.S. Anderson. Morris used this brand until mid of 80's. Currently, they made a replica of H.S.Anderspn.
HOwever, these replica is completely different from original H.S. Anderson.
You can see it at Shiino Related Guitars" area.

John Bennet - Nakai Gakki, Osaka

I recently purchased John Bennet Stratocaster ST-500S. I have very good impression for this strange brand name guitar. John Bennet is old composer ? I don't know why Nakai Gakki people use this brand name. Anyhow, they offer the Starato, Tele, Les Paulm, ES-335, TV, JB, PB and etc... Almost like full line products. I don't know which manufacturer made this guitar.
Pretty nice construction as replica. The sound also pretty fine. Maybe Chushin ? Matsumoku...When Get the new info. I would update this. You can see the Jhon Bennet strato at "other stock" area.

Joodee - Daion - Terada Gakki - Yamaki Gakki

Joodee is a brand of Daion distributed. Daion is a brother compnay of Yamaki. Daion is selling the guitars and Yamaki made a guitar (well, the presidents are real brother).In 60's, they are only selling the acoustic guitars, but In 70's, they started to distribute the electric guitars from the market requirement. Joodee is a first electric guitar brand from Daion. Terada Gakki was established almost same time with Daion's electric guitar distribution. Terada is well known guitar manufacturer for Morris, Gretch, Vesta Grapham and Fender Japan. However, Joodee is their first OEM electric guitar for Daion.
I have several strat and Les Paul STD replica. They are very good quality. I guess that Tearada & Yamaki made these with their best within the cost budget limitation. Joodee has 2 kinds logo mark. I'm guessing the 1st logo was used by Tarada and Yamaki. 2nd one should be used by Yamaki only. In early 80's, Daion shifted all mabufacturing to Yamaki, then, later, Joodee brand was changed to Yamaki brand.

Well, Joddee is one of good collection item of JV guitars.
You can see the Morris strat at "Joodee & Yamaki Guitars" area.

Kawai

Morris

Morris guitar,Most of Japanese guitar player should know this brand as a one of top quality acoustic guitar brand. I don't know how is their activity outside of Japan. Probably, Yairi is much famous ? Anyway, when I was junior high school (it is over 35 years ago), Morris has already offered Gibson or Fender Replica. It was very poor replica, I remember. After that, they started the H.S. Anderson to target high end users. Even now, they are offering the Bill Lawrence guitar here. Back to the Morris Brand electric, as far as I know, they offered Les Paul, SG, Strat and Tele. However, these are all not good replica. I guess that Morris sales dept just made their brand guitar because of request from music stores. Greco and Fernandes took over the market.The music stores haven't got a business relations with them, they just lost the customer. After H.S.Andersom, they made really good quality Gibson and Fender Replica. The facory learned many for H.S.Anderson production, then, transferred Morris Brand Electric guitars. These replica is set in neck for Gibson type (not bolt on constructions)

Orange

I could see the second hand of Orange Stratocaster in the market sometimes. Orange was started as an idea of the music store in Osaka, I have heard. Fernandes made this brand as second brand. So, the real manufacturer is Kawai or Tokai, We can see "Orange" guitars on Fernandes Catalog in 70's. Maybe, Fernandes distribute this guitar as sales strategic reason.It is very good guitar, I would say, it is almost same with Fernandes. You can see the orange strato at "other stock" area.

Pearl --- Pearl Gakki

Roje--- Zenon

Splender --- Hitachi Gakki ? Kurosawa ?

I'm looking the 70's made guitars and learned the histary day by day. However, sometimes, I found out the guitar bland I never heard.This is one of them. If I felt that guitar is not JV,I would not take. But this guitar seems to be made in Japan. The consutruction is pretty good even compare with middle-upper class stratocaster. Don't know the detailed. If someone knew, please let me know. This is not Tomson or Holly Splender series. You can see the Splender strato at "other stock" area.

Kiso Suzuki Viloin

Teisco

I must say Teisco is 60's brand. When I become teenager, we felt Teisco is already old fashion. They made many oroginal modelm but nobody use Teisco guitar around me. Actually, they made Les Paul, SG and other replica a bit later. But I think their sales strategy was wrong. They are older Manufacturer comapre with Greco, Fernandes, Tokai. I have 1 Tesico but it is 60's made. I'm not interestd in their 70's made guitars. They made a huge profit in 60's. Management made a huge mistake on marketing. Very regretfully, Teisco is not exisiting anymore. You can see the Teisco at "Teisco Guitars" area.

Thunder - Daiwa Gakki --- Kiso Suzuki Viloin

Thunder brand was distributed by Nihon Chikushin (which maybe Record distributor). The manufacturer is Kiso Suzuki Violin. They made a replica of Mustang, Stratocaster, Les Paul, JB and PB model. So, this guitar is brother of Tomson brand ! However, the construction is better than Tomson guitar. more closed to Suzuki Brand Stratcaster. We could see Thunder brand guitar on market, but the good condition guitar is rare.

Tomson --- Kiso Suzuki Viloin

Tomson I Japanese over 40 years old player should know this brand. This brand is for mail order on Japanese major magazine (for young kids) in 70-80's. However, It should be only for beginner player who didn't know the Greco, Fernandes amd other brand in musci store, I beleive Tomson is just toy guitar. Now, about 30 years past, I got 2 stratocaster of Tomson Not so bad ! I like them. The neck is so fat as stratocaster. But body material is better than my expectation. Tomson has a huge products range. They made a lot of replica. Holly is second brand of Tomson. You can see the Tomson strato at "other stock" area.

Westminster - Matsumoku

Westminster guitar was distributed by Kanda Shokai same with Greco Guitar. Kanda shokai shifted Greco manufacturer from Matsumoku to Fujigen around mid of 70's. I think Kanda asked them to produce Westminster for Matsumoku. The product position is lower than Greco brand. I think this range should be against Fresher, Franpton and other lower price range products. The Westminster is not really good replica. However, they offered many kind of guitars such as Strat, Tele, LP, SG, many bass series.
The Gibson replica series are all bolt-on neck type.

	Yamaki- Daion
	Yamaki is a famous acoustic guitar manufacturer. The founder is Teradaira brothers. The elder brother managed the Daion Corporation which is distributing the Founder, Joodee and Yamaki. The younger brother was managing the Yamaki factory (Before establishing the Yamaki/Dion, they were working for Zen-On). Yamaki was offering the Strat, Tele, LP and other style of guitars.