These pages contain unusual & noteworthy guitars that have long since been sold & are now spread around the UK & Europe, hopefully still being played & enjoyed. I keep these pages for reference purposes etc. None of these guitars are for sale
Thanks for looking & I hope you enjoyed the pics !
Cheers Rob
Yamaha Japan 1978 SG-2000 Sunburst
Supplied with new shaped hardcase
SOLD
1986 Fender Squier "E" Series Telecaster
with new tweed hardshell case
SOLD
This beautiful natural finish Japan Squier Telecaster is one of the earliest models & followed the famous "JV" & "SQ" models from the Fugijen Gakki Factory
Completely refinished by me
1981 Hondo Revival Series H-935RS
SOLD
Complete with original Hardcase & US Dimarzio Pickups
Made in Japan
1991 Godin Artisan TC
SOLD
This is the third Godin I have owned. It's an early 1991 model. It isn't as pretty as the others but the neck & electrics are as good
I was initially a bit disappointed when this arrived as I thought the body was finished in matt & it had a few knock & bumps around the edges but after a couple of hours work, it has come up to look really nice. It has obviously been owned by someone not too fussy (I'm being kind!) & it also had no hardcase & it showed !!
1980's Aria Pro II Titan Artist Series TA-40
SOLD
These old Aria Pro's are becoming pretty popular & collectable. I purchased this in Hampshire a month or so ago & was initially a bit disappointed with the guitar. Like so often, it hadn't been looked after & was dirty & poorly set up with crackly switches & knobs.
These Aria Pro's were originally made at the famous Matsomuko factory in the early 80's as part of the "Titan Artist" series. The models were TA-30,50.70 etc. Production later switched to Korea & that was when the TA-40 appeared
This example plays well with a comfortable neck, good balance & nice low action. The bridge & maybe the neck pickups have both been changed but they work well & the guitar has a good range of sounds & can cover most styles
Now living in Sussex & about to undergo a pickup upgrade - should sound awesome !
1998 Gibson Les Paul Smartwood
& new tweed shaped Les Paul Case
Sold
We kept this one "kind of" in the family as it was so nice. Enjoy it Paul !
Hohner Professional TE
Sold
A nice example of a Telecaster copy from the 90's by Hohner. Built in Korea (possibly the Samick factory where the Epiphones of that time were also built) it is in good condition but has some wear (see pics). Sunburst with body binding & through body stringing. It has a bolt on neck, two pickups. Rosewood fingerboard. There are some good reviews of these guitars at Harmony Central...
This model is now enjoyed by Juan Carlos in Madrid !
1984 Fender Master Series Flame Standard
(Inc 80's Fender Hardshell Case)
Sorry but this guitar is now sold
Yes, at long last, I have found one ! The smaller sister of the Fender Esprit, a Fender Flame in Autumnburst.
1994 Fender Japan Foto Flame Stratocaster
& Hiscox Style HSC
This guitar is now sold
Yamaha MSG Image Deluxe
Comes with good quality hardcase
Sorry, this one is now sold - didn't hang about long, did it !!
I am quite excited about this one ! It's a rare & highly regarded Martin Booth designed Yamaha MSG Image deluxe in an orangeburst with a good quality hardcase. The guitar also has a Floyd Rose tremelo System & coil split Kent Armstrong Humbuckers
Conrad Jazzmaster Copy
Sold & gone to Wales !
Strange & a bit quirky! But that's what I love about some of these old Japanese guitars. Having said that, they nearly always use good quality woods for the neck & body. The hardwear is generally pretty good & they are very well made. This one is no exception
I use the term "Jazzmaster Copy" very loosely as the bodyshape & neck are about all that are copied here.
Conrad were a rare Japanese manufacturer who made good quality & highly rated guitars but no longer exist.
A google search will bring up some references & reviews at Harmony Central are few & far between but the ones that are there are very complimentary
1990's Hohner Professional SE-35
Specifications:
Semi-Hollow Body
Maple bound top, back & sides
Black Pickguard
Mahogany Neck
22 Fret Rosewood Fingerboard with Pearl dot inlays
Tune-o-matic Bridge
Gold Hardwear & Twin Humbucker Pickups
2 x Volume & 2 x tone Knobs
3 way switch
Manufactured from 1990
A really nice example of this ES-335 copy from the 90's by Hohner. Built in Korea (possibly the Samick factory where the Epiphone Sheratons, Dots & Casinos were also built) it is in very good condition.
Now sold & living in Edinburgh
1983 Vintage Yamaha Japan SF-400 (OHSC)
This rather rare guitar from Yamaha Japan has proved difficult to both date & to find any information on. Yamaha Japan have now dated it to 1983 (I thought it was older) & it is exact in body shape to the excellent SF "Super Flighter" range from Yamaha that emerged in 1977 according to this translated site
This guitar is sold & now gone to Lincoln !
Godin Artisan ST-1
Godins are built in Quebec Canada & the Artisan Series was produced from 1992-1998 & this guitar had the following features:
Birdseye maple top with bound edges
Limewood Body
Maple neck & ebony fingerboard
3 Godin twin blade pickups (designed by Godin and manufactured by Schaller), and a mid filter function on the tone pot. when activated, it cuts half the db level at 600Hz.
This guitar has now gone to Scotland !
Sanox guitars are quite rare & there is little info on the web about them. Having previously owned a set neck model with twin humbuckers, I went after this one when it came up for sale. It was almost certainly built in the 70's or the 80's. I don't believe there was ever a "Sanox" factory this probably hailed from the Matsomuko factory or similar. There is a tale that "Sanox" is the Japanese interpretation of the word "Saxon" I don't know, amusing though!
This one, now gone to Germany
1981 Japanese Hondo H-937BS
Sold & now happily living in the English Riviera !
A nice 1980's Japanese made copy of the Gibson ES-137

2005 Gibson Les Paul
SOLD
Double Cutaway in faded Cherry Red
This model had the great addition of P90 pickups which just sounded sooo cool. I love the sound & this Gibson Les Paul is at a really competitive price, not a lot more than an Epiphone really.Now sold to a man from Tonbridge in Kent who was very happy with it !
Fender '62 Telecaster Custom RW 3TSB
Japanese guitars are nearly always good. Japanese Fenders are always good (in my experience) & this is no exception. A really nicely made guitar in near perfect condition. An excellent guitar, now living in Canterbury but I will definitely be on the lookout for another !
1996 Epiphone Casino
Sunburst with Epiphone HSC
Korean made at the Peerless factory
Basically a thinline hollowbody guitar with a Maple veneer body & a Mahogany neck. 2 x P90 fixed pickups
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
Every so often a guitar comes along that you pick up & play & think "Why do Fender sell so many instruments when there are rivals like this around?"
What a stunning guitar this is. Superb build quality, great sustain & a lovely sound !
Features : Telecaster-style solid body guitar. Made in Canada in 1995. A beautifully flamed carved maple top.Nice birds-eye maple neck with rose wood fingerboard. Dot inlays. Medium neck scale, semi-flat d-shape.
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
1980's MIJ Yamato Stratocaster
A nicely made Yamato Stratocaster Copy
I changed the scratchplate since I got it from a 3 ply white to a 3 ply black which looks rather nice
It has all the features of a strat but with a 3 way switch.
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
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Yamaha SG 90 (Circa 1975)
Purchased on ebay, this gem from the 1970's although a little tatty and with a nasty ding on the front is superb to play. The action is very low, it has a slim neck 24 frets and 2 powerful Yamaha humbuckers.
When I stripped it down to change the strings, adjust the truss rod & give it a good clean, I was amazed at the build quality. Everything from the tuners to the wiring is top quality.
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
1978 Yamaha Studio Lord 500S
(Imported from Japan)
A great example of a 1970's "lawsuit" Yamaha Studio Lord 500s Unlike the cheaper SL's this one has a "set neck" giving it beautiful sustain. I have contacted Yamaha in Japan & they have kindly dated it to May 1978
Great Yamaha pickups & attention to detail. When I imported it, it was just missing it's original pickguard. I sourced a replacement which you can see is a good match although it needs to be on it a few years to age properly!
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
1970' HS Anderson II-Japanese
Designed by "Patrick Vrolant" a french rock guitarist, these Andersons are extremely rare and becoming sought after, one selling recently for $500+ on ebay
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
1995 Fender Japan Precision Bass
Yet another Ebay purchase ! I had an old bass that used to play which was poor quality, I decided to upgrade as cheaply as I could to a Japanese Fender. I love Japanese guitars, they are affordable good quality guitars
When the courier delivered this bass guitar it looked like this !


Nice, eh? If you look closely you can see "Nirvana" engraved into the wood !
Anyway, not my style, particularly the home made scratchplate, so a few hours sanding , then a helpful brother who mixed up some paint to "sort of" match daphne blue, I now have this beauty !
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
Yamaha Super R'n'Roller 500
I imported from Japan together with another 2 vintage Yamahas. They are all such well made guitars. You just cannot get quality like this now. This is the 3rd SR (strat Copy ) I have had & is just as good as the others. When it arrived it was missing its trem-arm but I have replaced that. Unfortunately the tip is rather white compared to the knobs & switch. It will be ok in around 2037!
The electrics all work perfectly. It has a 3 way switch rather than the modern 5 way selectors.
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
1983 JV Squier J Jazz Bass Original!!
This was the first JV Squier I owned & had the chance to play. To be honest, I always wondered what all the fuss was about. They can't be that good, can they?
I suppose the important thing is to understand the history & to realise that what you have is a 25 year old Japanese Fender with USA Pickups & electrics
Here is some history .....
"Fender, under the ownership of CBS, acquired the Squier brand name in the mid to late-1960s when it bought a USA based string-making firm, but it lay dormant for many years.
In the early 1980s, several events were pushing Fender to produce a second-line brand. Firstly, CBS had sold out to new management without the factories in California. This meant there would be a drop in production before new manufacturing plants could be constructed and commissioned. Also, there was a demand for an inexpensive range of guitars that could not be manufactured in the USA at a low enough cost due to the cost of manpower and raw materials. Furthermore, companies were producing Strat copies at affordable prices to cater to a large market of novice guitarists, and this trend was eroding Fender's share of the market, especially in Europe and Asia.
As a solution to the aforementioned problems, the Squier brand name was resurrected in the early 1980s to distinguish a series of classic reproductions called the known as the Squier JV Series. These were surprisingly accurate reproductions of classic 1950s and 1960s Fender guitar models. Soon, a second series followed and these were called the SQ series as seen from the prefix to their serial numbers. They were generally reproductions of 1970s models, the main difference being that they were completely made out of parts made in Japan, whereas the initial JV series used USA-manufactured pickups."
Initial Squier JV series
When initially launched in Europe in the early 1980s the Squier range offered classic reproductions of Fender's most popular models: '57 and '62 Stratocasters, '57 and '62 Precision Basses, '52 Telecasters and '62 Jazz Bass. These were made in the Fuji Gen Gakki factory in Japan - then also used by Ibanez - using original factory blueprints. These early Squiers are referred to as "JV Squiers" due to those two letters being the prefix on the serial number stamped on the neck plate that stand for "Japanese Vintage". Initial shipments to Europe had Fender's logo in large script on the headstock with a small "Squier Series" decal but quickly this gave way to a large Squier logo with a small "by Fender" decal. These early JVs are extremely accurate reproductions of the classic models and are highly sought by guitar collectors, especially in Europe.
This example is 98% original with only a volume control knob changed as the original came off & was lost. It isn't pristine but plays & sounds great! They are very worthy of all the fuss. For info, this one has cloth shielded wiring, all the correct neck stamps. A neck date of 1-08-83
Now owned by Bram Berk (musician) from Holland
1990's Fenix Les Paul Standard
A rare example of a Fenix Les Paul Standard. Made in Korea in the 1990's by Young Chang (Yes, we all know the story of the Ex-Fender guy who set himself up in Korea.) How much truth there is in it, I'm not sure . The only thing you can be sure about with any Fenix is that it is superbly made and they are all very sought after guitars.
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
1980's Sanox Set Neck in Antique Violin
This guitar is very similar to a Fender Flame & some Ibanez Artists & I think came out of the same Fujigen Gakki Factory
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It is stunning, Has a set neck & is finished in a beautiful "Antique Violin" as Ibanez call it. Everything about the guitar is quality from it's costruction, bridge, tuners & powerful pickups to the cross "+" markers along the fretboard & mother of pearl style inlay all around the body binding.
This guitar is now sold & lives happily in the Emerald Isle with Eamonn !
Cheers Eamonn!
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1976 Fender USA Mustang
A rare example with a maple neck & natural body
Features
Bolt on neck
Full size 22 fret neck
Original Mustang pickups
Original Switching & scratch plate (serial number stamped on underside to match headstock)
2x 3 way slider switches for each pickup
1 volume & 1 tone controls
Now living happily in Co. Laois Eire & cared for by Kevin !!
1997 Hohner HS-35HG
A new arrival this week & what a beauty.A Korean made ES-335 copy In near 100% perfect condition, these Hohners are great guitars. When they came out they were reviewed by a well known Guitar magazine alongside Epiphone Dot & Aria Pro & they came out on top with their build quality.
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold

1980's Yamaha SA-700 Super Axe
(Imported from Japan)
A great example of a 1980's Yamaha Super Axe. Unlike the other SA-1100 on the site, which is a superb guitar, this one is a "made in Japan" Instrument Great Yamaha pickups & attention to detail.
Now living in Sweden.

2006 USA Valley Arts Custom Telecaster & OHSC
What an incredible guitar & by far, the best telecaster I have ever played, including all the Fender USA telecasters (IMHO) .
I have been a Larry Carlton fan for many years. I finally saw him play & met him briefly afterwards in 2007. He had a close association with Valley Arts guitars when they were set up in the 80's & he is playing them on a couple of instructional DVD's that I own. I believe helped with the development. This isn't an original L.C. Signature one as the factory suffered a fire in the 90's. Details can be see here
http://player.gibson.com/june03/valleyarts.html
They are now built in the Gibson Custom shop & this one is a special order in Sunburst
All the spec is here
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Divisions/ValleyArts/Valley%20Arts%20T-Series/
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold

1980's Westbury Standard in OHSC Black
I used to own a Westbury Deluxe which I sold a few months ago. I recently found two Westbury Standards which are pretty much the same but without the carved top & coil splitting. Although both guitars are excellent, this one is the better of the two & also has it's Westbury Hardshell Case (if a little battered!)
This guitar now owned by "Gef" from West Wickham. Thanks Gef !

1980's Tokai Goldstar Stratocaster
Tokai Goldstar strat, 80's model with amazing low action and beautiful sound.
Solid wood body
Maple neck & fingerboard
3 single coil Pickups
1 Volume & 2 tone controls
5 way switch
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
1993 Levinson Blade Texas Standard Pro
What a cracking guitar ! Like the "Godin Artisan" featured on another one of my pages, it is so nice to see other guitar manufacturers building classic styles, to a very high quality but with different specifications & ideas.
Swiss based guitar designer Gary Levinson has been building guitars since 1982. In 1987 production was shifted to Japan & this model was made in 1993.
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold

1997 Hohner Professional SE-35
A really nice example of this ES-335 copy from the 90's by Hohner. Built in Korea (possibly the Samick factory where the Epiphone Sheratons, Dots & Casinos were also built) it is in almost perfect condition. It has a set neck, twin humbucker pickups. Rosewood fingerboard. There are some great reviews of this guitar at Harmony Central...
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold

1982 Westone Rainbow I & OHSC
Nice guitar! A 1982 Matsomuko made 335 copy from the 80's, Japan made, set neck guitar with the following features:
This Rainbow I is a "translucent walnut"finish & has a semi-solid laminated Canadian Ash body, a 3 ply Maple neck.The centre block is Maple.
Rosewood fingerboard, 24.75 inch scale 22 frets. Brass nut.
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
1988 Fender USA Telecaster Standard
This is a 1988 USA Standard Telecaster. I purchased it from a professional musician from South London called Sam Beer. His music is mostly acoustic based and he has a selection of his music, some featuring this guitar on his website
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
1954 Zenith Semi Acoustic
My first electric! Made in East Germany/Czech republic and marketed by Boosey & Hawkes in the UK. I added the pickups & pickguard. Built of plywood & would never stay in tune! Fond memories though...
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold

1996 Fender Japanese Strat 1952 reissue
I never fully appreciated how good this guitar was. Bought new, wish I still owned it ..
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold

1979 USA Fender Stratocaster International Series in Maui Blue
The bridge, pickup covers & knobs were changed. Sold to a highly delighted RN Helicopter Pilot!
Why oh why did I sell it ?? It will be worth a fortune in years to come
1990 Fender Strat Plus
Not the greatest Fender I have seen or played.OK but not as good as the Jap ones
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold

Gordon Smith Gypsy II
An early example from GS. Lovely guitar, I would still love a Graduate though!
for more info on Gordon Smith guitars, go to
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
http://www.fairplay.demon.co.uk/

Patrick Eggle Berlin Pro V
Probably the prettiest & best made guitar I have owned & the most expensive. (Sold for £750)
An early example built when Patrick Eggle was still in charge! I never could get on with the rotary switches though.Not a big fan of Wilkinson Trems either !
for more info on Patrick Eggle, go to:
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
http://www.patrickeggleguitars.com/

1990 Fender Japan 50's reissue Telecaster
Imported by me from Japan.Great guitar.Light body.Neck plate &control plate were crooked.Unusual-Fake ? Went to Italy, a very happy buyer
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold

Fenix Telecaster Deluxe
I love Fenix guitars. Famously made by Young Chang, the guy Fender sacked for making his own guitars. I didn't realise how good they were when I bought this one! Through body stringing, gold hardwear and creme binding. Fantastic!
This one went to Germany. Buyer delighted !
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold

1983 Fender Japan Master Series Esprit Standard
The first Esprit I bought. Absolutely fantastic guitar! Built at the Ibanez factory. Only 4000 ever made and famously used by Robben Ford.This one went to a lovely and very happy ebayer on the Isle of Wight
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
1996 Fender Japan Telecaster Fotoflame
Such a pretty guitar. Great neck and sound.Went to Spain, this one! As good as my USA Standard Tele
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
Early 1980's Yamaha SF500
Beautifully made guitar. I would have another tomorrow! A real rocker !
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold

Fernandes Telecaster Copy
Imported by me from Japan.Good guitar, now living in Merseyside
http://www.fernandesguitars.com/menu.htm

Young Chang Stratocaster
An early Fenix guitar(note the different headstock) that was a beauty. Now living happily in the Netherlands

Fenix TC10
Sadly unloved when I bought it, but a good clean and a new pickguard later.It is now happily living in Newcastle

Yamaha Super R'n roller
Imported from Japan by me.Still in original hardcase and complete with Yamaha strap, polishing cloth & tools. An absolute peach! Went to the West Country
So much better than the later Squiers from Korea and China.

Sanox Sound Creator
Top quality 1970-1980 Japanese made guitar. Finished to a very high quality. Sold to a Greek who still owes me £20 !!
Morris Anderson "Global Sounds"

Morris Anderson "Global Sounds"
(1970s-80s MIJ)
I purchased this guitar some time ago via ebay.The seller told me that he purchased it in France which would explain the rarity and lack of information regarding the guitar
It says on the back of the headstock, "designed by Patrick Vrolant".
Patrick Vrolant is a famous country/rock recording artist in France.
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
Yamaha Super R'nRoller 400
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold
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Satellite Strat HH Thru Neck
Nice Japanese 1970's Fender copy but with a thru neck. Now living in Berkshire. A nice player

Washburn Washington J-9
Purchased from a hard up student from Canterbury Uni. Took many an hour just to clean it up! A few deep scratches in places and knobs missing.
After a good clean & set up, the difference was amazing! Now living happily in Essex
Legend Acrylic See-Thru Guitar.
Purchased from a hard up student via ebay, this guitar was purchased around 2000 at the guitar show at the NEC Birmingham. The seller stated that there was a small stall where a guy had hand built these and he just fell in love with it.
I cannot verify any of this information & looking on the web, the only Legend guitar makers I can find are in the USA and mainly build acoustics.I don't think it is from there.
When I bought it, the neck pickup was knackered, it wasn't a recognised make so I have replaced both pickups with some high outut "Zebra" style which are copies of Dimarzio/SD Humbuckers. They work great. The guitar was also dirty, no strings & badly set up! (Students!) I have given it a birthday & it now is a great rocker with low action ! It has all the signs of being hand built but a good job was made of it. If anyone has any info regarding this, it would be gratefully received!
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1982 Ibanez Artist AR50
A 1982 Ibanez Artist made at the Fujigen Gakki factory in Japan and the first one I have owned.Easy to see why these are so sought after. Absolutely gorgeous to play with a great sound.
A couple of small but noticeable marks on the back & front when I got it. These have now been blown in & relacquered professionally
Sorry, this guitar has now been sold

1984 Peavey Patriot USA
SOLD
I have been after one of these for a while & I certainly wasn't disappointed! A really good little guitar. Dates to the early 80's.USA made (not far east like the new stuff) .Mahogany body & Maple neck & fingerboard.2 punchy & powerful "Peavey Super Ferrite" pickups which are almost P-90 like. 1 vol & 1 tone and a three way switch. Peavey Tuners