Old Japanese Guitar

[Socksthewarrior]

Hello. I picked up this guitar at a thrift store and I'm trying to find some information on it.





It doesnt work very well. Volume seems really low. I think the output jack isnt wired properly. The wire coming off it was ground on the bridge.
Is that good enough or should it be ground somewhere else with a separate bridge ground?
I also have no idea what the switches do. Assuming one of them is a pup selector.
I want to replace the switches but im not sure what to buy. Id like to keep the guitar as close to its original self as possible.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Old Japanese Guitar

Cool project!

I have no idea what it is, but it looks like the switch is actually three different switches… Presumably on/off (one for each pickup) and then a rhythm/solo switch which introduces some type of capacitor and presumably changes the tone.

As for the ground going directly to the bridge, that shouldn’t hurt anything at all… It’s just a different way of doing it. It may be that those pickups are just quiet (I’ve heard that a lot of those old Japanese pickups can be lacking in output).

How does it play?

 

[StoRMiE]

Re: Old Japanese Guitar

Looks like a 60's Teisco or a Zenon, pickguard and layout with bridge and that string retainer suggest Teisco though. Unsure, but it gives you somewhere to start.

 

[Socksthewarrior]

Re: Old Japanese Guitar

It plays like ass. Crackling and poping all the time. The switches just look like they need to be replaced. They have no solid point of contact. They just glide from one side to the other not feeling like they make a solid connection.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Old Japanese Guitar

The headstock shape looks identical to a mid 80's Yamaha Strat copy that I have. Unfortunately that's all I have to contribute. I did refinish mine and it turned out well and sounds good, so you may have a good core for your project.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Old Japanese Guitar

If it "plays like ass," then it's not worth a minute of your time or money.

 

[Socksthewarrior]

Re: Old Japanese Guitar

this is what i like to do though. taking junk and trying to make something good out of it.