The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Ran across this listing and I'm trying to help him out. I'd personally like to talk him out of it for myself, but I'm not in any way able to atm.

I think it might be a CS-300 in that it has a gloss finish, but the single volume and tone controls are the stumbling point. The website has question marks regarding the controls for the 200 and 300 so maybe... The 200 has a satin finish.

I've asked him to send me better photos in natural light and without clutter, which when received, will be sent to Crusty for inclusion to the website.

_________________
Comparing spammers to a pile of organic waste, is an insult to the organic waste.

Uncle Mats ES-500, RS Wildcat, RSB Deluxe, FS-750, Magna MA 30 (non-Mat), TA-61 non-Mat), a Westone limited run/proto Thunder and an OAKLAND (Westone) XI100.

Pete

Interesting indeed.
The neck is set pretty deep into that one. I'm not sure why but every now and then you see them that way. My CS Deluxe was that way. Makes it difficult to reach the upper frets.

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Serial NO may help narrow it down.

I'd guess CS-200 based on the pages linked below- the finish looks more matte to me. Neck plate has Aria script that I think came later- serial number maybe starts with 4?

I didn't realize there were 200s and 300s until reading this thread and looking them up. I have seen single-pickup versions of the 250 (trem and fixed bridge), and the CS-43 "Beat Master" that's maybe post-Matsumoku.

http://www.matsumoku.org/cm_models/2021 ... ral-specs/

https://en.audiofanzine.com/misc-shape- ... al-cs-200/

https://www.soft.com.sg/forum/showthrea ... uitars-MIJ

Serial # is 408xxxx.

The Cardinals I've seen all have a "rough" surface - not sanded or filled smooth - so it is difficult to definitely tell if the finish is glossy or satin. There is one other photo shot on the oblique that might show the finish better.

_________________
Comparing spammers to a pile of organic waste, is an insult to the organic waste.

Uncle Mats ES-500, RS Wildcat, RSB Deluxe, FS-750, Magna MA 30 (non-Mat), TA-61 non-Mat), a Westone limited run/proto Thunder and an OAKLAND (Westone) XI100.

Pete

I believe thats a mat finish. Also, that appears to be a surface mount bridge. I'm curious, is that factory? It looks like it to me.

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

I've had both satin finish as well as glossy and the glossy 350s were VERY glossy. Thick urethane. One Cobalt Blue, one See Thru Blue, and two See Thru Red.

That bridge looks a bit smaller than the stock and the stock had a cast base plate and different saddles. If it is not original the person who replaced it did an excellent job. The knobs don't seem to be original and the pickups likely aren't either. They look like the pickups that were in my Westone Prestige.

If it was made later than the 250/350, maybe they were just using whatever parts they had. I thought of a Westone Rainbow when I saw the pickups.

The bridge looks to be the same as the one in this link which makes me think it could be factory.
https://www.soft.com.sg/forum/showthrea ... uitars-MIJ

Most CS guitars we normally see are '80 - '82. My CS Deluxe was an '83 and it had a Fender style bolt in neck rather than the typical Mat bolt neck. The neck was also set into the body deeper than my earlier CS guitars. That was the reason I didn't like it as much, the upper frets were not easily accessible. Have we determined the year on this one yet? To me, this looks like a later model that has "evolved" if you will.
The other links in Numbfingers post also lead me to this conclusion.

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Link broken....