The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Hi, I'm new here and this is my first post.

I've been checking out a good-condition Japanese Strat copy in a local music store. The brand name is National (inlaid in mother-of-pearl in the headstock). It has a five-position selector switch, which I think puts it post-'77.

So far I've found out that when Valco/National went bankrupt in 1969, the National brand name was picked up at auction by a Chicago importer called Strum & Drum, who used the name on various Japanese copies throughout the 70's until ???

I have found brief references to National basses and Les Pauls from that era, but not to any Strat copies. Does anyone know what company might have made this guitar (and its pickups)?

Thanks for any help.

The 9th BBEG mentions Strum & Drum distributed under the Norma label at that time. Most likely the Nationals were contracted through the same source.

Lordbizarre is probably the best with these labels.