The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Hi,guys.When i posted about my Aria ProII TA-60,back in November i really thought that would be it for guitars.But G.A.S has struck again,and this time with my all time favourite guitar.I remember going into Roka`s in Denmark street back in 86 with the intention of buying one of the Japanese Epiphone Casino re-issues which had started to enter the country,i had just over £300 in my pocket and i wanted a blonde Casino just like John`s.Well the guy`s in the shop were very helpful but alas informed me "you can have wine red or antique sunburst,but,they only do the Sheraton in blonde"!.Well i tried a wine red one,it sounded nice but the neck was a bit skinny,and after pondering feedback issues,left the shop with a lovely blonde Sheraton which cost £325 with case as opposed to the Casino+Riviera at £295 with case.Alas the Sheraton is long gone but funny how i still remember it`s serial number 4053615.Anyway as of last Thursday and the power of ebay i`am the proud owner"finally"of a beautiful blonde 83 Casino!!!.The guy who advertised it Paul.only lived 8 miles away and on the very same road as me,and i would have passed that guitar on my way to and from work for the last 3 years!Anyway he had a buy it now of £525,but i managed to persuade him to trade for a very nice 82 Tokai Breezysound and £75 cash,and both of us are extremely happy!!.This Casino is fantastic the neck is just right for my hands,not too narrow at all.It`s completely stock with those great Maxon pickups,the e stamped Gotoh sealed tuners with the Kluson type buttons.The neck is 3 piece Maple,and the neck body joint is at the 16th fret.It`s got it`s original pickguard (usually disgarded with!!).The neck and h/stock inlay`s are real mother of pearl (you can see the Purple`s+Green`s in the light!!).and when you play it,not a buzz anywhere.It weighs just over 7lbs and i love it!!!!!Pic`s to follow if i can get the darn camera to work.Steve.P.S.I wonder why Matsumoku went with a 3 piece Maple neck instead of a 3 piece Mahogany one,anyone got any idea`s?,not that it seems to affect the sound in any way.Cheers.

Congratulations! Isn't it great when you find one like that?

I`ve finally found out how to post photo`s,so here she is!.Totally original with a fantastic neck and pickup`s,i`ve also got an 82 in Antique Sunburst,photo`s to follow.These Casino`s really were the Mutts Nuts!,and i`ve yet to find an American Casino or Gibson 330 as nice!!.

I`ve finally found out how to post photo`s,so here she is!.Totally original with a fantastic neck and pickup`s,i`ve also got an 82 in Antique Sunburst,photo`s to follow.These Casino`s really were the Mutts Nuts!,and i`ve yet to find an American Casino or Gibson 330 as nice!!.Sorry cocked up the last one!.

Very Pretty - I'm a big fan of the semi-hollow body Epiphones, very underated compared to Gibson.

Congrats

Nice guitar Frenchie! It's basically the same as mine, except the color.
Mine is easily the best playing guitar I've ever owned.

What strings do you use? I've changed mine a few times but like DAddario 11s for the sound - a bit more jazz sounding than 10s.

Thanks,Mixolydian.

I`ve actually got three Matsumoku Casino`s,this one,an 83 in Wine Red,and a Antique Sunburst,from 82 which is my main gigging guitar,(if you go over to the new Epiphone Forum,you`ll see pic`s of them in my first post there,search posts by Frenchie).As for strings,both the Blonde and Antique sunburst,have D`addario 10`s,and the Wine Red has D`addario 11`s,and i must admit that the Sunburst 82 is the most acoustically vibrant of the three,but theres not much to choose between that and the wine Red one,the Blonde is quieter acoustically,through an amp the Wine Red and Sunburst are very similar(maybe just a bit more sustain on the Red one).One point of note,is that i have replaced the bridges on both the red and sunburst with Gotoh type Nashville one`s with Nylon saddles,and also changed the stock 5 and a half inch Trapeze Tailpieces,for the longer/heavier six inch version`s from Allparts(like the originals and Lennon reissues hey have the larger diamond),that has made quite a difference on these guitars.I`ve left the Blonde one as stock.
These are really great guitars in my opinion,they are easily on a par with the Elite/Elitists,but i think the Matsumoku`s are more organic,in feel,plus the quality of the wood appears higher to me ,they have a sort of Burl Maple as opposed to the more blander type, now used on the current versions(Lennon reissues included!!).I really like the colour of yours,and it appears to have the heavier/longer tailpiece as well!.

Wow 3 Matsumoku Casinos! You likely have the most of anyone in the world. I've played the Elite, the Elitist, and the original issue John Lennon (nice!) Casinos, and I have to agree with your comments.

When I bought mine, the trapeze had been changed to one from a Gibson 345, and the bridge is a Gotoh nylon. The nut had been changed as well to a bone nut, and the tuners are Grovers. Luckily, the pickups and pots, are stock.

I need to take some new photos of it. The back is just beautiful.

When I saw it hanging at the shop in Ochanomizu, it took me about one second to decide that I wanted it. It cost 63000 yen (with case) which was $560 at the time.

I'll check out your guitars at the Epiphone site.

Thanks for your comments Mixolydian.Actually there is a guy in Japan who has 24 Casino`s!!!,6 Kalamazoo,originals 8 Matsumoku,and 10 Terada`s.Check out =TADWEB=TAD`S INST.S,you will see loads of pic`s,he is a Blues musician,named Tad Miura.Getting back to your Casino i think you will find that they came with a bone nut as standard!all of mine have bone nuts.Just seen your post of the 77 Epiphone catalogue,wish i could read Japanese!,and have you come across any other Matsumoku Epiphone catalogues,they are a bit thin on the ground around here.

Frenchie,
I saw your guitars on the Epi forum. Nice. I like the blond one.
I'd like to find a Matsumoku Sheraton in that dark sunburst color with a tortoise pickguard.

I have seen Tad's site but I don't think here currently owns all of them. Nevertheless, he has a lot of guitars. He plays (or used to play) in a Beatles tribute band.