Site Map – Detailed

  • About the Archives
    These archives began in 1998 as a simple ISP home page space by the author to document the maker of the guitars he loved so much. By 2000 it had grown too large for the small space allotted by the ISP and the Guitar Gallery was born. Once the Guitar Gallery had it’s own presence on the web things grew exponentially into what is here now.

    This repository represents the work of many like minded individuals spanning many countries. A great deal of effort went into documenting the brands and many models of guitars made by Matsumoku. We would like to thank the many contributors who made this site possible.
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    To drill down to the information you are seeking use the search function above using model numbers or names such as CS-350, VSH-455, Prototype, Skylark or Vantage. Alternately you can list by category as well. Some models have thier own PDF pages while others are covered in the catalogs.

    Although we have done our very best to make this site “mobile friendly“, due to the nature of the content here some content may be best viewed with a tablet or desktop. Read More…

    Peter De Geus has put together a comprehensive serial number reference that goes far above and beyond. Many thanks from all of us for this invaluable resource Peter! CLICK HERE…

    If you are unable to find the information you are looking for we invite you to join our forums. There are many knowledgeable members there and we’d love to get to know you. (Please read the forum guidelines before registering). If you have information that may be useful to the effort or have site issues to report please do contact us. We would love to hear from you.

    This site is not affiliated with any of the brands or labels mentioned, only a tribute to their heyday and impact on the world of guitars in general. This site is not directly connected to Aria, Aria Pro II, Matsumoku, Vantage, or any other label produced by Matsumoku. Much of the media here consists of high resolution scans and full size PDF documents which have been categorized and indexed to enhance searching.

  • Contact Us
    IF YOU READ ANY OF THIS PAGE READ THE NEXT TWO LINES FIRST!
    **** Unfortunately we are NOT able to answer general guitar questions via messaging
     and are NOT able to offer appraisals. Messages of this nature will be disregarded. ****
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    If you have read through the FAQ, searched the Model Archives, and yet have not found the information you are seeking please DO join the Forums and post your questions and post pics of of the gem you’ve acquired there.
    We look forward to seeing you there!
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    !!!If you do not receive a reply from us please check your Junk/Spam folder!!!

    Be sure to mark replies from GG SiteIssues as “Not Spam”. Also you’ll need to provide us with a valid email address.
    We do not charge admisison to this site. We do not charge subrscriptions to this site. We do not shove ads in your face.
    This site is provided as a courtesy free of charge and ads for all seeking information about these guitars.
    With this in mind we are under no obligation whatsoever to provide personalized one on one consultation of any kind.

    Have you read and understood the bold red text on this page?
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    Use this form to report issues regarding the site such as broken images, issues with the forums, have information for the archives or even to say thanks. We look forward to hearing from you! (Spammers, you’re wasting your time but go ahead if you must, you do give me something to put in my trash folder)

    If you are requesting a forum account be sure to use a valid email address, provide a preferred user name (no special characters or spaces, numbers and letters only), as well as a temporary password which can be changed the first time you log in. This information will be used verbatim so check twice. You will be notified by email when the account has been created and if there were any exceptions you should be aware of.

    Check your spam folder if you expect a reply from us and don’t see it in your in box!

    Accounts with zero posts after 7 days will be considered abandoned and automatically deactivated by the system and will require Admin re-activation. Inactive accounts are then deleted by the system once a month to prevent database clutter. There has been a rash of spammers creating accounts and waiting some time before spamming the forums. It stands to reason those intending to post will post right away.

    Just to reiterate….
    We cannot answer guitar questions via messaging.
    We cannot offer apprisals or valuations via messaging.
    Check your spam folder if you expect a reply from us and don’t see it in your in box.
  • Our Privacy Policy


    We use session cookies on our forums. No personally identifiable data is collected other than your forum account data such as user name, email address, undread posts etc. should you choose to register on the forums.

  • Serial NO. / Dating Info
    Serial numbers for these guitars is not a perfect science, but in nearly all cases after Matsumoku’s involvement they can be trusted to indicate what year the guitar was produced. . Shiro Arai Co. Most guitars produced by Arai such as the Aria Diamonds (not to be confused with the Aria Pro II Diamonds), Lyle, Conrad, Maxi-Tone, Japanese Epiphone, Univox, and the other pre-1976 guitars often had serial numbers usually on the neck plate (I imagine so dealers could track warranty, etc.). Unfortunately the number was arbitrary and had little to do with when the guitar was produced. After Arai joined forces with Matsumoku, the serial numbers began to have some bearing on the guitar’s production year and rank in production sequence. Serial numbers on these guitars were arbitrary numbers and did not indicate date of manufacture. When dating these guitars only ballpark ranges is possible. One tip is the type of pickups. Single coil trapezoid face = mid to late 1960s, P-90 sized single and dual coil pickups = early 1970s, normal humbuckers and more strat like singles = early to mid 1970s. . Guitars produced by Matsumoku Nearly all guitars produced by Matsumoku (beginning sometime late 1976 or early 1977) bore serial numbers indicating the year and possibly production sequence. A small number of guitars produced had serials preceeded by a letter, but as to what the letter inidicated is yet a mystery and one can only guess without concrete evidence. I have seen both 6 and 7 digit serial numbers (excluding the letter if it is present).This new serialization covered Aria, Aria Pro II, Vantage, Westbury, most Westones, Japanese Washburns, some Electras, and the Skylark as well as others. The first digit (and upon rare occasion the first two) indicated the year. There is an inherent flaw with this single-digit method as the single digit year indicator will re-cycle after a decade! Attention must be paid to when the particular model was available and apply that to the first digit of the serial, excluding the letter if present. A bit of cross referencing is required. For example, my first Cardinal CS-350 has the serial 2010237 which indicates both by the first digit and the duration of the Cardinal CS-350 run it is a 1982 (and I know it is, I bought it then!). In rare instances the first two digits would indicate the year, in which case we can safely assume that my Cardinal is not a 1920! Had it been the two-digit version it would have begun with 82XXXXX rather than 20XXXXX, which would also indicate 1982. Spotting and identifying early Korean models after production shifted to Korea… Early Korean models adopted similar looking serial numbers but did not follow the Matsumoku formula. Many early Koreans appeared to be nearly identical to the Japanese models with one important thing missing, at least on models with bolt necks and neckplates: “Made In Japan” or “Product of Matsumoku”. Without this, it is not an earlier Japanese model. Other tip-offs to later Korean heritage are bridges with squared-off ends, 3rd fret scarf joint in the neck, Schaller style tuners on models previously equipped with keystone style tuners, smaller potentiometers, and Quck-hook tailpieces with standard stop-bar stud spacing among others. Usually the serial number begins with an S. If your guitar has such a serial number you may be able to date it using the Samick Serial Number Decoder.
  • Site Map
  • Site Map – Detailed
  • Submit Your Guitar
    So you have a guitar or resurrection you’d like to submit. That’s great!

    What we are looking for are nice pictures (as many as you like) and as detailed specifications as possible. The only requirement is that the guitar falls within the scope of this site, the guitar is made by Matsumoku (confirmed). Please try to get nice pics if possible with background taken into consideration (on a sofa or backdrop, not in the foreground of a cluttered garage if you know what we mean). If everything looks good we’ll get to work publishing your guitar. Here are the specification details we’d like to have if possible:

    Body Woods: Such as Japanese Ash, Mahogany, or Walnut
    Neck Woods and Type: Such as Maple or Mahogany
    (also bolt on or set-in)
    Fingerboard Wood: Such as Rosewood or Ebony
    (and position marker type if possible)
    Nut: Such as plastic, bone, or brass
    Scale: Such as 24-3/4″, 25-1/2″. 630mm or 650mm
    Pickups: Model/Type and quantity (or combo, HSH, SSH etc.)
    (if no model/PN type such as open or covered humbucker, single coil)
    Controls: Such as 2V 2T, 3-way, Coil Cut, etc.
    Tuners: Such as sealed/die cast, open gear, Keystone, etc
    Hardware: Such as Chrome, Gold, Black and Gold, etc
    Finish: Such as See-Thru Red, Walnut, Japan Brown, or Tobacco Sunburst

    You can use the form below to contact us.
    We will reply with an email address you can send the information to.
    If you would like your contact information (e.g. email address) included in the post please clearly specify.
    Please indicate how you would like to be identified (e.g. Nickname, forum name, etc.)
    By default we leave infomation such as this out to protect your privacy.
    We’ll notify you as soon as we have published your guitar.
    Thanks!

  • The Guitar Gallery FAQ
    Q:I couldn’t find any information on my BlahBlah XX-000 guitar. Can you tell me anything about it? Q:I have/am looking at/trading off a BlahBlah brand Blah model. What’s it worth? Q:I found a BlahBlah model Blah but it’s a color not listed. Is it a custom or special model? Q:I’m looking at/have a BlahBlah model Blah but it has an extra switch and different pickups. Special Prototype? Q:I found a BlahBlah guitar a guy in Katmandu said Kurt Kobain and Elvis puked on! Q:I saw an Aria guitar listed on the SoSo.Com site made by Ibanez. Did Ibanez make Aria? Q:I saw a BlahBlah lawsuit model on SoSo.Com. Is this good? Q:Is this all there is to the FAQ? Definitions A Blurb on Hype A note about the “Lawsuit”
    Q: I couldn’t find any information on my BlahBlah XX-000 guitar. Can you tell me anything about it? A: Well, everything We have on anything should be up on the site. We try very hard to update it anytime new information comes in. I may be working on a section that pertains to your guitar, in which case patience will be rewarded! Chances are if I have the information it will be posted, and if I don’t, It’ll be tough to answer your question.  =]  You might also post your question on the Message Board. That is why it’s there! =] Back to Top Q: I have/am looking at/trading off a BlahBlah brand Bleep model. What’s it worth? A: Boy is this a toughie! First, the actual value depends on what the market will bear at that particular time. Factors such as Hype, Name Frenzy or Name Flinging, time of year, how many are available, condition, modifications, and on and on will have a bearing on perceived value. So much comes into play one really has to stay on top of it. Usually there is an acceptable ballpark value that can be used as a general guide, but it all boils down to how bad people in the market want that guitar (or how bad you want it). I usually use eBay to gauge what a guitar is worth, and it is a pretty good indicator as to what a large base of individuals are willing to pay for a guitar. You probably shouldn’t go by what you see on guitar dealer websites. They are listing what they want for it, not necessarily what someone will pay for it. If it were such a good deal, would it be there long? Also, don’t go solely by what a Music store tells you either unless they have a genuine interest in you, your guitar, and your music. Most music stores are businesses first, focused on one thing: The almighty dollar. If you are trying to trade in or sell, many will give you a very low figure, and if you want what they have, most likely the figure will be much higher for the SAME guitar. The “MegaStores” are notorious for this so be warned. If you have come across a store that is genuinely interested in music and you as a player, by all means, patronize them! They’re a rare and dying breed in this age of MegaStores (see definitions)! Back to Top Q: I found a BlahBlah model Bleep but it’s a color not listed. Is it a custom or special model? A: This is more than likely not the case. Although many options, features, appointments, and finishes are listed in a catalog’s specs, this does not mean that is all that was available from the factory. Every smart company tests the market making minor variations available. It may be a limited run, but that doesn’t mean it was special order, “custom shop”, or otherwise one-off. Also, with Matsumoku guitars, some of the aforementioned features were changed according to the targeted geographical market. What was available here in the States may not have been in the UK, and the reverse. Models and variations may have become available first in one location, then later in another, and by that time the specs may have changed. Without a verifiable Certificate of Authenticity (COA) it’s pretty much just a guess, hunch, or hope that it’s something rare or one-of-a-kind. Back to Top Q: I’m looking at/have a BlahBlah model Bleep but it has an extra switch and different pickups. Special prototype? A: First thing to consider is has it been modified? If YOU bought it new like this that’s one story, but if you got it second hand and are unsure of it’s history (or cannot confirm it), or there is no COA, then you can’t be sure. Also, see the previous question and answer as it applies to this as well. Too often a model is claimed to be a “prototype” simply because there is not much information about it out there. It may also be a short run intended for a particular market (USA, UK, Europe, Japan, etc.). Back to Top Q: I found a BlahBlah guitar a guy in Katmandu said Kurt Kobain and Elvis puked on! A: NEVER accept someone’s word on something like this unless you know them well, they are a saint, or close to it! Don’t fall victim to hype such as this (See the blurb on Hype)! Autographs, purported celebrity ownership, celebrity encounters, or any other claim of this nature (you get my drift) are nothing more than interesting anecdotes or embellishments unless they can be verified by means other than a simple verbal claim. When a claim like this is made, you should always request evidence such as photographic negatives (pictures can be doctored), a verifiable COA, or you hear it directly from the horse’s mouth. In the case of Elvis Presley or Kurt Kobain, the “horse’s mouth” method will be difficult at best! Back to Top Q: I saw an Aria guitar listed on the SoSo.Com site made by Ibanez. Did Ibanez make Aria? A: NO! NO! And NO! This one gets me fired up every time! Elger/Hoshino (Ibanez) did NOT make Aria, Aria Pro II, Westone, Vantage, Electra, Westbury, Japanese Washburns, or any of the other guitars in these lines. They were made by Matsumoku in partnership with Shiro Aria co. in entirely different facilities. More likely, Hoshino contracted Matsumoku than the converse. There’s one of two things going on when you see this. First, the seller is obviously unaware of the guitar’s origins, or second and more often the case, the seller is flinging the Ibanez name to both increase interest and jack up the price, or worse yet, keyword spamming if it’s an auction listing (see the blurb on hype). Fortunately, if this was your question, you are doing your homework (hopefully beforehand)! Good for you! Back to Top Q: I saw a BlahBlah lawsuit model on SoSo.Com. Is this good? A: Oh boy! Here’s another doosie that gets my drawers in a bunch! Far too often it is nothing more than hype to jack the price of a guitar up, and less often an actual “Lawsuit” model (open book or “mustache” headstock). You would be surprised to know how many people don’t know exactly what a “lawsuit” model is, and unfortunately, sellers sometimes take advantage of this. See the blurb on Hype elsewhere on this page. It boils down to this: If it truly is a lawsuit model you’ll have to decide if you are willing to fork out the extra $$$ for a headstock shape. Back to Top Q: Is this all there is to the FAQ? A: Yup, at present. I’m sure we’ll add more as time goes on. Definitions Certificate of Authenticity (COA): A document that indicates a particular item’s uniqueness, originality, origin(s), feature(s), or rarity to be authentic which can be verified though reliable sources. BlahBlah: A term used here to represent another term, word, brand, or model which is either unknown, or where a blanket term is best suited. (also written in singular form as Bleep). SoSo.com: Term used to represent a site name that needn’t be, could not, or should not be referred to directly. MegaStores: I am sure you know what I’m talking about here! Those Wal-Mart sized puppies with a thousand different pretty flavors of sharp-fretted buzz saws hanging on the walls and lurking in stands just waiting to knaw on their next victim. The places where tone-deaf metal-masters are born. Cacaphony palaces. You get the picture! Hype: 1: Deception, put-on. 2: Publicity 3: Obnoxious blabber. 4: Misleading statements. 5: A plethera of partially or completely irrelevant over-enthusiastic slanted prose designed to induce in one the extreme desire to throw away their hard earned money. 6: See below. . Back to Top .
    A Blurb on “Hype” One of the things that really causes confusion is the over-use of hype. Words or phrases such as Rare, Lawsuit (see below), Custom, Custom Shop,  Custom Order, “Owned by…”, “Played by…”, “Autographed by…”, One-of-a-Kind, prototype, and the infamous “SoAndSo Model” (when in fact there is no such thing) are some of most common. The nuts and bolts is: If it cannot be, or is not backed by a verifiable source or COA, it’s really nothing more than empty banter. If it IS legitimate, this is GREAT and is going to make someone a very proud owner, but unfortunately that’s not usually the case. Most of the time these and like terms/phrases are nothing more than sucker magnets used to reel in an uninformed buyer and their money. Autographs can be faked, headstocks re-shaped, guitars re-finished, or pictures doctored and it is buyer beware. We would rather see someone pass up something questionable than to waste their money on something misrepresented or blown out of proportion! Why else do you think I am telling you this? It’s your money, and the seller is asking you for it, so you have every right to be a horse’s behind about it and make them PROVE their claims! If they are not cooperative, take this as an indicator, or red flag if you will, and walk away and wait for a legitimate deal to come along. Nearly all honest sellers will be more than willing to back their claims, or at least disclose the claims are not verifiable. Watch out for Name-Flinging and subliminal techniques too! For example, I have seen a number of listings for guitars where the desciption ran on forever about Gibson, Guild, Gretsch, Ibanez, and countless artists, and even a couple with a pic of a famous artist playing an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT GUITAR. This is high energy salesmanship, but also subliminal bombardment as well as creative keyword spamming! I know for a fact several had counterfeit Gibson logo inlays which added to the hype. You should have seen some of the huge $ amounts peppered all throughout these descriptions adding even more spice to the hype! Don’t let this sort of thing suck you in. Keep a clear head! If you’re not sure, ask someone that knows! Use the web to do research. If you deal with an honest music store, ask someone there! Doing the homework will often save you money and land you a better deal in the process. Remember, you are buying their words as well as their guitar!
    Back to Top .
    A note about the “Lawsuit” It is a common misconception that the famous Gibson/Norlin lawsuit was filed against a number of Japanese companies. It is also commonly said it was over the exact copying of American designs. Neither is true. The lawsuit was filed by Norlin (Gibson’s parent company) against Elger/Hoshino (Ibanez’s American division) over the use of the “open book” headstock design which Norlin claimed as a Gibson Trademark. It was not over the exact copying of body dimensions or construction. These guitars were metric! Don’t believe me? Just try putting your Gibson stop-tail posts in one of those “exact” copies! When’s the last time you saw a bolt-neck genuine LP Custom? The lawsuit was not “won” by Norlin, but settled out of court. Most of the Japanese companies, as a precautionary move, turned away from close copies but many still offered their “version” of the classic American designs with at least minor departures in design and appearance. Often I see the term “lawsuit” tossed around rather freely. Most often it is either hype to raise the price of the copy someone trying to sell, or they simply don’t know what the “lawsuit” was all about. Too often it really isn’t a lawsuit model at all. DON’T FALL VICTIM TO THE HYPE! I see a lot of this in on-line auctions and on-line guitar dealers advertisements. I have seen guitars go for much more than they are actually worth simply because the purchaser has fallen for the hype or actually didn’t know what constitutes a “lawsuit” model. Remember, the best customer is a well informed customer.
    . Back to Top
  • The Mobile Dilemma …
    … Or how to fit a size 10 foot in a size 5 shoe

    We are faced with a bit of a dilemma here. How to present full size content on a pint size screen. There is a push to make sites mobile accessible and Google is leading the charge. Sites with content such as ours are being flagged “Not mobile friendly” because the content we provide does not fit a 4″ screen well.

    The theme (Astra) and plugins we are using (PDF Poster and Photo Gallery by 10Web) to display the content are responsive but the content they display becomes useless when reduced to accommodate a mobile screen. The model pages here are in 8.5×11 PDF format and the catalog scans are at least 900 pixels wide. When resized to fit a mobile screen the visitor ends up with this:  

    8.5×11″ PDF File 1000 Pixel Wide Scan

    As you can see the text is far too small to read. This generates the error “Text too small to read”. I beg to differ. It is “Screen is too small to read text”.

    We can resize the viewer without resizing the content it displays but then we are stuck with only a tiny chunk of the content being displayed.

    8.5×11″ PDF File 1000 Pixel Wide Scan

    As you can see it is a no-win situation trying to make 10 pounds of taters fit in a 5 pound sack. On the upside leaving the content actual size allows mobile users to “zoom” in albeit with a bit of scrolling. We are forced to resign to the fact that the content we offer will never truly be mobile friendly or compatible.