Like some have mentioned it's more likely a late 70s early 80s. But I say this because I have an 81 vantage 795 demon and they are very similar and both made in Japan's matsumoko factory . These are hidden Jems that I hope No one finds out about. I love your chunk Norris reference. That's funny.
Hey Chris. That's a pretty guitar, and it sounds great. Matsumoku really knew what they were doing. I have one of their Les Pauls with a bolt on neck. The neck hasn't ever needed any adjustments in the years I've owned it. I don't even want to say what little I paid, for how well made it is.
Really cool guitar, but not even close to being as old as 1971. Most likely more like 1981. Memphis didn't even exist as a guitar brand until the late '70s. Also, DiMarzio didn't introduce any high gain pickups like that (they are most likely Super Distortion models) until, depending on what source you read, 1971 or 1972. Therefore, it's doubtful that they had contracts with a company like Matsumoku to start supplying pickups for their guitars en masse that quickly. That guitar was almost surely made some time between 1979 and 1983.
As a few people have already stated, it’s definitely not that old. It’s probably late 79 at the oldest but more like 80 or 80. Also, if those are the stock pickups, they’re not Dimarzio pickups. They’re Maxon pickups and should serial numbers on the backs that probably date to mid/late 1979. I own two of them. They’re fantastic.
What's with lots of these 80s guitars looking like that? I honestly like it but I always wondered if it was a fashion or to save wood (since they were many woods spliced together)
The pups are likly DiMarzio Super Distortions, or a Super D and Super 2. The Super 2 is a great neck pup paired with very hot bridge pups like a Super D, Super 3, X2N, etc. I used to buy guitars like this used, mostly old Yamahas, back in the 80s dirt cheap, because nobody wanted them. The 80s was the era of toneless, soulless shred sticks. It was a super trendy time in the history of guitars, and I was in the L.A. scene. You could buy a BC Rich Mockingbird used, in mint condition, for 300 bucks back then.
Christopher, I've been liking and loving and following your reviews I don't know maybe a year now and I think they're really great except for one thing. The sound quality. I don't know if you're just recording your audio with a video camera or exactly what you're playing through, but I know that it could sound a whole lot better. Why? Because I own some of the guitars that you have done reviews on and I know they can say they sond a whole lot better than the way they come across in your videos. From what I can tell it seems that most of the time I'm probably playing through some sort of a computer software to generate your effects. Not sure about that but that's the way it seems but other than that and I get the feeling that you're using a video camera to record the output from some speakers of some sort in the room that you are in with a video camera and the mics that are in that camera. I may be incorrect about that but that's my assumption because of the way it sounds period and how does sounds on my end from my computer out into Yamaha stereo amplifier and out into some very nice quality Studio speakers. Everything sounds very trebly with not much mids or lows. I would like to help you achieve better sound. So are you using a video camera and if so what kind? I usually use a Canon vixia hf r500 but I have the audio settings for the live music setting. Without doing that and leaving it in the default audio setting the recording sound reproduction sounds much like your videos do. So if you would like to improve the video audio quality of your videos please contact me with the info regarding what you are currently doing maybe we can figure out an improvement. Like I say otherwise I love your presentations but would like them to be even better for a more realistic I sound for these wonderful guitars that actually sound way better in person through amplification and the effects Etc. that you are using. Keep On Truckin.
I’ve been watching for a long time also and I noticed that the sound quality has seemed too of went down. I didn’t notice it up until the last few videos that the tone isn’t translating through the video very well.
70s Japanese guitars are the shizz. My 78 Yamaha Studio Lord SL-380 tobacco sunburst is as good or better than any 70s Les Paul Standard I've ever played. Substantial neck profile with volute.
Had/sold one-no matter how hard I tried, and for ages, I couldn’t ever get it properly set up, intonated, etc. and the neck radius on these is 7.25, not as practical as 9.5 or more. And it was too heavy, for sure. I really wanted to like it, but in the end, I didn’t. Just my two cents. 🤷🏻
Ha. Own one exactly like that. Amazing guiterist playing this one here. Thank you
I had one in the 70's! This brought a tear to my eye!
Like some have mentioned it's more likely a late 70s early 80s. But I say this because I have an 81 vantage 795 demon and they are very similar and both made in Japan's matsumoko factory . These are hidden Jems that I hope No one finds out about. I love your chunk Norris reference. That's funny.
Ornate! Or that is the word the woodwork here has me thinking. Really cool.
Picked up a MG100 recently and absolutely love it. Nice one you got there!
I have a kay that was made there. It looks the exact same as this. My late brother gave it to my b4 he paset.
Hey Chris. That's a pretty guitar, and it sounds great. Matsumoku really knew what they were doing. I have one of their Les Pauls with a bolt on neck. The neck hasn't ever needed any adjustments in the years I've owned it. I don't even want to say what little I paid, for how well made it is.
Looks very similar to my old Vantage, also Japanese made in early 80s
Really cool guitar, but not even close to being as old as 1971. Most likely more like 1981. Memphis didn't even exist as a guitar brand until the late '70s. Also, DiMarzio didn't introduce any high gain pickups like that (they are most likely Super Distortion models) until, depending on what source you read, 1971 or 1972. Therefore, it's doubtful that they had contracts with a company like Matsumoku to start supplying pickups for their guitars en masse that quickly. That guitar was almost surely made some time between 1979 and 1983.
that's a killer guitar !!!
Friend of mibe had one in grade school 1978
That looks and sounds immense! What scale length does it have?
25.5" scale length
As a few people have already stated, it’s definitely not that old. It’s probably late 79 at the oldest but more like 80 or 80. Also, if those are the stock pickups, they’re not Dimarzio pickups. They’re Maxon pickups and should serial numbers on the backs that probably date to mid/late 1979. I own two of them. They’re fantastic.
Great demo and playing! 6:20 The Darkness ahoy!!!
I love hippie sandwich guitars - but this is not a 1971. It is from the early 80's.
What's with lots of these 80s guitars looking like that? I honestly like it but I always wondered if it was a fashion or to save wood (since they were many woods spliced together)
Awesome where can I buy one ?
I'm going to be listing mine on eBay. Probably later today. Are you still interested?
The pups are likly DiMarzio Super Distortions, or a Super D and Super 2. The Super 2 is a great neck pup paired with very hot bridge pups like a Super D, Super 3, X2N, etc. I used to buy guitars like this used, mostly old Yamahas, back in the 80s dirt cheap, because nobody wanted them. The 80s was the era of toneless, soulless shred sticks. It was a super trendy time in the history of guitars, and I was in the L.A. scene. You could buy a BC Rich Mockingbird used, in mint condition, for 300 bucks back then.
Good shit
Christopher, I've been liking and loving and following your reviews I don't know maybe a year now and I think they're really great except for one thing. The sound quality. I don't know if you're just recording your audio with a video camera or exactly what you're playing through, but I know that it could sound a whole lot better. Why? Because I own some of the guitars that you have done reviews on and I know they can say they sond a whole lot better than the way they come across in your videos. From what I can tell it seems that most of the time I'm probably playing through some sort of a computer software to generate your effects. Not sure about that but that's the way it seems but other than that and I get the feeling that you're using a video camera to record the output from some speakers of some sort in the room that you are in with a video camera and the mics that are in that camera. I may be incorrect about that but that's my assumption because of the way it sounds period and how does sounds on my end from my computer out into Yamaha stereo amplifier and out into some very nice quality Studio speakers. Everything sounds very trebly with not much mids or lows. I would like to help you achieve better sound. So are you using a video camera and if so what kind? I usually use a Canon vixia hf r500 but I have the audio settings for the live music setting. Without doing that and leaving it in the default audio setting the recording sound reproduction sounds much like your videos do. So if you would like to improve the video audio quality of your videos please contact me with the info regarding what you are currently doing maybe we can figure out an improvement. Like I say otherwise I love your presentations but would like them to be even better for a more realistic I sound for these wonderful guitars that actually sound way better in person through amplification and the effects Etc. that you are using. Keep On Truckin.
I’ve been watching for a long time also and I noticed that the sound quality has seemed too of went down. I didn’t notice it up until the last few videos that the tone isn’t translating through the video very well.
70s Japanese guitars are the shizz. My 78 Yamaha Studio Lord SL-380 tobacco sunburst is as good or better than any 70s Les Paul Standard I've ever played. Substantial neck profile with volute.
Had/sold one-no matter how hard I tried, and for ages, I couldn’t ever get it properly set up, intonated, etc. and the neck radius on these is 7.25, not as practical as 9.5 or more. And it was too heavy, for sure. I really wanted to like it, but in the end, I didn’t. Just my two cents. 🤷🏻