was actually an import/export company and never owned a guitar factory in the 1960s.
![matsumoku lyle guitars matsumoku lyle guitars](https://guitarpoint.de/app/uploads/products/1960s-lyle-matsumoku-12-string-redburst-made-in-japan/Lyle70s12String_15-1200x900.jpg)
The quality of these guitars is generally very good, and these rnodels, such as the Conrad Bisons, becarne huge sellers in the USA.Īrai is a familiar name with many guitar players, and Aria branded guitars were very popular as affon instruments with good quality. Hayashi documented all of his designs in photograph albums.īy the late 1966, Matsurnoku-rnade electric guitars were being produced in very large nurnbers. His experience started with the Singer partnership, but soon his overflowing creativity was put to use as a guitar designer and craftsman. The SG-18 is unique since it was one of the only Matsumoku-made guitars with truss rod access at the heel of the neck.Īfter completing his university studies, Hayashi Nobuaki began to work for Matsumoku. Expensive in their day, the SG-18 and SG-12 had bodies and necks made by Matsumoku, and electronics that were supplied by Victor. The Victor Company of Japan entered the electric guitar market in 1965 with these two models. Early Matsumoku electrics were generally built very well, and had excellent finishes that stood up to the passage of time. These guitars represent some of his first designs. Hayashi Nobuaki started designing almost all the Matsumoku electric guitars, starting around 1964. This model was one of the first eletric to carry the Aria name, but it was also branded as Sorrento, Kingston, Leban, Orpheus, Tulio, and a few others.
![matsumoku lyle guitars matsumoku lyle guitars](https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--lpbVjISl--/t_card-square/v1609204142/apufya7wmnfhyuvzlxxp.jpg)
Initially made for the Nippon Columbia Co., the original model name was CSG-631. This was the first electric guitar design made by Matsumoku, that wasn’t destined for Fujigen Gakki. A park now resides in the location of the factor y, with a marble guitar monument standing at the former entrance. The factory closed in 1987 and was torn down a few years later. Matsumoku continued to produce electric guitars throughout the l970s and 1980s under various names including Aria, Electra, Epiphone, Fantom, Skylark, Vantage, Washburn, Westone, and Univox. Harayama, and designed most of the Matsumoku elec_tric guitars of the 1960s and 1970s. Initially, he was employed as a guitar designer. Another employee of Matsumoku was Hayashi Nobuaki. Harayama also produced necks under his own brand, Jaramer. He was a master woodcraftsman who went on to make guitar necks and bodies for ESP, Kramer, Schecter, and Moon guitars. One of these employees was Norikatsu Harayama, who was director of engineering during the 1960s. Matsumoku employed some excellent craftsmen, designers, and engineers. Matsumoku also started to produce its own guitars for export. This relationship lasted for several years, and worked very well for both companiesīy 1965, Matsumoku began making guitars for many other companies, including Arai, Colombia, and Victor. It made for the perfect guitar factory, and around 1962, Fujigen founder Yuichiro Yokouchi formed a partnership with Matsumoku to make electric guitars. But Matsumoku was a modem factory with good management, and most importantly, had excellent wood drying facilities. In the early 1960s, Matsumoku was slowly losing work to overseas competition and the Singer Company ceased its partnership with the factory. Initially a subsidiary of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, Matsumoku’s primary business was the production of wood cabinets, panels, and accessories for sewing machines. Located in Matsumoto, the factory name came from the combination of the words “Matsumoto Mokkou-jo” (woodworking plant). One of the finest wood factories in Japan, Matsumoku played a major role in Japanese electric guitar production. Buy his book at and read about many more japanese brands.