Mid 1960s Guyatone/Kawai Kingston Offset Electric Guitar (MIJ)

Mid 1960s Guyatone/Kawai Kingston Offset Electric Guitar (MIJ)

Made in the mid 1960s by Guyatone, this particular model is a little difficult to identify being that it doesn't show in any catalogs from the 60s, however we know for sure that Kawai contracted the exact same model under the guise "Kingston", so we can go with that! Featuring solid asian mahogany with a maple neck and a set of super sweet, glassy single coils, this is a quintessentially quirky, offset guitar made at the height of the Japanese guitar boom of the 1960s. Equipped with a solid metal polished pickguard, toggle switches and classic Japanese styling, this is a super fun piece of guitar history.

The solid maple neck is the typical Gibson scale of 24.75", making this a very slinky and comfortable player. As is the case with most hand-made guitars of the mid 1960s, the neck is a very chunky profile that feels great in the hands. Featuring a rosewood fingerboard with block and dot inlays, the frets are on the low side with visible pitting, however the guitar remains comfortably playable, with fret life around 60%.

Electronics wise, the original pickups are in great condition and are wired to original switches and pots which have been serviced and cleaned and are in great working order. The jack socket has been upgraded to a Switchcraft socket for solid connection and consistent tone. The pickups are low output single coils with plenty of chime and sparkly top end. They take drive and gain very well and sound excellent through any amplifier.

Professionally serviced and setup with 10-46s, the guitar also features an upgraded Gotoh tune-o-matic bridge which allows for easy adjustment and intonation, and is a real step above the original bridge. The control knobs have also been switched out to witch hats. Aside from this, the guitar is all original and in great condition with the expected amount of wear and tear. Things get a little curly past the 12th fret, so this guitar would suit someone into punk rock and power chords. Comes with a gig bag!

Specifications:

Make: Guyatone

Model: Unknown (Kawai Kingston)

Origin: Japan, Mid 1960s

Body: Natoh Mahogany

Neck: Maple

Fingerboard: Rosewood

Pickups: Guyatone Single Coils, Neck: 5.7kOhms, Middle: 2.8kOhms, Bridge: 5.9kOhms

Frets: 20

Neck Profile: 24.75" Scale, 43.5mm Nut Width, Chunky D Profile, Flat Radius

Finish: Redburst

Weight: 3.3kg

Shipping & Returns:

Domestic AU Shipping (Insured) - $Free

International Shipping (Insured) - $199.99

Local Pickup/Click & Collect - 135 New Canterbury Road, Lewisham 2049

The item is sold as is - if it is broken or damaged on arrival, we will offer you a return/refund. We cannot accept returns for change of mind or offer any warranty on used/vintage items.