1970s Japanese pawnshop prize.

All things guitar, Les Pauls, Strats, Teles, Tokai, Ibanez etc. etc. etc.

Moderators: Slowy, Capt. Black

Post Reply
User avatar
kdawg2a
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 3372
meble-kuchenne.warszawa.pl
Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 7:28 pm
Location: U S and A
Has liked: 240 times
Been liked: 1047 times

1970s Japanese pawnshop prize.

Post by kdawg2a »

I just picked up this 1972, MIJ, Kasuga 12 string Dreadnought. Its got a solid wood top and hopefully solid woods for all the rest of it. MASSIVE neck!
20231011_164540.jpg
20231011_164540.jpg (1.79 MiB) Viewed 4210 times
20231011_164551.jpg
20231011_164551.jpg (1.87 MiB) Viewed 4210 times
It plays and sounds really nice. The tuners may need replacing but it's certainly worth the $80 it cost. I love the inlayed 'K' on the pickguard!
1935 Martin D-45, 1942 Gibson Southern Jumbo,1950 Fender Broadcaster, 1954 Fender Strat, 1958 Gibson Moderne prototype, 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard.
1958 Fender twin, 1965 Vox AC30, 1966 Marshall JTM 45, 1977 Dumble OD Special.
Big black garbage bag full of original Klon Centaurs and TS808s.

hamo
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 20728
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2005 12:08 pm
Location: Wellington, NZ
Has liked: 638 times
Been liked: 807 times

Re: 1970s Japanese pawnshop prize.

Post by hamo »

Jeez that's a good score
Aquila Rosso wrote:I don't a mind an iced tea rimjob one little bit :congrats:
Molly wrote:Trousers are no substitute for talent
druz wrote:I present to you, the whogivesafuckocaster

User avatar
StrummersOfThunder
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 7231
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:23 pm
Has liked: 826 times
Been liked: 1315 times

Re: 1970s Japanese pawnshop prize.

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

Oof yes !
That’s cool
Jangle time

User avatar
Slowy
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 22828
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:13 pm
Location: Orcland
Has liked: 1018 times
Been liked: 2492 times

Re: 1970s Japanese pawnshop prize.

Post by Slowy »

That's got Made in Italy by EKO written all over it!
An if it isn't, I'll put money on it being patterned on one. How much does it weigh?
Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

User avatar
kdawg2a
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 3372
Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 7:28 pm
Location: U S and A
Has liked: 240 times
Been liked: 1047 times

Re: 1970s Japanese pawnshop prize.

Post by kdawg2a »

Slowy wrote: Thu Oct 12, 2023 5:17 pm That's got Made in Italy by EKO written all over it!
An if it isn't, I'll put money on it being patterned on one. How much does it weigh?
I had one of those EKO 12 strings back in the 90s. This seems a lot better made. A bit of research has told me that these were made in the Tokai Gakki factory in Japan and not too long after Kasuga built their own factory called........ you'll never guess........... Kasuga Gakki!!!
It's not a light weight but I guess the extra tuners and bracing must account for something. The tuners are rubbish so I've got another set on the way.
1935 Martin D-45, 1942 Gibson Southern Jumbo,1950 Fender Broadcaster, 1954 Fender Strat, 1958 Gibson Moderne prototype, 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard.
1958 Fender twin, 1965 Vox AC30, 1966 Marshall JTM 45, 1977 Dumble OD Special.
Big black garbage bag full of original Klon Centaurs and TS808s.

User avatar
Slowy
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 22828
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:13 pm
Location: Orcland
Has liked: 1018 times
Been liked: 2492 times

Re: 1970s Japanese pawnshop prize.

Post by Slowy »

kdawg2a wrote: Fri Oct 13, 2023 5:08 am
Slowy wrote: Thu Oct 12, 2023 5:17 pm That's got Made in Italy by EKO written all over it!
An if it isn't, I'll put money on it being patterned on one. How much does it weigh?
I had one of those EKO 12 strings back in the 90s. This seems a lot better made. A bit of research has told me that these were made in the Tokai Gakki factory in Japan and not too long after Kasuga built their own factory called........ you'll never guess........... Kasuga Gakki!!!
I think Gakki is Japanese for musical instrument or something similar.
So it's lighter than an EKO? That would be a relief. Lugging mine around developed me into the man I am today. :rofl:
Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

User avatar
StrummersOfThunder
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 7231
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:23 pm
Has liked: 826 times
Been liked: 1315 times

Re: 1970s Japanese pawnshop prize.

Post by StrummersOfThunder »

kdawg2a wrote: Fri Oct 13, 2023 5:08 am
Slowy wrote: Thu Oct 12, 2023 5:17 pm That's got Made in Italy by EKO written all over it!
An if it isn't, I'll put money on it being patterned on one. How much does it weigh?
I had one of those EKO 12 strings back in the 90s. This seems a lot better made. A bit of research has told me that these were made in the Tokai Gakki factory in Japan and not too long after Kasuga built their own factory called........ you'll never guess........... Kasuga Gakki!!!
It's not a light weight but I guess the extra tuners and bracing must account for something. The tuners are rubbish so I've got another set on the way.
What tuners have you gone for ?
How’s the string spacing ? Have you done obligatory Birds ‘turn’ turn…’ test ?

vinylguy
Fender
Fender
Posts: 512
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2020 2:24 pm
Has liked: 8 times
Been liked: 52 times

Re: 1970s Japanese pawnshop prize.

Post by vinylguy »

StrummersOfThunder wrote: Fri Oct 13, 2023 5:40 am
kdawg2a wrote: Fri Oct 13, 2023 5:08 am
Slowy wrote: Thu Oct 12, 2023 5:17 pm That's got Made in Italy by EKO written all over it!
An if it isn't, I'll put money on it being patterned on one. How much does it weigh?
I had one of those EKO 12 strings back in the 90s. This seems a lot better made. A bit of research has told me that these were made in the Tokai Gakki factory in Japan and not too long after Kasuga built their own factory called........ you'll never guess........... Kasuga Gakki!!!
It's not a light weight but I guess the extra tuners and bracing must account for something. The tuners are rubbish so I've got another set on the way.
What tuners have you gone for ?
How’s the string spacing ? Have you done obligatory Birds ‘turn’ turn…’ test ?

I think you mean the "Byrds" youngster....

User avatar
kdawg2a
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 3372
Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 7:28 pm
Location: U S and A
Has liked: 240 times
Been liked: 1047 times

Re: 1970s Japanese pawnshop prize.

Post by kdawg2a »

StrummersOfThunder wrote: Fri Oct 13, 2023 5:40 am
kdawg2a wrote: Fri Oct 13, 2023 5:08 am
Slowy wrote: Thu Oct 12, 2023 5:17 pm That's got Made in Italy by EKO written all over it!
An if it isn't, I'll put money on it being patterned on one. How much does it weigh?
I had one of those EKO 12 strings back in the 90s. This seems a lot better made. A bit of research has told me that these were made in the Tokai Gakki factory in Japan and not too long after Kasuga built their own factory called........ you'll never guess........... Kasuga Gakki!!!
It's not a light weight but I guess the extra tuners and bracing must account for something. The tuners are rubbish so I've got another set on the way.
What tuners have you gone for ?
How’s the string spacing ? Have you done obligatory Birds ‘turn’ turn…’ test ?
My go to 12 string riff is Mr Tambourine Man! The string spacing is nice and wide, definitely not a Rickenbacker feel to it! I just got a set of enclosed, no name jobbies off Amazon. I don't want to put a lot of money into it. If it turns out a dog I'll sell it and make wee profit.
1935 Martin D-45, 1942 Gibson Southern Jumbo,1950 Fender Broadcaster, 1954 Fender Strat, 1958 Gibson Moderne prototype, 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard.
1958 Fender twin, 1965 Vox AC30, 1966 Marshall JTM 45, 1977 Dumble OD Special.
Big black garbage bag full of original Klon Centaurs and TS808s.

User avatar
GrantB
ADMIN
Posts: 15913
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2003 9:04 am
Location: Where I need to be
Has liked: 1362 times
Been liked: 2100 times

Re: 1970s Japanese pawnshop prize.

Post by GrantB »

I have one of these Kasugas. A mate uses it now for a 6 string. Huge neck, as you say.
"Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible god and destroys a visible nature. Unaware that this nature he's destroying is this god he's worshipping." - Hubert Reeves

User avatar
kdawg2a
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 3372
Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 7:28 pm
Location: U S and A
Has liked: 240 times
Been liked: 1047 times

Re: 1970s Japanese pawnshop prize.

Post by kdawg2a »

Slowy wrote: Fri Oct 13, 2023 5:13 am
kdawg2a wrote: Fri Oct 13, 2023 5:08 am
Slowy wrote: Thu Oct 12, 2023 5:17 pm That's got Made in Italy by EKO written all over it!
An if it isn't, I'll put money on it being patterned on one. How much does it weigh?
I had one of those EKO 12 strings back in the 90s. This seems a lot better made. A bit of research has told me that these were made in the Tokai Gakki factory in Japan and not too long after Kasuga built their own factory called........ you'll never guess........... Kasuga Gakki!!!
I think Gakki is Japanese for musical instrument or something similar.
So it's lighter than an EKO? That would be a relief. Lugging mine around developed me into the man I am today. :rofl:
I have no idea what happened to the one I had. I remember all the guitars I've ever sold and where they went to but there's a few that have drifted into and out of my life that I just can't account for. They're usually quirky types bought for 2/5ths of fuck all.
1935 Martin D-45, 1942 Gibson Southern Jumbo,1950 Fender Broadcaster, 1954 Fender Strat, 1958 Gibson Moderne prototype, 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard.
1958 Fender twin, 1965 Vox AC30, 1966 Marshall JTM 45, 1977 Dumble OD Special.
Big black garbage bag full of original Klon Centaurs and TS808s.

Post Reply