NGD (Lawsuit Content)

Ramesses · #1 07-09-2015, 11:40 AM

I picked up a guitar I've never seen before today. Its a Takamine F366s. 1975 Guild lawsuit version. I couldn't find much info on this, but I'm going to assume F366 means cutaway as the F365 is the more common rosewood version without a cutaway. 3 tone bars on the inside. The truss rod cover on the headstock is apparently for aesthetic purposes. Theres some sort of adhesive pickup on the front. I guess I'll try some goo gone on it or something. Also the fretboard has some separation in the cowboy chord area. It looks like somebody may have tried a CA glue fix on it. I bought it unstrung, which is always a little worrisome, but it appears straight and solid. Gonna go pick up some EJ16's for it now I think.

Just thought I'd share as its something you don't see too often.

RayKarpis · #2 07-09-2015, 12:03 PM

Never seen this before. Seriously, what was Takamine thinking with that headstock!

nedray · #3 07-09-2015, 12:31 PM

Tak was unabashed about their copies in those days, just like Ibanez and a bunch of other mostly Japanese makers. They had a Martin ripoff logo too that was very convincing and those guitars are somewhat coveted nowadays.

That's a Barcus Berry transducer glued to the top (you might be familiar with their "Hot Dots,"which were inset into the bridge with pearloid inlays glued in to cover them up. It was state of the art in about 1976. Needs a preamp, but would probably sound pretty good assuming it still works. They were normally stuck on with a kind of sticky white putty.

Wade Hampton · #4 07-09-2015, 01:06 PM

The Barcus-Berry block pickup is what this has, and while it might still work, there has been immense progress in this technology. I had one of those and didn't like it at the time, and was always looking to get something that sounded better. I would remove it and replace it, myself.

But rather than consign the Barcus-Berry to the trash can where it belongs, if you can remove it without breaking it you can probably sell it on eBay.

whm

Lacks Focus · #5 07-09-2015, 01:56 PM

My first guitar was one of their Martin copies back in the '70s. I had no idea they did the same thing with Guild copies. Cool.

I wish I still had my D-28 knock-off, just for novelty's sake, if nothing else.

Glennwillow · #6 07-09-2015, 02:05 PM

Cool Tak guitar! Congratulations! It looks great!

- Glenn

PTC Bernie · #7 07-09-2015, 02:51 PM

Taka-Guild-amine!

Even the TRC and Logo are Guild shaped!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayKarpis

Never seen this before. Seriously, what was Takamine thinking with that headstock!

drive-south · #8 07-09-2015, 03:08 PM

Avoid using Goo Gone. It can damage the finish.

Use naptha. You can get it at Home Depot in the paint dept. Ronsonol lighter fluid used to be 100% naptha but they changed the formula.

tbeltrans · #9 07-09-2015, 03:14 PM

Cool guitar, and congrats on it.

I am curious though...I have often seen the term "lawsuit" tossed around regarding certain Japanese guitars from the 70s, and am wondering did anybody actually get sued over these instruments? Was there possibly a lawsuit about one maker and model, but everything that might have similar characteristics is now lumped under the term "lawsuit"? How many of these lawsuits were there and how does one know if a particular model was involved?

Tony

Lacks Focus · #10 07-09-2015, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

Cool guitar, and congrats on it.

I am curious though...I have often seen the term "lawsuit" tossed around regarding certain Japanese guitars from the 70s, and am wondering did anybody actually get sued over these instruments? Was there possibly a lawsuit about one maker and model, but everything that might have similar characteristics is now lumped under the term "lawsuit"? How many of these lawsuits were there and how does one know if a particular model was involved?

Tony

I don't know about the Guild copies (I wasn't even aware of them before this thread), but I have read from reliable sources that even though the Martin copies of that era are commonly referred to as "lawsuit" instruments, no lawsuit was ever filed.

tbeltrans · #11 07-09-2015, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacks Focus

I don't know about the Guild copies (I wasn't even aware of them before this thread), but I have read from reliable sources that even though the Martin copies of that era are commonly referred to as "lawsuit" instruments, no lawsuit was ever filed.

Interesting. I have always wondered about this because I would think such a lawsuit would be a rather serious and expensive thing for both sides.

Tony

Brucebubs · #12 07-09-2015, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacks Focus

I don't know about the Guild copies (I wasn't even aware of them before this thread), but I have read from reliable sources that even though the Martin copies of that era are commonly referred to as "lawsuit" instruments, no lawsuit was ever filed.

I believe all the Japanese guitar makers that were using headstock logos that closely resembled the Martin logo were sent letters from Martin lawyers asking them to cease immediately or face court action.
The court action , if they went that far, would take place in the USA.
Their biggest export market.
Wisely, the Japanese stopped exporting guitars with headstock designs closely resembling existing US brands.
Domestically, I think they may have continued the practice.

Goat Mick · #13 07-09-2015, 05:49 PM

If I'm not mistaken (and I usually am) I believe the only lawsuit was between Fender and Tokai over their copies. Tokai telecaster copies are freakin awesome and are highly desirable.

Daion78 · #14 07-09-2015, 06:08 PM

I have an Ibanez catalog from this period and it has copy models of everything from the D-35 to the telecaster bass. Really interesting to look through.

samcatluth · #15 07-09-2015, 06:16 PM

Someone posted you can get naptha at home depot. Careful with what you buy. A lot of that stuff in a can has added chemicals. Once I did not check the label and I ended up with a gooey mess when I used it to remove a sticker from a guitar body. Make sure it is 100% naptha. Jeff B