The Electra Forums

Well, gang... after all these years, I finally own a Matsumoku electric 12, and I am a very happy bunny...

..... I'll take some pool shots tomorrow!!



...on the bench for a fettle. It needed strings and set up for my playing style. Also needed a new 3 way as the OEM is broken, possibly by the case fitting too tightly?!



New switch in, still has the white tip. Since changed to a chrome black one.



Lots of tuners on there, eh!! I'm going to do a VA912 on this baby and put tulip buttons on the octave string tuners...



The controls needed a squirt of contact cleaner...





Lo-o-ong tailpiece bolts!!



For the most part, done! Gee, this thing is pretty... and loud!! Those pickups are as punchy as; just glorious!

More anon...

... if anyone's interested?!

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"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."

That's to cool and bet it plays great as well. Congratulations

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Always give thanks for everyday, It may be your last so Rock On Semper Fi!!

Looks sweet John!

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"This is the way that pop ends, Not with a BANG but with a box set whose fourth disc you never get around to playing” - Simon Reynolds

"My guitar wants to kill your Mama" - Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

That thing is gorgeous! Wonderful!

Congrats!

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Thorny

Just brilliant.

Why won't they do that today, a decent priced excellent quality guitar.

Though Korea is getting very, very good at making guitars. Not quite the old Japan, but getting close!

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

My Korean Westones are pretty darn good - let down a little by slightly weak and bland pickups - and they're from the 80s so I can only imagine they've got better over the intervening years, eh!!

The Chinese and Indonesians will only get better and in fact, my stage acoustic was - and still is! - a Samick from Indonesia which was as expensive as a Takamine top of the line at the time!

But yeah; the Japanese Vantages really are flying under the radar - this 12 is just bee-yoo-tee-ful to look at, and wonderful to play; I'm sure all who've played an electric 12 know the feeling of sitting on an open Gsus4 with the volume way up, hearing the thing just sing!! And they were never a truly expensive guitar; this model wasn't the cheapest by a long shot, but it certainly didn't require a mortgage to buy one, as opposed to a Fen/son 12!!

I will say, too, that the string courses are very close for my clumsy fingers especially at the nut and will require some extra practice to avoid the clonky notes.... not too sure if finger-picking is an option, either!!!

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"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Looks great John, those darn things just wash up on the beach or what? Cant find anything that good looking around here. And yes, I am ready for some December Pool shots from down under to warm me up! I'll be waiting. Does that 12 have a brass nut on it? Love that style of light and dark on the body. I've gotten out bid each time I try to score one of any make or model, they seem to always go for more around here. And three ways and cases have been a problem on my last 3 guitars. They were packed quit well but the plastic switch tips were cracked or broken off, being 30+ years old probably didnt help. Great guitar John.

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SlmGuy

Yep; brass nut.





Translucent black finish...





... and my inside rack...



... plus the strat and the Bougainville Avenger on the walls!!

Yummy!!

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"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."