(SOLD) Guyatone LG-350T Sharp 5 Blue Sparkle 1968
Guyatone LG-350T Sharp 5, blue sparkle, made in Japan circa 1968. I reckon this looks amazing, it's really got some swagger to it. Guyatone was doing extremely well in Japan in the late 60s, riding the explosion of surf rock and the newfound popularity of electric guitars, The did a bunch of models, but this was right up there with the highest end offerings they had ever produced. It's really nicely made: fret ends obscured under the binding, tight and tidy woodwork and joins, cool little details in the binding, sturdy hardware... it's a classy thing. The styling is awesome: The Jetsons meets Hokusai's wave, all done up in blue sparkle and chrome. I'm a huge sucker for a german carve, and this one is right up there with the coolest examples I've seen. The sound is suitably quirky: short sustain, heaps of attack, big contrast between the pickups, lots of spongy sparkle on the top end. It's not a million miles from a Jaguar, but it's a little bit more open and wide through the mids. This one is in pretty tidy shape given the many decades it's seen out, and comes with a chic matching vintage case. Looking sharp indeed.
Model: Guyatone LG-350T Sharp 5
Made: Japan, 1968-9
Serial: none
Finish: blue sparkle, gloss urethane
Body: laminate nato/asian mahogany
Neck: maple (not verified), rosewood fretboard, 24" scale, 16" radius, 42mm nut, slim C
Weight: 4.030kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Guyatone JG-style single coil x2
Accessories: vintage hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: ,minor finish wear. The headstock has a dent and some scuffs on the end, scuffs on the bottom edge and back, extra holes around the high E tuner from where it's been re-drilled to attach it, plus some dimples on the top of the front. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, there's a dent on the top side of the back near the 8th fret and a dimple near the heel, as well as some rub wear from play. The back has a minor split in the finish only on the belly carve where the finish has swollen a little over time, as well as some dimples and rub wear on the elbow area, bottom side and top horn. The sides have dimples on both horns, the elbow area and near the jack, as well as a little chip near the volume knob. The front has scuffs near the tailpiece, dimples in the elbow area, a small finish split from a slight bubbling near the edge up from the bridge pickup and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 11/49 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 7/10, minor wear only. Note that these came with low height frets from factory so they're not super tall, but the condition is pretty good