Guitar Identification Question

Rabid Garfunkel · Post by **Rabid Garfunkel** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:29 pm

a.k.a. "What the hell is it?"

Dunno if this should be in the guitar talk thread or not, but here goes. Picked up this bruiser yesterday, and have no clue as to what it is. Guys at the shop thought it might be a Univox knock-off of a 335, but the headstock's not even close.

The twiddles are, from top to bottom: master volume, fuzz volume, fuzz button, fuzz tone, neck tone, bridge tone. Of course, the fuzz button ain't working. Even with a new battery plugged into it (port is visible in second pic).

The only identifier I can find is this sticker inside one of the F-holes with the serial number #1261.

Sure is pretty, and doesn't sound half-bad either. To my ears, anyway.

Bueller? Bueller? Anybody?

ken · Post by **ken** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:35 pm

I'm going to have to agree that it is a Korean knock off of some kind of Gretsch. If it plays well, and sounds good, don't worry about where it came from. You might replace the pick ups with some Retrotrons from http://www.guitarfetish.com.

Ken

Rabid Garfunkel · Post by **Rabid Garfunkel** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:47 pm

Not worried about its bloodline, just curious. The pickups are the most beastly thing about the axe. Dunno what their pedigree is, but they sound great out of whatever I play through, screaming like a cat in heat (though admittedly, the Vox amp does sound umpteen times better than the little Squier 15 watt amp).

Dan-O from Five-O · Post by **Dan-O from Five-O** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:01 pm

Is it completely hollow or does it have the wood block in the middle like a Gibson?

It won't help me identify it I'm just curious. But I do agree with Ken, likely some Asian knockoof.

Rabid Garfunkel · Post by **Rabid Garfunkel** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 10:12 pm

This makes no sense to me (but then, so little does) but...

It's got a bolt-on neck, and (from the ever-scientific "knock all over the back of the guitar" test) there appears to be a solid wood thing in there, as wide as the neck, that extends from the neck joint down to the bottom of the bridge pickup. And the rest is hollow.

It's so damned light compared to my other logs.

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 3:23 am

Bolt-on on a semi-hollow is pretty unusual. Most Gibsons and Epiphones are set.

Gretsch copy was pretty close, although the headstock has a bit of Hamer to it.

I'd say it's a Samick guitar that never got stamped. Samick makes over half the guitars you see on the wall at Guitar Center. They make Ibanez, Epiphone, BC Rich, Fender, Jackson, and so on. They often don't have a really uniform serial numbering system, or even headstock cutting/graphic producing system, as there are over a dozen Samick factories in Korea.

There are quite a few brands that Samick produces for no one in particular. "Samick" is obviously one, but also Lotus and a few others. Could be that your guitar was cut and shipped, but never got stamped for some reason.

That, and the no-name Bigsby copy is a pretty trademark Samick thing. Also, that finish is reminiscent of what you'll find on some Montana guitars. Looks cool, man.

That's my $.02

Oh, and what the hell is that thing on the side of the body near what I think is your master volume?

Kweep · Post by **Kweep** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 4:52 pm

The Sober Irishman wrote:Oh, and what the hell is that thing on the side of the body near what I think is your master volume?

I'd guess that's the access plate to the wiring for that particular knob? That or it's where you put the quarters in to make it rock itself out...

Rabid Garfunkel · Post by **Rabid Garfunkel** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 12:36 pm

The Sober Irishman wrote:Bolt-on on a semi-hollow is pretty unusual. Most Gibsons and Epiphones are set.

Oh, and what the hell is that thing on the side of the body near what I think is your master volume?

Well, it'd help if I actually knew what I was talking about, terms-wise.

By bolt-on, I mean there's this big tough plate with 4 screws on the back of the body of the axe where the neck meets the body. Guessing that's not, actually, a "bolt-on" now.

That's the battery compartment for the "fuzz" button. Still trying to figure out how to get inside to fix the wiring for that, heh.

jack · Post by **jack** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 1:22 pm

i think sober is referring to the "bolt on" style of necks, with the plate you describe obviously being where the neck bolts on to the body.

Kweep · Post by **Kweep** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 3:14 pm

Rabid Garfunkel wrote:[...] Still trying to figure out how to get inside to fix the wiring for that, heh.

hammer? heh.

Oh, can you post a pic of the back of it? i'm just curious to see it.

Rabid Garfunkel · Post by **Rabid Garfunkel** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 4:08 pm

Kweep wrote:hammer? heh.

Oh, can you post a pic of the back of it? i'm just curious to see it.

Ouch. You really want to see me cry, don'cha?

And yes, I so don't have a green thumb. Or housekeeping skills.

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 5:01 pm

Kweep wrote:
Rabid Garfunkel wrote:[...] Still trying to figure out how to get inside to fix the wiring for that, heh.
hammer? heh.

You gotta drop the pickups out, and release the pots, then bend your fingers around in there. I replaced some on my Artist and it wasn't fun but eventually I got it all back together.

Kweep · Post by **Kweep** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:31 pm

that's some perty wood on the back there... actually, just a perty and interesting guitfiddle in general.