Guyatone (Japanese: or ) is a Japanese guitar brand and its manufacturing company making
electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gui ...
s,
guitar amplifier
A guitar amplifier (or amp) is an electronic device or system that strengthens the electrical signal from a pickup on an electric guitar, bass guitar, or acoustic guitar so that it can produce sound through one or more loudspeakers, which a ...
s, and
effect pedal
An effects unit or effects pedal is an electronic device that alters the sound of a musical instrument or other audio source through audio signal processing.
Common effects include distortion/overdrive, often used with electric guitar in ele ...
s. In the 1930s, the predecessor company was founded as the earliest electric guitar manufacturer in Japan, making guitars under the Guya brand, until 1940. After WWII, in 1948, the company was re-established and made electric
Hawaiian guitar
Hawaiian guitar may refer to:
*Lap steel guitar, a type of steel guitar without pedals that is typically played with the instrument in a horizontal position across the performer's lap
*Ukulele
The ukulele ( ; from haw, ukulele , approximately ...
s. In 1951, Guyatone brand was established for electric guitars,
[ and in 1955, their first solid-body guitar was introduced.][: ]
During the late-1950s to mid-1960s, the trends of surf music
Surf music (or surf rock, surf pop, or surf guitar) is a genre of rock music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Southern California. It was especially popular from 1958 to 1964 in two major forms. The first is instrumental s ...
caused the ''electric guitar boom'',[: ] and riding on this big wave, Guyatone electric guitars with unique designs and low prices were exported to Europe and America under the various brands, and played by various guitarists including Hank Marvin
Hank Brian Marvin (born Brian Robson Rankin, 28 October 1941) is an English multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter. He is widely known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows, a group which primarily performed instrumentals and was the ba ...
from the Shadows
The Shadows (originally known as the Drifters) were an English instrumental rock group, who dominated the British popular music charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s, in the pre- Beatles era. They served as the backing band for Cliff Richard ...
, Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...
in the early days, ''etc''.
Over 70 years of history, Guyatone encountered three crises in 1940, 1968 and 2013.[ In the mid-2010s, the company and the brand were taken over by Toshihiko Torii (former Guyatone R&D engineer) and Nate DeMont (DeMont Guitar), then merged as the ''Guyatone & DeMont Guitars LLC''.]
History
Guyatone was founded in 1933.[
]
PDF version
According to Mr. Hiroyuki Noguchi, editor of Japan's '' Guitar Magazine'',[
]
''See also''
Guitar Graphic
book series
Matsuki Seisakujo () was founded by Mitsuo Matsuki and his friend Atsuo Kaneko, who later became a famous player of Hawaiian and Spanish style guitars. Kaneko co-founded Teisco
Teisco was a Japanese musical instrument manufacturing company from 1948 until 1967, when the brand "Teisco" was acquired by Kawai (河合楽器製作所; Kawai Gakki Seisakusho). The company produced guitars as well as synthesizers, microphones ...
in 1946.[, "In 1946, Mr. Atswo Kaneko and Mr. Doryu Matsuda founded the Aoi Onpa Kenkyujo company, makers of the guitars bearing the Teisco and other trademarks..." (Note: "Atswo Kaneko" referred to in this section seems to be another transliteration of "Atsuo Kaneko")]
Hawaiian music was becoming increasingly popular at the time, leading Kaneko to inquire to his friend Matsuki about building an electric Hawaiian guitar
Hawaiian guitar may refer to:
*Lap steel guitar, a type of steel guitar without pedals that is typically played with the instrument in a horizontal position across the performer's lap
*Ukulele
The ukulele ( ; from haw, ukulele , approximately ...
using his woodworking and electronics skills. Matsuki had been enrolled in electronics classes.[ In the late 1930s the Matsuki Seisakujo was founded,][ producing and selling mostly ]Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation is a string instrument manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California. The company is credited as the first known maker of electric guitars – a steel guitar in 1932 – and today produces a range ...
-style guitars under the ''Guya'' name.
In 1940, Matsuki was drafted into the war between China and Japan and production halted for several years. After returning home, Matsuki formed his own company, "Matsuki Denki Onkyo Kenkyujo" (,[ English: Matsuki Electric Sound Laboratory][).
In 1951 Matsuki began to use the Guyatone name on his instruments. The company began to make ]amplifiers
An amplifier, electronic amplifier or (informally) amp is an electronic device that can increase the magnitude of a signal (a time-varying voltage or current). It may increase the power significantly, or its main effect may be to boost the v ...
and cartridges for record players.[ These cartridges found a large market after being routinely used by ]NHK
, also known as NHK, is a Japanese public broadcaster. NHK, which has always been known by this romanized initialism in Japanese, is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee.
NHK operates two terrestr ...
, a government-owned broadcasting station. In 1952[ or 1956][ (sources disagree), the name of the corporation was changed to Tokyo Sound Company (][). In 1968, it was changed to Guya Co., Ltd. (] and then back to Tokyo Sound Co. once again.[
According to correspondence with Toshihiko Torri, head of R&D at Guyatone, the Tokyo Sound factory began large-scale production in 1956. Guyatone's records indicate them as being founded on July 16, 1956. By the late 1950s or early 1960s, they made up to 1,500 slide guitars, 1,600 electric guitars and basses, 2,000 guitar amplifiers, and 5,000 microphones a month.][
]
During the late-1950s to 1960s, Guyatone guitars were distributed under various brands by other manufacturers/distributors:
* In Japan, Hoshino Gakki
is a Japanese manufacturer of musical instruments. It is the owner of the Ibanez guitar and Tama drum brand names.
History
The Hoshino company was founded in 1908 by Matsujiro Hoshino originally as the Hoshino Shoten bookstore which mostl ...
had exported Guyatone under the Star and Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as ...
brands,[
Guyatone made Star model 1570, 1580, 1590, EG-1800, EG-1810 (late 1950s), Guyatone made Ibanez model 1850 (c.1961), and Hoshino's Tama factory made Burn influenced model 2103, 3904, ...
] before the Tama factory was opened in 1962. Their model 1830 (created , LG-70)[
] or model 1860 "Rhythm Maker" (created 1960) is said to be a model[
. ''See also'': images referred on above: , an]
Model 1830 bolt on neck
for which Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...
had traded in his Danelectro
Danelectro is a brand of musical instruments and accessories, founded in Red Bank, New Jersey in 1947. The company is known primarily for its string instruments that employed unique designs and manufacturing processes. The Danelectro company was ...
, in 1962.[
][
] Then, this model was roughly copied by Kawai
is a musical instrument manufacturing company headquartered in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan. It is best known for its grand pianos, upright pianos, digital pianos, electronic keyboards and electronic synthesizers. The company was founded in Augus ...
as model "S-180" (1964),[
] and some models were also manufactured by FujiGen
FujiGen Gakki (), also known as FGN, is a Japanese musical instrument manufacturing company based in Matsumoto, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Matsumoto is designated as a core city since 1 April 2021. , the city had ...
.[
][
] Kawai's copied model was played by Hound Dog Taylor
Theodore Roosevelt "Hound Dog" Taylor (April 12, 1915 – December 17, 1975) was a Chicago blues guitarist and singer.
Life and career
Taylor was born in Natchez, Mississippi, in 1915, though some sources say 1917. He first played the piano and ...
, as seen on his first album ''Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers
''Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers'' is the 1971 debut album of Hound Dog Taylor.
Originally issued on LP as the first release on the Alligator label, it has subsequently been reissued on CD.
Recording
As well as being Taylor's debut alb ...
'' in 1971. Ibanez reissued the Rhythm Maker as Jet King 2 (2004–2007).
* In the United Kingdom, James T. Coppock (Leeds) Ltd. had introduced Guyatone under ''Antoria
Antoria is a UK guitar brand dating back to the 1950s, which has changed hands three times. Originally the brand consisted of guitars made in Japan (first by Guyatone and then by FujiGen); contemporary Antorias come from South Korea and China.
...
'' in the late 1950s,[
] and these guitars were played by Hank Marvin
Hank Brian Marvin (born Brian Robson Rankin, 28 October 1941) is an English multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter. He is widely known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows, a group which primarily performed instrumentals and was the ba ...
,
Note: the date was estimated from the archive date on . Marty Wilde
Marty Wilde, (born Reginald Leonard Smith; 15 April 1939) is an English singer and songwriter. He was among the first generation of British pop stars to emulate American rock and roll, scoring several 1950s hit singles including "Endless Sle ...
,[
] Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher ( ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995) was an Irish guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer. Due to his virtuosic playing, but relative lack of fame compared to some others, he has been referred to as "the greatest ...
,[ Johny Guitar, and ]Ringo Starr
Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the ...
from the Hurricanes
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...
,[
] and even possibly young Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold Beck (born 24 June 1944) is an English rock guitarist. He rose to prominence with the Yardbirds and after fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, he switched to a mainly instrumental style, with a focus ...
. Also, Conn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer, Inc. is an American manufacturer of musical instruments for concert bands, marching bands and orchestras. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments and was formed in 2003 by combining the Steinway properties, T ...
UK had introduced the Guyatone under their low budget brands, ''Freshman'' and ''Futurama'', in the late 1950s.[
] After the early success in the UK, its market had broadened further: for example, its early bolt-on neck
Bolt-on neck is a method of guitar (or similar stringed instrument) construction that involves joining a guitar neck and body using screws or bolts, as opposed to glue and joinery as with set-in neck joints.
Methods
The "bolt-on" method is u ...
model LG-40 is known to have been sold by multiple importers including: J.Mauriat,[
] Rose Morris (under ''Broadway'' brand), and Bell Music of Epsom.[
]
* In the United States, Buegeleisen and Jacobson
Buegeleisen and Jacobson (B & J) was a musical instrument distributor in New York City, United States.
B & J opened for business in 1901, on 17th Street in Manhattan, run by the previously salesmen Samuel Buegeleisen (1871–1957) and David Ja ...
(B&J) in New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
had introduced Guyatone under Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
, along with re-badged brands such as Saturn, Marathon, Starlight, Royalist, and others. Kent guitars, established in 1960, were initially manufactured by Hagström
Hagström () is a musical instrument manufacturer in Älvdalen, Dalecarlia, Sweden. Their original products were accordions that they initially imported from Germany and then Italy before opening their own facility in 1932. During the late 1950s ...
, then also manufactured by Guyatone, Kawai
is a musical instrument manufacturing company headquartered in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan. It is best known for its grand pianos, upright pianos, digital pianos, electronic keyboards and electronic synthesizers. The company was founded in Augus ...
, FujiGen
FujiGen Gakki (), also known as FGN, is a Japanese musical instrument manufacturing company based in Matsumoto, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Matsumoto is designated as a core city since 1 April 2021. , the city had ...
, Teisco
Teisco was a Japanese musical instrument manufacturing company from 1948 until 1967, when the brand "Teisco" was acquired by Kawai (河合楽器製作所; Kawai Gakki Seisakusho). The company produced guitars as well as synthesizers, microphones ...
, and Matsumoku
Matsumoku Industrial was a Japanese manufacturing company based in Matsumoto, Nagano, between 1951 and 1987. Established in 1951 as a woodworking and cabinetry firm, Matsumoku is remembered as a manufacturer of guitars and bass guitars, includ ...
.[
]
Gallery of Kent branded guitars manufactured by Guyatone, along with FujiGen, Matsumoku, Teisco, and Kawai.
In 2013 "Tokyo Sound Co. Ltd." was closed down[
] and transferred ownership of the "Guyatone" name to Hiroshi Matsuki (), son of the founder of Tokyo Sound Co., and brother to the president of the company, re-opening and re-organizing a short time later that same year.[ Guyatone now continues operations in its US office in Oswego, IL, USA with partner company DeMont MFG LLC. Later, DeMont MFG LLC was purchased and absorbed into "DeMont Guitars" along with all assets.
The Guyatone company is now owned by former R&D Guyatone engineer, Toshihiko Torii (DeMont Japan), and Nate DeMont (DeMont Guitars / Guyatone).
The DeMont / Guyatone Manufacturing facility sustained a fire in December 2017.
In Japan, Guyatone began the development of a patented injection-molded guitar pick which uses small differences in contours and thickness, as well as material types, to change the feel of the pick instead of the traditional thickness of the plastic.
In late 2018, Guyatone launched its website.]
References
Bibliography
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External links
*
Japan-DeMont-Guitars – partner in Japan
* — major domestic models in the 1950s–1960s.
{{Guitar brands
Guitar manufacturing companies
Musical instrument manufacturing companies of Japan
Japanese brands
1933 establishments in Japan