Another one for the Fakes 'n' Copies Archive

[wileypickett]

Not sure where to post this.

Kansas KW250 3p back JV1975 Guild D55 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Kansas KW250 3p back JV1975 Guild D55 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[SFIV1967]

Should be under ebay...

Well the Kansas brand is well known. It's a Japanese Kansas branded guitar from the "lawsuit" era, basically a counterfeit Guild...

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/anybody-see-this.203504/post-1893493

Ralf

 

[wileypickett]

That's the thread I was looking for. Thanks!

 

[wileypickett]

"Anybody see this" may not be the most memorable search term. Maybe we should rename the thread?

"Copycats" or something like that?

 

[Rambozo96]

That looks like a nice one. Not for $1200 though.

 

[Guildedagain]

Price is ok actually, that's about the fanciest Guild - or Martin for that matter - copy I've ever seen, abalone bound neck. Gorgeous. Always wondered if that's real abalone they used?

 

[fronobulax]

"Anybody see this" may not be the most memorable search term. Maybe we should rename the thread?

"Copycats" or something like that?

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/close-but-no-cigar.203519/

There is an interest in some kind of archival material that consolidates lawsuit or marginally legal copies of Guilds. The technical solution is evolving. Obviously a thread where @SFIV1967 is the only poster allowed isn't allowing for crowd sourcing, but that is what we have now. Blog posts kind of worked (see @GardMan bracing images) but the visibility is different and the comments contain veers and useful information so my hope of archival material is not dashed but is certainly crumbling. On many levels a LTG wiki where everyone could edit pages would be ideal but I don't think LTG members would always make the appropriate distinction between the wiki and posts on LTG proper.

I think the LTG Administration is open to suggestions but is likely to keep the status quo unless content managers who have a similar philosophy about archival material and veering step forward to maintain and police.

 

[Neal]

There is something mildly amusing about a guitar made in Japan under the "Kansas" brand.

 

[wileypickett]

There is something mildly amusing about a guitar made in Japan under the "Kansas" brand.

And with the G shield logo -- the G standing for, I guess, "Kansas."

 

[chazmo]

"We're not in Kansas anymore"

 

[bobouz]

Hmm - Should I spend my $1200 on a USA-made Guild, or a Japanese ‘Kansas’ copy? Pretty sure I know which way I’d be leaning!

 

[Guildedagain]

The Kansas is infinitely rarer than any USA Guild. It just depends what you're after, everyday stuff everyone else has, or are you more drawn to the rarity factor.

To each his own.

 

[Guildedagain]

It is true that you can buy a vintage USA Guild for less money, but when it comes to Martin copies, the equation becomes much simpler. $1000's for a 70's D28 that can be a bit underwhelming, or under a grand for a good Yamaki that might really surprise you tonewise compared to the real deal.

Like this one I had shipped straight from Japan for maybe $700 total?

The guitar is gorgeous, and tonally I'm so impressed with it. It's big, bold, bright, loud. It walks all over some USA guitars.

I have white Guild bridge pins/endpin in it now, it looks a bit more traditional.

 

[wileypickett]

Another "Nashville" (Guild copy), this one of a D44(?).

I tried to post this under the "close but no cigar" link above, but it's closed to further replies.

NASHVILLE Nashville N-44D Guild D-44M Replica | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NASHVILLE Nashville N-44D Guild D-44M Replica at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[SFIV1967]

Another "Nashville" (Guild copy), this one of a D44(?).

Thanks! I had them in my own list already, they even had a Westerly style label! That one was from 1975. At one point in the future I will continue and update that closed now thread...



Afterwards the label and headstock logo changed:



And finally I guess after the "lawsuit era" they were renamed in NMI, same model number, same inlay in headstock:



Ralf

 

[wileypickett]

Love the one with the Guild style label and "Nashville" burned / pressed into the binding strip. They went to a lot of trouble!

And "PO Box 244, Nashville, Tessessee -- Made in Japan" is pretty hip too.

Thanks for collecting these Ralf -- one of my favorite LTG threads.

* * *

Slightly related: I found a "Givson" archtop guitar at a yard sale in RI ($10.00 if memory serves) years ago now. Made in India.

The F holes look like they were carved with a pocket knife, and may have been. It's a fun little curiosity (I especially like the Givson decal and two-color plastic logo TRC).

I use the guitar for slide.

While it's easy to snicker at the poor level of workmanship, you have remember that there is considerable poverty in many parts of the world and that such guitars as these may be the best that some people can afford.

I just did a web search on Givson. They're still in business! Turns out the model I have is a "Crown" -- here's a link.

givson – givson

www.givson.com

Disappointingly the new TRC badge is not quite as nice as the old one. But now the decal also includes a hologram to authenticate that it's a genuine Givson. (Is it possible people are bootlegging these guitars?!)

Glenn

 

[SFIV1967]

And "PO Box 244, Nashville, Tessessee -- Made in Japan" is pretty hip too.

There seems to be a bigger story... At least what I found on the internet so far is this story: Nashville Musical Instrument Co. was either a Nashville music store that sold their own branded acoustic guitars, all made in Japan, during the 1970s or maybe they were strictly a wholesaler to other music stores in the South-Eastern US. They were located on Lower Broadway in Nashville one block down from Gruhns Guitar at that time and used P.O. Box 242. The owner's name was Richard Cromwell. Most all of the guitars were copies of Martin guitars. NMI closed their doors in 1980.
I can't verify any of that but it might or might not be true.

Ralf

 

[dreadnut]

In my way of thinking, if it has the "G" sheild and fret marker inlays, it's a fake.

 

[GGJaguar]

I'm not sure what's worse, this Nashville inlay or the "Atari" inlay that Guild used on the short-lived X-175 Dynasonic.

 

[richardp69]

I'll tell ya what, some of these fakes/copies aren't terrible. I still have that fake Jumbo Guild made of all KOA with the low profile electronics. I know several members here were not thrilled that I bought it but it works for me. It actually sounds quite good and the workmanship is pretty darned good as well.