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Matsumoku No.43

Price

£695 | SOLD

Missed out on this model? Talk to us for a rebuild!

This is a very cost effective way into DreamBuild ownership - all guitars sold as DreamBuilds have to be very special and personal. As we rebuild and re-specify these special guitars, we are left with some very good original parts - some customers want to keep original components with their upgraded guitars, others are only interested in the finished product. The later group of folk have allowed us to produce this guitar. This is a guitar with a few tricks up its sleeve. Based around an early 1973 Fujigen built Ibanez 2375, this features the chunkier 5-piece neck unique to 1973. We named this after the handwritten production line data in the neck pocket and pick-up cavities. This body appears to be a from the prototype line which would also explain the clearcoat finish over a body that would under normal circumstances be painted. The pancake body construction makes itself obviously know, and the thin slab on top has charm even where the contour of the body explains why it didn't make it into production! Originally equipped with short fat Maxons, we have upgraded them to Excel PU-119 pick-ups from a 1977 SE-700 - the first Greco model to feature a 5 way selector therefore appropriate middle pick-up construction to work in parallel mode. 2 new CTS premium pots govern master volume and neck tone, and a push push knob controls the middle and bridge tone. A new CRL 5 way switch provide the normal Strat tones if the push push knob is down, but give it a tap when the neck pick-up is selected and it brings in the bridge coil in series for a big fat humbucker sound. In the neck and middle position, the middle coil joins in parallel to the series connected neck/bridge. This gives a thicker more powerful "in between" tone. These series tones could be heard on the American Deluxe. The addition of these tones to the pallette is in keeping with this vintage Strat style guitar - it is not attempting to be a humbucker guitar.







The guitar retains its early Gotoh bridge - even though it looks rather agricultural, it does the job adequately, and the nice solid block gets a solid acoustic ring usually only experienced with very expensive guitars. Another clue that this guitar served as a prototype is the presence of the infamous "star tuners" - only fitted to the most expensive guitars at the time. They retain their quality solid feel, and enable very stable tuning. Whilst yellow pick-up covers and knobs won't be to everyone's taste, we think they make a nice change from established colour schemes - yellow always cheers us up. It is pure vintage MIJ in feel and balance, and at 3.88kg (8lbs 9oz) a little weightier than the more famous and later Fender JVs. A 9.5" radius and a 42.5mm nut make this very comfortable and a very low action can be achieved.
Details
The Look

Shiny, Natural, aged nakedly hiding nothing, and shiny metal, and yellow. You won't lose it.

Headstock

Still featuring its customized rod cover - adopt the name Kenny Ollerenshaw as your stage persona? Ibanez wasn't always such a fashionable word to have on a Strat, a previous owner was tired of being unfashionable. We have removed the handwritten and incorrectly spelt wishful thinking and put on one of ours - after all, the wood was conditioned and supplied, and the neck constructed by Matsumoku.

Neck

Chunky C - none of the super skinny JV here - a decent handful. And a Harayama 5-piece.

Pick-ups

3 x PU119 otherwise known as Excels. Very well regarded pick-ups, these originating from a 1977 SE-700

Bridge

Gotoh original style - and it works well.

Controls

CRL 5-way switch, a CTS 250 master volume, a CTS 250 neck tone and an Alpha push-push middle and bridge tone control that activates the series mode pick-up configuration.

Gallery
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