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Please help - identify guitar

29 Nov 04 - 05:25 PM (#1342450)
Subject: Please help - identify guitar
From: Chief Chaos

Greetings,
I need help identifying a guitar.
It's an electric, slim hollow-body, with double pick-ups.
I'm not sure of the woods used in construction.
It is double cutaway with sharp horns and has two f holes, one on either side running from center to fullest part of the lower curve.
The top is looks like three pieces, two plain with a longitudinal grain on the center board giving it a striped look. It also has an adjustable metal bridge. The binding for the sides and neck is either ivory or an old plastic that has yellowed nicely. The headstock is pretty plain looking like a slightly curved hairbrush.
The keys are chromed metal and are creased down the middle. the truss cover is an elongated rounded triangle. The Fret marks are standard mother of pearl circles starting at third and ending at 17th.
The controls ar plastic tophat along either side of the right side F hole. THe pickups are located at the bottom of the neck and low just above the bridge.

I purchased this guitar at an auction (for the price it would have been a bargain just for firewood). It had a Picador plate glued over the original name. The original name is more or less wiped out but it was gold. The first letter seems to be an S and the last is angled so I'm thinking its an A a K or an M depending upon the Font. The only other distinguishing feature is an abalone M set on it's side at the very top of the headstock. It could be the greek letter Epsilon.

I purchased the guitar in Wilmington, NC which used to have a small Marine detachment so this could be (and most likely is a foreign made guitar.

I have no illusions of having found a "classic" or collectible guitar but I would like to know who made it in case I need to get parts.

Of interesting note, I found a black Mosrite pick with "The Ventures" on its face.


29 Nov 04 - 05:38 PM (#1342466)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,MCP

My immediate thought from the M on its side is not epsilon, but capital Sigma, which would fit in with your reading of the letters.

Mick


29 Nov 04 - 05:50 PM (#1342482)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,Les B.

This is weird, I've "submitted" twice and it hasn't posted !

Anyway, 20 years ago I bought a handsome Martin D-41 copy dreadnaught for $75 from a friend who owned a music store. It had a Picador label on the headstock. When I peeled it off, it had a faint "Sigma" outline underneath the varnish.

Examining the inside of the Sigma, I discovered glue spattered around the bracing, so I assumed it had been rejected because of quality control and remaindered to Picador, whoever they are.

Sigma, as you can find in another recent thread at this site, is a Japanese company who make fairly good copies of Martin guitars. I was not aware, however, that they made electric guitars ???


29 Nov 04 - 05:53 PM (#1342485)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,Les B.

I should clarify, re my post above, that what was on my headstock
was Sigma spelled out - not the greek letter.


29 Nov 04 - 08:20 PM (#1342650)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: Chief Chaos

It might be Sigma. I tried finding paperwork on the interior or behing the pick guard. Yeah, the glue job was pretty bad. But there was nothing else to indicate what it was. I'll check Sigma and see if I can find anything.

Thanks,


29 Nov 04 - 09:13 PM (#1342691)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,Chief Chaos

Okay, checked the web for Japanese Guitars (Martin owns the Sigma name - don't know how long ago they obtained it). There don't seem to be any sigma or Picadors listed anywhere.

The closest design was actually Ibanez but not an exact match.


30 Nov 04 - 12:56 AM (#1342874)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST

The "M" on its side made me think of Epiphone......The "S" and "A" made me think of Stella guitars, but I don't think any of them were electric....

...none of which is helpful, I realize ........


30 Nov 04 - 06:31 AM (#1343013)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: Mooh

The only Sigma electrics I'm aware of are solid bodies, but if there are others they might be quite rare, though not necessarily valuable. Perhaps if you could find a similar looking guitar for comparison and identification of features we could figure this one out.

Peace, Mooh.


30 Nov 04 - 06:44 AM (#1343018)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: The Fooles Troupe

... or perhaps try to organise a pic which can be accessed on the web... perhaps a friend can help...


30 Nov 04 - 08:58 AM (#1343129)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: Mooh

Good idea.

I've seen a few Martin electrics over the years which were pretty funky looking, and decently made even if they were off the market target considerably. As for Sigmas (if that's what this is), I wonder...

Peace, Mooh.


30 Nov 04 - 03:15 PM (#1343527)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST

Okay, so spill.

How do I put a pic in and where should I put it?


01 Dec 04 - 12:28 AM (#1344003)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,Songster Bob

Sounds like an Epiphone SG model to me. The f-holes are a puzzle, though. Let me do a little exploring.

Be back in a few.

Bob


01 Dec 04 - 12:33 AM (#1344007)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: Peace

Click Help just under the button to the right of the box containing Quick Links

It will take you to another page

Click on the blue line.

You will be directed from there.


01 Dec 04 - 12:41 AM (#1344012)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,Songster Bob

Try these photos.

http://guitarhq.com/gallery/epicoron.jpg

http://guitarhq.com/gallery/episor69.jpg

The second sounds like the answer to your question. To get to the page with the info, try this:

http://guitarhq.com/


Bob Clayton


01 Dec 04 - 10:11 AM (#1344345)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,Chief Chaos

Songster,

The second is almost a copy. differences in the top, only two control knobs and the pick guard which is screwed down to the body instead of on a riser. I'll probably post a pic tonight.


30 Jan 05 - 02:50 PM (#1393458)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,hank

I have come across this guitar and have no clue about it can you help.
it is called masters on the top and inside has masters b s england/toronto


28 Feb 05 - 08:49 PM (#1423469)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,tony

I just bought an old Sigma bass looks like a Fender Tele and cannot find any info on it.It is natural 2 pickups and controls are volume and tone on a plate just like the tele.Any info would be helpful


01 Mar 05 - 01:40 PM (#1424061)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: Willie-O

Re Sigma/Picador

When I toured the Martin factory (early 80's) Dick Boak explained that Sigma guitars were manufactured in Japan for Martin, then shipped to the U.S. for quality-control checks at the Martin factory. Sigma guitars that failed the quality test, but were useable, were re-branded as Picador--a name also owned by Martin it seems.

In comparison, actual Martin guitars which failed Martin quality control were destroyed, not rebranded. (I think a lot of them ended up as those cutaway this-is-what-the-inside-of-a guitar-looks-like display things seen in music stores)

Back in the old days when Martin protected their quality scrupulously....sigh....


01 Mar 05 - 04:03 PM (#1424208)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: open mike

there is another thread dedicated to sigma guitars
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=71908#1387900


02 Mar 05 - 11:52 AM (#1424995)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,cindylane878

Hi,
    I have aquired a Sigma Martin Guitar Labled SN 901029 and on the body, behind the Neck it says .. DR35N .. Looked up Martin Guitars on Ebay.. and some other places.. and some pics.. it looks like the Brazilian Rosewood backing.. but all that I've read about The "Sigma" Marked Martins is there' like a Knock off That Martin had Made from Japan,.. on the inside of the Guitar it is Marked Nazereth PA, or Narath PA.. USA.. somethin' like that...
HELP ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL

**Cindy**


15 Mar 05 - 11:29 PM (#1435780)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,isaac bergen

guitar called nakamura


18 Mar 05 - 05:46 PM (#1437964)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,mbmcktek@aol.com

I bought a Les Paul copy guitar at the height of the lawsuit era in 1978 it was from the origianl owner. The headstock logo is Concert and it has a MOP butterfly inlay (very 1960s) it has a bit of electric hum but I'm preparing to refit the instrument with new tuners knobs pick ups wiring harness and I'm adding a Bowen whammy bar (no wood cutting needed) this was mfg'd in Japan and I'm trying to find out it's worth for insurance purposes.


22 Aug 09 - 03:46 AM (#2705986)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST

samick.........


04 May 11 - 04:50 AM (#3147551)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST

i have a s-body ibanez with h/s/h ibzusaf1 humbucker back plate says its from bethlsalem.pa don't know year or model


22 Jun 12 - 06:25 AM (#3366565)
Subject: RE: Please help - identify guitar
From: GUEST,essem58

clearly either a shergold or a sears & roebuck catalogue guitar made by selmer