Mystery 12-string

[archiemaxwell]

Hi y'all, new to this forum, got directed here via a poster on The Gear Page. Recently picked up this 12-string and nobody seems to know what it is, though most agree it's from the Matsomoku plant. Headstock has no holes, glue residue, or any indication that it ever had a nameplate. No trace of a serial # either. Note the unusual upper body shape, "3-hole" F-holes similar to Aria and many others, 5-bolt neck, faux tortoise pieces, slide switches, "linear" control layout (2 volumes, one tone, top mount jack,) faux humbuckers that are actually a single-coil with dummy polepiece screws, whammy bar that's actually for a 12-string. No center block or bridge block, but a 1/2" dowel under the bridge like on a violin. No bridge or nut came with this one. Open-gear individual tuners that I'm assuming are original. So does anybody know who made it and when, and if so could you post a pic or two, maybe a link to a catalog page? Many many thanks.

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

most agree it's from the Matsomoku plant.

The neck plate is usually associated with Matsumoku, yes and that's about as far as you get with these things.



The internet chatter says that Crown/Crown Professional was a brand of "Crown City Imports" in Pasadena, CA, but the guitar (looks like a Harmony H74 body style knockoff) was likely also imported by other companies. There's also a 6-string version with F-style headstock. The hardware details are typical for the end of the Japanese "bizarre" guitar era post ~1967.

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[archiemaxwell]

Nailed it! Thanks mucho!

 

[Sigmania]

If you found this information useful, please consider donating a few bucks to help keeping this forum alive, thank you!

Well said.

 

[archiemaxwell]

Done!

 

[archiemaxwell]

Got 'er done! Before and after:

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

Wow, as good as new!