Need Info on a '60s Savoy Guitar (Japan), like ET-270

[abl]

Anyone familiar with the Savoy guitar brand (Japan)? I'm trying to get some info on them, specifically the model in the picture links below, but I haven't been able to find much of anything...on the brand or model.

Supposedly, it's a '69 and the predecessor to the Epiphone ET-270.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Tprbd9 ... p=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ToOSB ... p=drivesdk

[Ceylon]

These guitars were sold under like 200 different names, but is most famously known as the Aria 1802t and there's a big long thread about them and all their variations on here, if you search for that name.

EDIT: Actually, never mind, found it for you.

[abl]

The body of the one I pictured looks more skewed than the Aria/Epiphone models

[countertext]

Different cutaways, too.

[LVC]

It's definitely a late 60s/early 70s Matsumoku guitar. Think of it as an 1802T with a slightly sifferently shaped body. Most of the info in the 1802T/1803T/ET270 thread linked above will still be relevant.

I've never heard of Savoy as a brand. A quick google search turned up very few results. It must have been one of the many importers who rebranded Matsumoku models for the US or European market.

I'm fairly sure I've seen the exact same body shape before with a different branded headstock.

[LVC]

I'm fairly sure I've seen the exact same body shape before with a different branded headstock.

Found it! Tempo guitar (another Matsumoku importer/rebrander)


Source + more pics: https://reverb.com/item/427461-tempo-el ... -matsumoku


Source: https://reverb.com/au/item/3140463-1966 ... nivox-uc-2


Source: https://reverb.com/item/6600765-1968-te ... usicmaster

A white one...

Source: https://reverb.com/ca/item/310750-vinta ... 1966-white


Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZjFwV6H-qc

Bass version:

Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 1053235288

Another bass:

Source: https://reverb.com/au/item/5887776-funk ... co-electra

According to this page, this model was designed by Hayashi Nobuaki, like most of Matsumoku guitars from the same era.




EDIT: found another Savoy branded one. The headstock logo is different.

Source: https://picclick.com/Vintage-60s-1970s- ... 58151.html

[abl]

Found it! Tempo guitar (another Matsumoku importer/rebrander)

No way!! The reason I was asking is cuz I want to know the specs, esp the woods use and neck shape/nut width.

Thanks

[LVC]

No way!! The reason I was asking is cuz I want to know the specs, esp the woods use and neck shape/nut width.

I can take measurements on my Aria 1803T when I get home. The necks should be the same.

[LVC]

Ok, so I took measurements on my Aria 1803T. I'm fairly sure all these late 60s/early 70s solidbody guitars made in the Matsumoku factory had the same necks, so that should be valid for that Savoy.

Nut is 40 mm wide. Looks like that was influenced by the Mosrite, which had been made extremely popular in Japan in the mid 60s by the Ventures.

Neck profile is... unusual, but not uncomfortable. I'd describe it as sort of a shallow D, quite flat in the middle with wide "shoulders". Sorry, I'm not the best at describing neck profiles... Maye another 1802T/1803T/1532T etc. owner can chime in and be more helpful than me.

Scale length is 24.75".

Matsumoku-made solidbody guitars of that era had a pretty thin (35 mm) mahogany body with a veneer top and back. The finish is poly, somewhat thin by today's standards.

The vibrato unit is highly regarded. Some people cannibalize them to put them on their on builds.

I love these guitars. They have that pre-lawsuit era quirkiness, but are more solid, more playable and better sounding than many early 60s Japanese models.

Hope that helps. If you have other questions feel free to ask

[abl]

Ok, so I took measurements on my Aria 1803T.

Nut is 40 mm wide. Looks like that was influenced by the Mosrite, which had been made extremely popular in Japan in the mid 60s by the Ventures.

Whoa, 40mm makes for a really narrow neck! Are the frets tiny, like the Mosrite?

Thanks for all the help.

[Sonichris]

I'm fairly sure I've seen the exact same body shape before with a different branded headstock.

Found it! Tempo guitar (another Matsumoku importer/rebrander)

Source: https://reverb.com/au/item/3140463-1966 ... nivox-uc-2

That one was mine for a while - the listing is from when I sold it 5 years ago. I don't recall the neck being that narrow. More like 42mm. kind of chunky actually. Regular sized frets. The whole guitar was really cool looking, but didn't sound all that great. Narrow string spacing at the bridge, which might be one of the biggest reasons I let it go.