NGD: 1970s Tomson Splendor Series (factory longer scale Mustang!)

[MattK]

Well, guessing is fun it seems, so: 1970s. Japanese. Competition stripes. 25.5” scale. (edit: it's 24.75" actually)

[enricosonic]

Something from Univox?

[MattK]

Nope! Earlier 70s. Offset body. Two pickups with brass covers.

[MattK]

… and not to be cruel, the model it copies has a 24” scale length

[enricosonic]

How 'bout a Teisco Mustang copy? - had a buddy who owned one that was Japanese made... don't know what scale that thing actually was.

[MattK]

Pretty, pret-ty close

[enricosonic]

Well someone more well-versed in vintage Japanese Mustang copies should get this one. And I hope so because I want to see this thing.

In searching I see even Schecter made a copy. I guess I'll throw Thompson out there, a subsidiary of Teisco (or vice-versa).

[MattK]

Indeed it is a Tomson Splendor Series! Made in the Suzuki factory I think, alongside some Teiscos but not owned by them I think?

[enricosonic]

Indeed it is a Tomson Splendor Series! Made in the Suzuki factory I think, alongside some Teiscos but not owned by them I think?

Yay! I don't really understand the Tompson/Teisco connection.

[MattK]

Early 70s Suzuki made Tomson Splendor Series Mustang copy with a long scale neck. Picked it up from the local classifieds yesterday and had friends over for dinner, so only time for a quick clean and a pickup test (they sound great, pretty raw and P90ish).
Neck will need some work - the back is a bit rough, the nut and tuners non original, and too much relief. Overall pretty sound so far. Bridge is one of those hilarious space-adjustment ones where the saddles spin on a threaded rod, it's pretty cool.

[enricosonic]

Nice score, pretty good shape for roughly 50 years old. Reminds me of the days of scouring pawn shops.

[BoringPostcards]

Cool score for sure.

[Pacafeliz]

Oh i had one of these, but VISION branded, refinished in cheap metallic blue.
It had been thurstonized with a middle pickup

[MattK]

Well the fretboard sucked in about a gallon of oil and looks much better. I have to cut a proper nut - it has some generic plastic replacement which is the wrong radius I think, the fretboard is very flat. The truss nut looks pretty rusty so I will tackle it with caution ...\
(also - just measured and it's 24.75" or Gibson scale)

[MattK]

Update!
As I suspected, there were some hidden problems ... but the body is solid instead of ply as I'd expected. Needed some drilling and dowelling but now a very solid neck joint.




Then a new bone nut (cut down from a 7 string blank!), cleanup, fresh set of 12s (wound G), three full turns on the truss rod, which by some miracle still works despite being rusted and slack, a lot of fiddle, shims and bridge adjustments ... it's about 90% of the way there and plays well. Pickups are great.




Pretty darn good for a 50 year old cheapie.