1980s J. Steele 300/301 Precision Bass Guitar

Vintage Korean Fender P-Bass copy, saw action at some of my first gigs and still going strong

Virtually everything featured here over the last few years is something that has been found within that time frame, with just a few notable exceptions. This cheap little nugget is something that I found at Westminster Jewelry and Loan around this time in 1993. I bought this for $85 and over 20 years later, there is little to no information available about the make or model. Used Price suggested the model numbers and stated that they were made in 1987, but that's all I could find.

I gigged with this and put in countless hours of practice in 1993 and 1994, but by the time I moved on to other bands in later years, I had upgraded to a mid-level Ibanez. A friend of mine cleaned up the pots a few years back when he was fostering it and it still sounds and plays great. The neck isn't quite as fast as the Ibanez Roadstar that sits in front of it on the rack, but I still pick it up every once in a while, for old time's sake.

Some of the stickers on this bass are really special, especially the ones on the back. There is a Philadelphia theme on both sides, but the Philadelphia Music Company is a now-defunct music store from that area and where I first fell in love with guitars as a kid. The White Zombie sticker was a fan club thing 20 years ago and is probably worth just as much as the bass today. Of course, the KNAC and Pirate Radio stickers are original, and those were the two main radio stations that I listened to as a teenager in So Cal in the early 1990s.

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1990s Park G10 Combo Practice Amp

Vintage Marshall-designed box cranks out nice sounds, made in Korea

Another of the cheap finds that were scored during the practice amp kick, I had never heard of this brand before I stumbled upon it (literally) at the Goodwill. After reading some reviews and finding out that it was at least decent, I went back the next day and was lucky enough to find it still sitting there.

Like the Mako Piranha, this amp needs to have the electronics cleaned up. Just about all of the pots are super dirty and the overdrive really only works in a few spots. I was able to get some cool, early Pearl Jam-esque sounds in those spots when I plugged in the Aria Pro II strat and the cleans also sound nice and clear for a cheap practice amp, both the high and low end.

Also, like the Piranha, there are no effects to play with on this amp, but the ability to get those old school overdrive sounds make it worth picking up, if you can find one. Sometimes its nice to be able to just plug in and get a more natural sounding distortion than plugging in a pedal. That's the goal for recording, going forward; the option of different sounds and creating those sounds as organically as possible. Even the effects on the amps recently featured sound cleaner than the pedals that I've accumulated, which are also vintage.

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1981 Carlos Model No. 249 Acoustic Guitar

Yet another Quality Product of Korea, this one in near-mint condition

Since the last few months have seen more pieces make their way to the Museum, you knew it was only a matter of time before another Model No. 249 showed up on the site. This one was found at a pawn shop that specializes in estate sales. They had some other instruments laying around their shop, but this beauty was really the only thing worth looking at.

Unlike the previous 1981 Model No. 249 that was featured last year, this one doesn't have quite as much red in the finish and is closer to the 1982 versions that were found. It plays and sounds just as nice as the others, though the bridge has started to lift just a tad at the high E. Hopefully, it's something that can nipped in the bud, as it will be difficult to find another in this condition.

Another cool thing happened when the photos of this guitar were posted, we ended up becoming friends with another guitar blog, this one dealing strictly with Carlos guitars. It's nice to know there are other people out there who love these little-known beauties.

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1990s Ibanez TR 300 Expressionist Bass Guitar

Semi-rare Korean Fender Jazz bass copy

The latest acquisition is a mid-grade gem, a solid Jazz bass copy that has seen its share of action. You can see the rust spots on the pickups; likely created by beads of sweat and the bridge also had its fair share, before I took a toothbrush and some Bar Keeper's Friend to it. My buddy Clay at Beach City Pawn and Guitar cleaned a nice layer of gunk off the fretboard as well.

The only info I could find on this model was in the 1996 Ibanez USA catalog. Its loaded with passive pups called Power Tier. The previous owner listed the color as burnt orange, but it looks like black and this cherry red finish were the only two that were produced. The catalog also brags about the dual-mount EB7 bridge that is installed on it.

I picked this up for a few different reasons. First, its an older Ibanez and second, I was looking for a bass with a rosewood fretboard, as the other basses on the rack right now have naked maple necks. I'm also looking to be able to achieve different sounds with all three basses, as one is a P-bass, one a P/J and now this J-bass. I may take out the pups and replace them with Seymour Duncan rails to get a fatter sound with it, if its even able to be done.

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1980s Mako Piranha Practice Amp

Super rare guitar amp, made in Korea. Great looking and sounding little box

Many longtime players remember the Mako name, because apparently Kaman Music made a very aggressive push with their guitars and basses in the 1980s. The first bass that I ever owned was actually a black Mako P-Bass copy with a maple neck and I remember it being a good quality instrument.

I never knew that they made amps as well. During one of my daily CraigsList sweeps, I found this little nugget in my area and picked it up for the price of an expensive lunch. There are no effects to play with, but it was definitely worth buying. The Tube Blaster function is basically its overdrive channel and it delivers a solid little crunch. This was my first purchase in a series of small amps.

The Mako logo is not made of cheap plastic, but appears to be chrome and the silver grill also gives it clean-looking vintage Fender vibe. I was surprised to find this in such great shape. Some of the pots are noisy, but that's an easy enough fix, just have to rip her open and clean her up one day.

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1977 Kay Model No. K590 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage Korean Gibson Hummingbird copy with hardly a scratch on her, a true closet gem

I have to admit, I picked up this guitar just on looks alone and the fact that the seller lived about 2 miles away from my place didn't hurt either. This previous owner said that it was their grandpa's guitar and I would guess that it has sat in the case, in a closet or under the bed, for the better part of its existence.

This is a lighter acoustic, but definitely a better build than the Kay and Checkmate guitars that I've had in the past, which were produced in Japan in the 1960s. It does play and sound nice, just not quite as pretty as she looks or as nice as others that are laying around right now.

The sunburst finish, hummingbird pickguard and fretboard inlays all give it that classic look. This one not only has a vintage vibe, but is pushing 40 years old itself and looks relatively brand new. I'll slap some new strings on it and give it a shot. Worst-case scenario, it's a useable guitar that will look great on the wall...

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1980s Carlos Model No. 240S Acoustic Guitar

Vintage solid-top dreadnought, date unknown, but sweeter than words can describe 

If you've been following this blog, by now you know that I'm a full-blown Carlos enthusiast. I had never even heard of them before I came across a Model No. 249 in August 2012, but the way that one played and sounded was enough to get me hooked. This is the 12th Carlos guitar that I've picked up since then and four of them are still in my possession.

This is the first Carlos solid-top model that I've had my hands on and it sounds absolutely incredible, with both the low end and brights ringing out loud and clear. Cosmetically, there are just a couple of small dings on the face of the guitar, but not really any other flaws. The wood on both the front and back of the guitar are very attractive and the cream binding also classes it up.

I'm having trouble dating this one, as there is no serial number listed anywhere, but my educated guess would be somewhere between 1981 and 1985. I did have a Model No. 240 at one point, but that one was an older one, based on the style of the tuning pegs and the adjustable saddle. The Carlos logo on the headstock of this guitar is also unlike any other that I've seen thus far. If you have any information on this model, please pass it along...

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1981 Carlos Model No. 249 Acoustic Guitar

The third Model No. 249 we've featured, this one also needed repair 

SCGM returns after a long hiatus with another one of our favorite finds, the Carlos Model No. 249 acoustic guitar. Unfortunately, this one needed more work than the previous two that I'd found, as the bridge was coming up so bad, that it wasn't playable at all.

This one was a year older than the others that I'd come across and the finish was just a tad lighter than the 1982 versions. Aside from the problem with the bridge, there was also a hairline crack where the neck met the headstock, but it didn't as though it was a fatal flaw.

This one was passed along to another Carlos collector, who will more than likely make the necessary repairs and add a very nice and inexpensive piece to their acoustic guitar arsenal. Check back here later this week for another Carlos dreadnought that will be arriving at my door in a few days.

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1997 Hohner Model No. HW700S Acoustic Guitar

Sweet 15-year old solid spruce top dreadnought, gorgeous mahogany on the back, made in Korea

This is the 3rd Hohner guitar that I've picked up in the last couple of months and it's been a complete trifecta, as there has been a 1970s electric, a 1980s classical and now this 1990s acoustic. All 3 have been quality guitars and nice players, with both the classical and acoustic being made in Korea.

After I put a new set of Martin SP XLs on this guitar, my fears about the original nut and saddle were validated, as this guitar amazingly has both high action and a little bit of a buzz. The nut definitely needs to be bigger, I had filed down a new bone saddle for this one, but the buzzing was even worse. I'll probably have to take this one in, because fitting for a nut is a bit trickier than a saddle and I really just want it done, so I can hear what this beauty really sounds like.

As it stands, the current setup really kills all of the tone, the G and high E strings are both hitting frets when struck, creating the buzz and the indentations on the saddle make the two highest strings sound really tinny. You can see in the photos that I've stuck some masking tape in between the nut and the strings, that cuts out the buzz, but also robs just as much tone.

This is a nice guitar though, it has Schaller/Grover style tuners and the hold tight. Finding an entry-level guitar with a solid top is always nice, when it's 15 years old and not made in China, even better. The solid mahogany back is the nicest feature to me. This one still looks great, the original owner played the hell out of it, but took good care of it.

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1981 Carlos Model No. 228 Classical Guitar

Beautiful vintage Korean nylon string guitar, still looks and sounds great

This is a vintage lower level nylon string guitar that is passable for gigging and a great banger for the beach or parties.

Not sure exactly what happened with the bars inside the tuning pegs, as four of the six have broken in half. They're all still fully functional though, even if the G was a bit difficult to replace.

But, there is no damage to the headstock or neck, the only thing I can think is that maybe there were steel strings on there at some point and they ate through the bars? Guitar still looks and sounds great though. There are some small signs of wear, the usual rubbing and light scratching on the surface.

That's to be expected for a 30-year old guitar and even though this one is a laminate, it gets a nice tone and really does play great. I have a solid mahogany 228 in my personal collection and this one isn't too far off.

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2000s Fender GD-47S/12 Acoustic Guitar

Killer solid top 12-string acoustic, made in Korea and upgraded with Grover tuners

Today we showcase a beautiful 12-string that just come from the original owner and is still in like-new condition. This one was upgraded with gold Grover tuning keys when it was first purchased from Guitar Center and that just ups the quality.

The Fender logo on the headstock is inlaid with abalone, as are the fret markers and abalone also surrounds the soundhole.

A solid spruce top is the main feature of this beauty, giving it a full sound and a strange thing to note...there is no pickguard.

When I changed the strings, I noticed that the saddle was made of bone and not plastic, so when I put on that new set of D'Addario XLs, they really sang. These go for as much as $500 on eBay and despite Fender's so-so reputation in the acoustic market, this is a real nice one and will be taken in to the personal collection.

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1985(?) Carlos Model No. 238 Acoustic Guitar

Another vintage high-end dreadnought from the Korean makers, this one might be the best yet

This is the 8th or 9th Carlos acoustic guitar that I've found since the end of summer and it's another really nice copy of a Martin or Guild, like the 249 that was featured yesterday, but this one has a natural finish. The serial number on the support beam reads either 1983 or 1985, it's a little smudged and hard to decipher.

The bridge has started to come up from the body, so I'll have to repair it before it can really be used for anything serious. There is hardly any wear on this guitar though, a couple of scuff marks on the edges, but the frets are still in great shape and the finish on the neck/headstock area are as nice as ever.

It sounds nice as is and as soon as I can remove the bridge and reattach it, this will probably end up being my #1 acoustic. I may end up sounding like a broken record, but don't pass up a Carlos guitar from Korea if you come across one at a good price.

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1995 Ibanez RX 170 Electric Guitar

Vintage Ibanez budget-line guitar, worlds better than what is out there today in this price range, made in Korea 

Here is an interesting guitar, a low-end model, but one that is worthy of investing some money into for hot rodding. The body is made of plywood and the hardware isn't anything to write home about... 

But, the neck is one-piece maple and the HSH pickup configuration means that the sky is the limit in terms of the number of sounds that this guitar is capable of putting out. Throw in some high-end pickups and tuning machines and this guitar suddenly becomes a monster shredder.

Haven't seen too many of these floating around, most cheap Ibanez's available secondhand are the next generation Gios. $250 is a fair deal for a stock version like this one, but finding one in decent shape for about half that number is possible too.

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1980s Hohner Model No. HGK614 Classical Guitar

Vintage 3/4 size classical guitar, plays and sounds real nice, made in Korea

I haven't been able to find any information on this particular model. Every search has come up with a Contessa series from 1975, made in Japan. But, this one was made in Korea, Contessa is nowhere to be found on the label and the style of the label and serial number tell me it's from the early 80s, probably 1983.

I'd never played a Hohner before and this is a nice guitar for what it is. Probably an entry level model back in the day, given the 3/4 size, which is a little bigger than the student sized Crown and Hondo classicals that were featured here recently. This is a nice beginner guitar.

I set this one up with a set of Draco by Martin flat strings and it has a nice enough tone to it. The smaller size neck makes it easier to play than a standard classical and the tuning machines and bridge have both stood the test of time. This is something that you can probably pick up for $40-60 if you're lucky, but anything over $150 is probably paying too much. Definitely better than the modern First Acts and Carlos Robelli guitars in the same price bracket or higher.

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1982 Carlos Model No. 207 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage folk-style acoustic guitar, another beautiful guitar that was sitting in a closet for about a decade

The younger cousin of the Carlos folk guitar that was featured here a little while back, this one looks and sounds a little better, with the cream colored binding and natural wood grains on the back really making it pop.

On top of the fact that it looks great, this one also plays about as nice as any acoustic guitar ever will. I set it up with a set of D'Addario Acoustic Light strings and they really sing resonating off of the stock brass nut and saddle.

The body is not only thinner than a regular dreadnought, but the width and height are also smaller scale, making this one the same size as a standard classical. These Carlos guitars have a cult following of sorts in the collector's market and I guess you can count me among the faithful.

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1982 Carlos Model No. 249 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage high-end dreadnought copy, brass nut and saddle, made in Korea

This is the 2nd of this model that I've been lucky enough to find over the last few months and this one didn't need any repairs, unlike the previous copy that was featured. The body was a little more beat up, but it was still solid and there was nothing major wrong with it at all.

The brass saddle was sitting a bit too low and there was some buzzing because of it. I ended up passing it on to another longtime player here in So. Cal. This model was his first guitar way back when and he really wanted it for the sentimental value.

Hopefully I'll be able to find another, as both of these played and sounded so nice. Another Carlos from the same period will be featured tomorrow, I'm picking up as many of these that I can realistically get my hands on.

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1981 Carlos Model No. 228MH Classical Guitar

Vintage classical guitar, top-quality and in near-perfect condition, another gem of the Carlos brand from Korea

It's amazing to me that these guitars, which may have retailed for about $200 back in the 1980s, have aged so well and that there are so many of them still floating around out there.

This one is about as nice as any classical guitar that I've ever played, right up there with the Tres Pinos from a similar period that we also featured recently. The MH designation would indicate solid Mahogany, as the better-made Carlos guitar were rumored to have solid-wood construction.

If you find a Carlos acoustic guitar at a yard sale or pawn shop and it has the Egyptian Ankh style "L" on the headstock and soundhole, pick it up. Sometimes you can get lucky and score one for $50-$100, but collectors are known to pay anywhere between $200-$500, depending on the model.

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1988 Alvarez Regent Model No. 5212 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage entry-level dreadnought, still plays great and sounds nice enough, made in Korea

Alvarez does have some top-notch acoustics floating around out there, but most of the ones I've played have been mid-level, at best. This one actually plays really fast, so it would be perfect for a beginner, but the adjustable saddle needs to be changed, because the action is actually way too low.

Some noticeable blemishes on this one, a deep scratch on the face of the guitar and some light ones along the neck joint, but it still plays fine. The tortoise shell pickguard looks nice from afar, but it's pretty dull and cheap up close. Nice dark mahogany finish on the sides and back classes it up a bit though.

Not a great guitar by any means, but still alot better than most of the Chinese no-name boxes that are out there today. If you're looking for a cheap acoustic and this is an option, it's a much better buy at $100-$150.

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1960s-70s Kay? Model No. G440 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage parlor guitar, guessing on the brand, but it's nearly identical to others I've had, made in Korea

The label inside the soundhole only lists a model number and there is no brand marker on the headstock either. It's nearly identical to a Checkmate Model No. G235 that I also picked up right around the same time, so chances are they're related.

This one plays a little better, even though the neck is separating from the body, so it doesn't stay in tune for very long. Like every Checkmate acoustic guitar that I've ever seen, this one also looks great, which is probably the reason people still collect these to this day.

The double flowered pickguards just invoke the spirit of this one's glory days. These are purely for collectors, they don't play easy enough for beginners and they don't sound anywhere near the level needed for recording and performing.

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1970s-80s Carlos Model No. 236 Classical Guitar

Top-notch vintage classical, these Carlos guitars become unforgettable to collectors and longtime players

Once again, the sticker with the serial number was torn off by the time it got to me, so there is no way to know the exact year or even take a guess. Carlos guitars made in 1981 and 1982 have a date stamped on one of support strips inside the guitar, so this seems to be 1980 or before.

This was a rescue, it had no nut or saddle and there was a chunk missing just above the nut on the headstock. This guitar played and sounded so nice though, that I passed it on to a professional flamenco guitar player and he intended to use it for when he traveled, so the cosmetic flaws didn't matter at all.

I can't recommend these Carlos guitars enough. You can find them for as little as $50 in some cases and they're probably better than most brand names you'd pay $250-$300 for, even secondhand online.

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