Capri Hollow Body - Mats?

Hey all,

I'm being offered a 335 style Capri guitar, model 5102G, Hollow body supposedly built at Matsumoku. Can't find any references on the 'net. Has a neck plate with the familiar "Steel Adjustable Neck Made in Japan (all caps) 1001962". Anyone familiar with these?

All original, very nice shape but for 1 ding, lovely Honey to Tobacco Brown Burst body, 2 p9o type pups, Tunomatic bridge atop a wooden pedestal, trapeze tail, bound neck and body, the front being 5 layers.

I'm gonna get it (just talked myself into it!) but who made these? Any idea of the dating for one? (I meant the year of manufacture, quell those dirty minds)

Sooo many questions, so little time. It'll be here tomorrow, one chance to assemble the components (it was ready to be parted out) and decide. The seller's integrity is beyond question, it's progeny, admittedly, less so.

Thanks,

Dan

Lots of info on these here:

http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/index.php

do a search on 335 or 5102...

P.

Thanks Frenchy,

that's the one. The Aria 5102g model looks a LOT like the Capri, not as pretty a burst. Does that make it a Matsumoku Capri? No idea of the age, but that's part of the fun. Another part of the fun will be assembling the pieces.

Dan

Hi Dan,

If it has the " Steel Adjustable Neck" on the neckplate, I generally associate it with uncle Matt...In the 60's and 70's more white labels seem to exist... We know Aria contracted out Matt for the instruments and all these white labels are the exact copies appart from the logo, they even have the same model # and sticker inside them... We do not know if Mat was producing them 100% or just assembling them in the begining... we might never know...

But until then, I say it's a matt!

Now for the real important stuff.... We want Pics!... You now bragged on the incredible burst this baby has... I need to see it!...

I love these older Matt instruments and collect them, they are really great instrument and have a tone no other have...

Pics,Pics,pics....

P.

Hey Frenchy,

GuitarDir.com looks like a very good resource. I've sent an e/m with my basic info for registering.

The Capri 5102G is arriving a little later today, but it's been broken down (to loose screws) for parting out. It's gonna take a couple of days till it's put back together, hollow bodies are notoriously difficult to assemble.

Meanwhile, many thanks for your help and a couple of questions if you don't mind:

1) Would you feel comfortable (and why not) using the Matsumoku serial number dating method? This one reads 1001962, which would be odd in that context. It does have the "Steel Adjustable Neck" and "Made in Japan" like the usual Mat product.

2) What are the "White Labels" you mention? Mat manufactured and "other" branding?

I love the Uncle Matt guitars too. I started buying electric guitars recently (my first in Dec. 2009) after 4 decades of acoustic playing. So far all are Asian made (in order of purchase):

Samick - TR1 - SG copy, Squier Tele, Squier Strat, Electra 2242 - LP 1972 vintage, Electra X140 - 1981, Electra Phoenix X185 - 1983, Westone Dynasty - 1984, Capri 5102G - 335 - unknown. Last two being delivered today.

On my wish list is a Westone Spectrum FX or LX with the UBC pups. Kinda rare.

I'm new to these forums as well and will have to spend time learning how to post pics.

Be of good cheer, peace,

Dan

Heya, Dan... nice wee collection there; is your Phoenix X140 a natural finish? The Spectrum/Phoenix range are my little downfall, but I'm about done now with the MX I've just picked up!! The LX is a good guitar alright; mine has MMK45s, not the UBC but my ST has the UBC p'ups and I really liked it as well, so good luck in the hunt!!

BTW; we'd love to see your kit; most of us in here post our photos to a photo site online and then c+p the .img codes into posts here...

Hey Corsair,

Thanks for the kudos, nothing fancy in my collection, yet!

The X140 is Black and has some horrible rash/fix-up on the back and a few dings on the front. I'll get it cosmetically correct someday. It came with the mid pup not working, until I can replace that I installed some SCN pups that are adequate. Natural would be nice, take what comes my way.

There's an FX just listed on ebay that I'm watching. It's in Westcliff on Sea, Essex, United Kingdom and up for 9 days. We'll see how that goes.

I'll work on the pics, I've seen some links and some folks manage to imbed them somehow.

Sooooooo much to learn, so little time.

Dan

Hi Dan,

To answer some of your questions.

1)- The serial dating method started in 1976-77 and after, all guitars prior seem to be random. no precise dating can be done. based on your model, I would pin point 1972-76 from know catalogs.

2)- Rebranded instruments for distributors. Ex: I have a distributor here in Montreal named Mansfeild... an entire line was available in the 70's under that brand name (Mansfeild) all the instrument are the same as all the Ibanez of the same time... Aria instruments were available under Univox, Capri, Granada, Conrad, Lyle......

Nice line up you have there... I guess you got the bug for instruments also....

GuitarDir.com is a nice place for resources and friends are behind it... I try to help out as best I can...

For pictures, I registered to:

http://imageshack.us/

Once registered, you can upload pictures from your computer and copy the links in your post on the forum. We will be able to see your pictures...

Hope this helps!

P.

Now have a good time assembling your new toy and Pictures please...

Sorry, your guitar would be 70-74. More info here:

http://www.matsumoku.org/models/aria/hollow/sem/semi.html

danagos wrote:There's an FX just listed on ebay that I'm watching. It's in Westcliff on Sea, Essex, United Kingdom and up for 9 days. We'll see how that goes.

I'd be wary of that one - the seller has just copied the description from westone.info, if he knew what he was talking about he'd know the string lock and knobs aren't original, and it does not have the UBC pickups

I hope this link to a photobucket album works. A lot of work went into this project last night and this morning. My good friend Bob from Dallas, TX delivered the Dynasty I bought on Ebay (much nicer than expected, love the MMK45 pups and Bendmaster) and brought the Capri which I snapped up and then forced him to assemble immediately. Bob is every guitar nut's dream friend, thoroughly immersed in the Luthiers arts. I can't thank him enough.

https://s793.photobucket.com/albums/yy213/danagos/Capri%205102G/

Corsair, Thorn & Frenchy: I appreciate your welcome and share your enthusiasm for these wonderful instruments.

Mille Gracie,

Dan

Hi danagos, I made a comment on these pix on your other thread. Just a beautiful guitar, and I have to strip my Gibson ES330 and give her a thorough cleaning too!

Hey Guys,

Here, I hope , is the link to a pic of what I call "My Uncle Mat Guirls":

https://s793.photobucket.com/albums/yy213/danagos/My%20Uncle%20Mat%20Guirls/?action=view&current=MyUncleMattGuirls9-12-10008.jpg

They are, L to R: '72-'74 Electra 2242, '70-'74 Capri 5102G, '81 Electra X149 w/SCN pups, '83 Electra/Phoenix X185 & '84 Westone Dynasty.

The Dynasty was a surprise, light, comfortable to hold sitting & wide tonal range on it's MMK45's & whatever Single Coil.

I gotta get some more stands!

Dan

Hey,

Frenchy I finally saw that awesome collection of yours on GuitarDir, WOW! Makes me feel a little less obsessive, hehehe.

Saw yours as well Corsair, nice set. That GT had me drooling. Wish I had your castoffs over the years! THAT would make a cool thread.

Wanted to thank you for the warning Thorn, all that glitters... & caveat emptor apply. Hate the unscrupulous sellers. Kinda hard to hate the misguided, but they probably do more damage overall.

After looking over those collections (& Barry's, Yum) it's no surprise that MIJ Vantage guitars are rare, you've got most of them and Dominique has the rest!

Playing my lil' Capri tonight and loving the action & tone. The 3 layer neck binding is a wonder to me. Gotta get an appropriate case, it feels delicate. How did the big two (F & G) manage to compete?

l8r,

D

danagos wrote:Saw yours as well Corsair, nice set. That GT had me drooling. Wish I had your castoffs over the years! THAT would make a cool thread.

Why, thank you.... the GT and the X195 make a nice pair, don't you think?! I still own all of the ones on Guitardir., eh: my cast-offs way back when Barry was a boy aren't really that much to shout about; I was a one guitar man for nigh on 25 years!!

it's no surprise that MIJ Vantage guitars are rare, you've got most of them and Dominique has the rest!

Actually an Aussie over at the Matt forum has 'em all, I think!! Including my personal Holy Grail, a VA912...

corsair wrote:..Actually an Aussie over at the Matt forum has 'em all, I think!! Including my personal Holy Grail, a VA912...

Swine Don!

Frenchy I finally saw that awesome collection of yours on GuitarDir, WOW! Makes me feel a little less obsessive, hehehe.

To make you feel even better, those are my Matts...:joker: I have a few more...

way back when Barry was a boy

They had guitars back then?...
(just kidding!...)

Playing my lil' Capri tonight and loving the action & tone.

It looks amazing! congrats... Really nice burst on it!

How did the big two (F & G) manage to compete?

They lost lots of followers in the late 70's and 80's... must of hurt real bad since they started to produce in Mexico for one and Korea for the other to compete.

Nice line up Dan, better watch out! collecting instruments is highly addictive. In regards to stands, I have lots but they do tend to take up room. I've installed Slat wall panels in my office and use sideways arms (the type you see in the stores) you can put 10 intruments or so for every 5 feet... It saves on space and they are handy to pick up and play at a whim. The arms cost less then the stands and the slat wall were leftovers from the hardware store.

..Actually an Aussie over at the Matt forum has 'em all, I think!! Including my personal Holy Grail, a VA912...Swine Don!

Don would agree!

Corsair wrote: Actually an Aussie over at the Matt forum has 'em all, I think!! Including my personal Holy Grail, a VA912...

Barry wrote: Swine Don

Frenchy wrote: Don would agree!

I yoost wanna see 'em!

d

I yoost wanna see 'em!

Dan,

Don is listed as Eyebulger on GuitarDir, you can take a peak at his instruments in the collection section.

After looking at your Capri several time, you gave me G.A.S.

So I blame this next little purchase on you Dan! I just picked this up. It goes very well with the Capri!




Its a 1966-68 Aria bass, same burst as yours... It is missing the original bridge but I have one coming in in a day or two... Needs a major clean up but she allready blows my mind at this point for sound and playability... This is just like playing a Gibby for a fraction of the price

P. :farao:

Frenchy wrote: So I blame this next little purchase on you Dan! I just picked this up. It goes very well with the Capri!

Suuuure, blame me, I don't mind, I've got big shoulders and I'm blamed for Everything that goes wrong around here. (Usually I AM at faullt!)

It's a beautiful Bass, strange to think of a band with matching guitars, what would the drummer use? What drummer? hehehe

danagos

Suuuure, blame me, I don't mind

Great! I cant blame this one on Barry.... He's allready to blame for so many that my better half wants to have a talk with his wife...

LOL

I'm blamed for Everything that goes wrong around here.

Funny, I find myself in the same situation... We men are so unperfect...

I still play with drummers, more fun that way.

P.

Great! I cant blame this one on Barry....

Well I certainly can.

I still play with drummers, more fun that way.

The good thing about drummers is they stay in place once you put them there, they're just so picky about "the beat". Hey, I'm an Artiste, the beat is what I say it is (or wander into, hehehe)

yours,

da d

Great! I cant blame this one on Barry.... Well I certainly can.

Great! go hard...

I'm an Artiste, the beat is what I say it is (or wander into, hehehe)

Sorry Dan... I'm a bass player... I dictate and keep the bottom going, my role in the band and I take it very seriously..... (the beat police...lol ) a quality most guitarist like about me and never had a bad experience with any experienced drummer yet. But.... I loooove jamming if that is what your implying by being an artiste! I'll go off on new beats in a heartbeat and try all new types to get something new and original going but allways in tempo.

P.

Oh-h-h yeah!
I gots dem
Low down
Picked on
"It's your damn fault"
Blues.

Um, baby.

Well, this is all Barry's fault!

I'm just funnin' wit ya. I admire the precision of experienced drummers & Bass players. The rhythm section holds a song together.

After 40+ years of acoustic playing, the beat (when unaccompanied) is usually what I say it is. That gets a little embarrassing on playback of a solo recording and it becomes obvious that I lost track of the time signature during my fervor!

I'm hardly an "Artiste", just a hobby player who tries to find his place in a jam. Next time I'm in Quebec we may get our chance. Don't clear the calendar, last time was some years ago, skiing Mont Saint Sauveur. What a good time that was. I was treated like "folks" (that's good) everywhere, despite my accent and hugely flawed attempts at speaking Francaise.

Rock on,

Dan

I'm just funnin' wit ya.

No worries! playing bass I'm used to being teased....

After 40+ years of acoustic playing, the beat (when unaccompanied) is usually what I say it is.

We all suffer from that... Especialy when you sing while playing... :bball:

I've been playing bass 30+ years. Keeping the beat is hardwired in my brain. I'm a band player, last year I was playing with 3 bands. I tend to take up my place with ease... I prefer a 3 piece band since its easier to keep control of the songs and express myself.

I'm hardly an "Artiste", just a hobby player who tries to find his place in a jam.

Same here

Nothing better in life to jam and have everything come together like a flowing river. Your playing but you dont even have to think about it, the song and beat are amazing and just pouring out by itself... then the song stops and you think to yourself : wow... that was us....

Better than S*X....

Next time in Montreal! just give me a heads up ahead of time

P.

Oh I forgot...

Well, this is all Barry's fault!

Of course it's Barry's fault...

P.

Especialy when you sing while playing...

Isn't that the truth, and reminds me of why I took up the Guitar in the first place! Takes a little longer to warm up the vocal chords these days.

d