ShortScale.org

Just picked this up off ebay. Looks to be in great shape. Anyone have more details on it? It has aspects similar to a Jaguar so I jumped on it after I confirmed no heel cracks or neck dents. (I like the three pickup switches, mute, roller bridge, and tremolo. Plus it has a SG vibe to it also.) Pictures. Dat tort! POWER PILL inlays!


$(KGrHqJ,!lgFELCCQ8rgBRIWvtS++!~~60_57 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


$T2eC16VHJHYE9nzpeDTnBRIWv3cW2Q~~60_57 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


$T2eC16F,!ysE9sy0gCkcBRIWwDLibg~~60_57 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


$T2eC16FHJGoE9nuQeV9eBRIWwMN4OQ~~60_57 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


$T2eC16dHJG8E9nyfpnP-BRIWwUS!n!~~60_57 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


$T2eC16NHJGwE9n)ySfp0BRIWwdTfOg~~60_57 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


$T2eC16V,!)8E9s4l7bT)BRIWwnc)h!~~60_57 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


$(KGrHqN,!pEFEViW-DwhBRIWwvrZrg~~60_57 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


$(KGrHqZHJFMFEUT-O-ORBRIW)D7zCw~~60_57 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


$T2eC16R,!)0E9s37F14gBRIW)OwuS!~~60_57 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


$T2eC16dHJG!E9nm3rIyVBRIW)ZUGQw~~60_57 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

I used to have the 2 pick up model by Kingston. Was a pretty cool guitar, pickups don't sound very good, but I have heard worse. Also, it you try to route the pick guard with a sanding dremel it will start on fire REAL quick.

Good to know. I don't have any plans to mess with it other than clean it a bit.

Some details given to me. Not sure on how accurate, but seems to make sense from what little I have been able to find.

Teisco_Kid wrote:Hi ,
Yep its a Kingston made by Kawai. WMI Chicago imported distributed these in US
Laminated neck is unusual for these most have 3 pc Mahogany necks
Harmonic bridge is not roller type actually little claws for saddles. You have an unusual bridge as string mute intact /pretty rare
Had one myself sold it awhile back same color ect. Mine was earlier model had 3 pc Birds Eye Solid Maple neck
Nice little players theses came in 1 2 3 4 pickup configurations
You will find these in St George brand as well little more fancy dressing on it.(Chrome around tuners pickguard is different)
HGT (Hound Dog Taylor) used a 4 pickup ST George same as this one in 60s
Yours looks to be in terrific shape ! Great for the Blues take pedals well too.
Thanks for posting !

Teisco_Kid

More info.

Teisco_Kid wrote:Those laminated necks are alternating grain from what I understand.
Natural resistence within keeps them straight.
Usually these are associated with Kingston bass guitars.
Don't see to many Kingston 6 stringers with laminated neck.
The pickguard is 3 ply indicating 66-67
later models of same guitar have single ply and usually have depressions in the center which need props
Have had 3 of these. wood paint sticks in the center of the pickup glued in the cavity is a quick solution
Works pretty good.
3 Ply pickguards usually no such issues.

Teisco_Kid

Very cool. Has a good bridge on it and you will get some good sounds out of those pups. The headstock is nice looking too. That is usually the del breaker with some of the old Japanese guitars foe me. I bet this is going to be a player.

Nice score.

Thanks! I can't wait to hear how the pickups sound. I had one like them in my Robert Smith style Jazzmaster and it was pretty warm.

It came today! (Two days early!) Setting up the trem was pretty easy. It is pretty much like a Jaguar/Jazzmaster tremolo. (One of the selling points for me.) The switches (which are smaller than the on/on's I see nowadays) all worked fine. Up is off on them and down is on. All positions sound great. I think they are all wired in series because each time I add any pickup to another, the volume gets louder. The tone is very warm and full in almost every position except the bridge alone. That is much more trebley. The volume and tone knobs with the cool little white T and V on them both work fine. No noise. The tortoise is AMAZING. It is almost orangey red now with loads of swirl and yellow mixed in. Intonated fine with .10's. The neck is slim and smooth. It has a more satin feel vs the modern gloss poly necks I am used to. The inlays on the neck are pearl which I didn't know until it arrived. All the tuners work fine. The zero fret works fine. Bridge and mute are fine except I need to get some foam for it still. It is spring loaded. It has some dents and dings and such on the body, but nothing that bothers me all that much considering the age and price. All around good deal. I would recommend them to anyone on the fence. The larger flat tremolo arm is nice on the palm and gives a very surfy tremolo sound that Jazzy and Jag owners would enjoy. It also is held in place with the top screwing on to a spring so you can set where you want it to sit. That tremolo system is screwed down with a ton of screws also. I don't think it would ever go anywhere... Here come the pictures!!


IMG_2892 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


IMG_2894 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


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IMG_2896 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


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IMG_2912 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

THAT TORT!


IMG_2914 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

CLEAN

Was just playing with it gain. Sounds so nice! Little to no electrical noise, warm and clean sound, still in tune from adding strings earlier and abusing the tremolo.... Good stuff!