Guyatone Telstar LG-160T 1965

The Guyatone LG-160T Telstar is an iconic model from the golden age of the Japanese electric guitar. Introduced in late 1965, right in the middle of the Eleki Boom—the explosion in popularity of the electric guitar in Japan, notably under the influence of The Ventures—it belongs to a particularly creative period when Japanese manufacturers were beginning to develop an aesthetic of their own. We are a long way here from the Fender and Gibson copies that would follow a few years later. Even 60 years ago, there was no need to keep copying the same designs over and over again.

Its design is unquestionably a success. The Telstar is instantly recognizable, with an asymmetrical body featuring a cutout reminiscent of the monkey grip later seen on the Ibanez JEM—which it predates by more than 20 years. The pickguard itself also has a very distinctive outline, not to mention the truly unique fingerboard inlays.

Guyatone was one of the great pioneers of the electric guitar in Japan, and this particular model is especially rare here in Europe. It is also a very good-quality instrument. The neck is straight and very comfortable to play, with a fairly rounded and substantial profile. It is quite different from some Japanese guitars of the 1960s with overly thin necks. There is some real substance here, and the neck resonates very nicely.

You will notice that the gold finish has flaked off and is missing in places, as this is clearly an instrument that has been played extensively. The pickups are particularly interesting, with a little more body than typical Fender-style single coils, almost approaching P-90 territory.

This is an unusual instrument with a very strong visual identity.

Supplied with a gig bag.