1973 Morris SG Deluxe – Rare John Cipollina Style – Original Maxon Humbuckers – Vintage MIJ – 3.07kg

Rare 1973 Morris SG Deluxe – John Cipollina Style – Original Maxon Humbuckers – Made in Japan

An exceptionally rare early-1970s Morris SG Deluxe-style electric guitar, made in Japan and featuring one of the most distinctive designs found among vintage Japanese SG-type guitars.

The first thing that sets this guitar apart is its unmistakable visual connection to the heavily customized Gibson SG associated with John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service.

Its sharp double cutaways, large sweeping black pickguard with contrasting white edging, transparent cherry-red finish and unusual overall silhouette strongly evoke the unique SG aesthetic for which Cipollina became known.

John Cipollina's famous SG was extensively customized, including its distinctive batwing-style pickguard treatment, and became an important part of his visual identity during the San Francisco psychedelic-rock era.

This Morris is not being represented as an officially endorsed John Cipollina signature model. Rather, it is an extremely unusual period Japanese guitar whose design clearly shares that distinctive Cipollina-inspired character.

For collectors of John Cipollina, Quicksilver Messenger Service and obscure Japanese vintage guitars, this is a particularly fascinating instrument.

■Original Maxon-Made Morris Humbuckers

Another important feature is the pair of original Morris-logo humbuckers manufactured by Maxon / Nisshin Onpa.

The pickup baseplate shown in the photographs carries the stamped code:

13921

Using the commonly accepted Maxon five-digit dating system from this period, this code corresponds to September 21, 1973.

Interestingly, another surviving Morris SG Deluxe documented internationally was fitted with Morris-logo Maxon humbuckers carrying the same 13921 code, providing a particularly useful reference point for this rare model.

This strongly supports an early-1970s, and most likely circa-1973, production period for this guitar.

■Construction & Character

The guitar features a mahogany body with a set mahogany neck, rather than the simpler bolt-on construction found on many Japanese SG-style guitars from this era.

The bound rosewood fingerboard, Morris-logo pickup covers, large custom-shaped pickguard and transparent cherry finish give the instrument a distinctive appearance that is immediately recognizable.

An aluminium stopbar tailpiece is fitted rather than the Bigsby-style vibrato seen on some other surviving examples.

At only approximately 3.07 kg / 6.77 lb, the guitar is also remarkably lightweight and comfortable for a vintage set-neck instrument.

The transparent cherry finish allows the grain of the mahogany to remain clearly visible, adding considerable vintage character.

■Specifications

• Brand: Morris
• Model: SG Deluxe style
• Period: Circa 1973
• Country of Manufacture: Japan
• Finish: Transparent Cherry Red
• Body: Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany
• Construction: Set Neck
• Fingerboard: Rosewood with binding
• Position Markers: Dot inlays
• Nut Width: Approx. 42 mm / 1.65"
• Measured Scale Length: Approx. 625 mm / 24.6"
• Overall Length: Approx. 105 cm / 41.3"
• Weight: Approx. 3.07 kg / 6.77 lb
• Pickups: Original Morris-logo Maxon / Nisshin Onpa humbuckers
• Pickup Date Code: 13921 – consistent with September 21, 1973 Maxon production
• Controls: 2 Volume / 2 Tone / 3-way pickup selector
• Bridge: Tune-o-matic-style adjustable bridge
• Tailpiece: Aluminium stopbar
• Tuners: Upgraded Japanese-made GOTOH tuners

he original tuners used plastic housings, which had deteriorated and become damaged over the decades. For improved reliability, tuning stability and long-term usability, they have been replaced with high-quality Japanese-made GOTOH tuners.

This replacement was made as a practical upgrade rather than a cosmetic modification, allowing the guitar to be used confidently while preserving the character of the original instrument.

■Condition

This guitar shows genuine signs of age and use consistent with a vintage instrument from the early 1970s.

There are scratches, small dents, finish wear and chips in various areas, particularly around the body edges and lower bout.

The pickup covers and other metal hardware also show natural age-related surface wear and patina.

There is a visible finish crack on the back of the neck near the headstock, as clearly shown in the close-up photographs.

Based on our inspection, this appears to be confined to the finish.

The frets are estimated to have approximately 70–80% remaining. They are relatively small and low by design.

Current string height is approximately:

• 1st string: 1.8 mm
• 6th string: 2.0 mm

Measurements are approximate and the setup may change slightly due to differences in temperature, humidity and international transportation.

Please carefully review all photographs, including the detailed images of the neck finish, body edges, hardware and case, as they form an important part of the description.

■ Professionally Maintained Vintage Instrument

This guitar has been carefully inspected, adjusted and maintained at The Sound Shop SUZUKI in Niigata, Japan.

Maintenance includes:

• General cleaning and inspection
• Neck adjustment
• Fret adjustment
• Electrical function check
• Fingerboard care
• Careful cleaning of the metal hardware

Our approach to vintage instruments is to achieve good playability and reliability while preserving their original character.

We intentionally retain natural patina and honest signs of age rather than aggressively polishing, refinishing or cosmetically restoring an instrument.

Our goal is to prepare each vintage guitar properly for its next owner without removing the character it has developed over several decades.

■ Included

The pictured hard case with yellow plush interior and the pictured case key are included.

The case shows exterior wear, scuffs and deterioration to portions of the outer covering.

The guitar will be carefully supported inside the hard case and securely packed inside an additional protective shipping carton for international transport.

■ A Rare Piece of Japanese Guitar History

This is much more than a conventional Japanese SG copy.

The combination of its John Cipollina-inspired appearance, original 1973-era Maxon electronics, set-neck mahogany construction, Morris-logo pickup covers, extremely unusual pickguard design and lightweight 3.07 kg body makes it a particularly distinctive survivor from the early Japanese electric-guitar era.

For collectors of John Cipollina, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Morris guitars, Maxon-equipped Japanese instruments, or unusual vintage MIJ guitars, this is an opportunity to acquire a model that is seldom seen on the international market.

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■ Our Vintage Guitar Policy

We carefully inspect and accurately describe every vintage instrument we offer. Measurements are taken by hand and should be considered approximate.
Vintage guitars may have minor scratches, finish wear, tarnishing, replaced consumable parts or other signs of age that may not be fully visible in every photograph. The photographs form an important part of the description, so please review them carefully before purchasing.

Please contact us through Reverb before ordering if you have any questions about the condition, specifications or originality.

■ Shipping

The guitar will be shipped from Niigata, Japan by FedEx or Yamato Transport, depending on the destination and available service.

The shipment will include tracking and insurance. The strings will be slightly loosened, movable parts will be secured, and the guitar will be protected inside the included padded gig bag. The bag will then be packed inside a strong outer carton with appropriate cushioning.
We ship only to the address registered on the Reverb order. Please confirm that your address is correct before completing payment.

We normally prepare the shipment within 2–3 business days. Delivery times are estimates only and may be affected by customs processing, weather, holidays or carrier delays.

■ Customs & Import Duties

This shipment is sent on a DDU basis. Import duties, VAT, GST, local taxes, customs-clearance charges and brokerage fees are not included in the item price or shipping charge and are the buyer’s responsibility.

These charges are separate from any sales tax that Reverb may collect at checkout. The exact amount depends on the destination country and cannot be confirmed by the seller in advance.
We will declare the full actual sale value and provide an accurate description of the item. We cannot declare the shipment as a gift or reduce the declared value.

If delivery is refused or the shipment is returned because import charges were not paid, the buyer may be responsible for the resulting return-shipping and carrier costs.