POLYTONE CONTEMPO G 1980 Natural / Blonde. EXTREMELY RARE. SOLID BODY. BEAUTIFUL. MIJ

POLYTONE

CONTEMPO G

JAZZ GUITAR

1980

SN: P-18479

EXTREMELY RARE.

.The POLYTONE “CONTEMPO G”  guitar was offered in 1980 by POLYTONE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC., North Hollywood, CA which was started in 1968 by Tommy Gumina, a Jazz player and Electronic Amplifier designer. The motto of POLYTONE from its beginning was:  “Made by Musicians for Musicians”. Many great jazz players (Ray Brown, Joe Pass, Jim Hall, Phil UpChurch, George Benson, and others) not only endorsed POLYTONE products but also participated in their design.

This guitar was built by Yamaki-Daion Company in Japan, based in part on Daion's design concept of the open bottom used on their acoustic and electrics of the same period.  Unlike many Japanese companies of this time period, Daion, as Kawai before them, began to design and build their own style guitars that were far more stylish and higher quality than the usual copies of US guitars that were being built in Japan at that time. Daion was one of only two guitar companies at that time who was fitting their guitars with brass nuts and saddles along with other high quality components, woods, and materials.

As the photos show, this is a stunning guitar visually and shows the flow of lines that were in sharp contrast to jazz guitars previously in the marketplace.  In fact, this was possibly one of the first solid body guitars actually designed for jazz players-again as says the POLYTONE motto: “Made by Musicians for Musicians” (which perhaps should be changed to “Designed by Musicians”).  According to POLYTONE advertising for this guitar: “Famed jazz guitarist Pat Martino represents and plays the POLYTONE Contempo G and Model 102 amp exclusively.” (see photo attached)

Here are some details of this guitar:

BODY WOOD:  Ash.  Solid.

(NOTE: The solid ash body, according to POLYTONE, provides a “new dimension in guitar excellence” and “exceptional sustaining quality.”) 

NECK:  Maple.

FINGERBOARD:  Indian Rosewood.

INLAYS:  POLYTONE logo pearl inlays.  Descending from top.

HEADSTOCK:  “Abalone inlays of POLYTONE logo and name.”

PICKUPS:  Identified as “Polytone” but appear to be IBANEZ humbuckers with “gold plated covers”.

STYLE:  Double cut-away with “sculptured body” and recess at bottom bout.

BINDING: Solid binding around top with “Abalone purfing”.

BRIDGE:  Fixed.  “Gold plated” with solid brass saddles.

NUT: Brass.

TUNERS:  Gotoh.  “Gold plated”.

FRETS:  Jumbo.

CONTROLS:  Four.  One Volume and One Tone for each pickup.  SOLID BRASS KNOBS.

SWITCH:  3-way pickup switch.

FINISH:  Polyester Natural.

CASE:  Original Hard Shell Case.

CONDITION:  This guitar is in EXCELLENT condition.  It has been played but only slightly it appears.  The “gold plated” hardware (tuners, pickup covers, bridge) show tarnish as is usual and expected.  The finish is superb.  The only distractions I can find are on the top of the guitar.  On the top horn at the edge is a small dent.  On the top of the lower bout just above the bridge are a two areas that appear to be dents as well that have cracked the finish.  They first appear to be part of the wood grain but under a magnifying glass you can see the slight finish spiders.

SUMMARY:

This is the only POLYTONE guitar that I have personally seen and I am struck by its high quality and its stylish design.  It is extremely rare.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

I guarantee that the guitar will in the condition and configuration as described and shown in the photos.