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KAWAI MOONSAULT. ORIGINAL. 1990. SILVERBURST. VERY RARE. ICONIC JAPANESE GUITAR.
Estimated price for orientation: 3 495 $
Category: Electric Guitars
Class:
Description Brand: Kawai
KAWAI MOONSAULT MS-80 CUSTOM GUITAR 1990 “COOL ELEGANCE WITH A DANGEROUS CURVE” The “MOONSAULT” is an iconic Japanese guitar. Its evocative design in the 1970’s marked the beginning of a Japanese cultural shift with regard to the building of modern electric guitars. Up to that time, most Japanese manufacturing was focused on copying mostly American, and some European, popular guitars. And most of those guitars copied were “blank faced” in terms of interpretive art. They were functional and sold very well. Then the “rebellion” began with the unveiling of the IBANEZ “Iceman” which was not only a significant shift from “bland” to the “bold” but marked the Japanese guitar builders as “innovators” instead of copiers. From this instant rebellion came the MOONSAULT a/k/a M700 later transitioning into the MS-80. As noted in a VG article, of more interest to us American collectors is the fact that . .. “the MOONSAULT became one of the most popular models in Japan, marketed by Kawai. As far as is known, no significant attempt was ever made to market MOONSAULTs in the U.S.
Just how the celestial lunar iconography fits with Japanese culture remains to be illuminated, but the obvious success of this model means it struck a chord. Whatever the associated meaning, it’s one of the more unique guitar shapes ever created! How many MOONSAULTs were made is unknown. Because they weren’t marketed in the U.S., export numbers would be small to nil. And to say the design was popular in Japan is only a relative judgment. It’s not like every band had to play MOONSAULTs – even in Japan, it’s an acquired taste. If the few that show up on the market are any guide, they’re rare. But they do reflect an interesting time in guitar making history, and certainly are quintessentially ‘Japanese!’ ”VG. It is almost as if, the Japanese were thumbing their noses at us by “creating their own national guitar” not to be shared with the US whose two largest guitar companies had dominated the market for “popular mass produced guitars”. And interestingly, some other Japanese companies made their own copies of the “MOONSAULT” but it has not been taken up by an US builder. Maybe it will. But in the meantime, the artistic importance of this iconic guitar design has been recognized by critics throughout the world and has been included in several art shows, exhibits, and books (“Dangerous Curves”). I am offering here a 1990 “Silverburst” (the original color scheme offered in the beginning of this product’s life) MOONSAULT in excellent condition. It includes its original case bag. The body and set-neck are mahogany with a Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard that has pearl inlays in ascending moon phases. The pickups appear to be Schaller (which were mostly used on the MS-80 from the earlier 1990’s). The tuners are GOTOH as are the other hardware pieces on the guitar. Also, this guitar has the pearl inlaid “Kawai Eagle” along with the iconic “Crescent Moon” on its headstock. If you are a collector, this is a must have for your collection. I own several so this one is free to go. Again, information taken from the VINTAGE GUITAR article: “How many MOONSAULTs were made is unknown. Because they weren’t marketed in the U.S., export numbers would be small to nil. And to say the design was popular in Japan is only a relative judgment. It’s not like every band had to play MOONSAULTs – even in Japan, it’s an acquired taste. If the few that show up on the market are any guide, they’re rare. But they do reflect an interesting time in guitarmaking history, and certainly are quintessentially ‘Japanese!’” This beautiful guitar is guaranteed to be in excellent cosmetic and operational condition. FREE SHIPPING IN THE CONTINENTAL USA. If you are outside the continental USA, please contact us for a shipping cost prior to buying. Thanks.
Description
| Brand: | Kawai |
KAWAI MOONSAULT MS-80 CUSTOM GUITAR 1990 “COOL ELEGANCE WITH A DANGEROUS CURVE” The “MOONSAULT” is an iconic Japanese guitar. Its evocative design in the 1970’s marked the beginning of a Japanese cultural shift with regard to the building of modern electric guitars. Up to that time, most Japanese manufacturing was focused on copying mostly American, and some European, popular guitars. And most of those guitars copied were “blank faced” in terms of interpretive art. They were functional and sold very well. Then the “rebellion” began with the unveiling of the IBANEZ “Iceman” which was not only a significant shift from “bland” to the “bold” but marked the Japanese guitar builders as “innovators” instead of copiers. From this instant rebellion came the MOONSAULT a/k/a M700 later transitioning into the MS-80. As noted in a VG article, of more interest to us American collectors is the fact that . .. “the MOONSAULT became one of the most popular models in Japan, marketed by Kawai. As far as is known, no significant attempt was ever made to market MOONSAULTs in the U.S.
Just how the celestial lunar iconography fits with Japanese culture remains to be illuminated, but the obvious success of this model means it struck a chord. Whatever the associated meaning, it’s one of the more unique guitar shapes ever created! How many MOONSAULTs were made is unknown. Because they weren’t marketed in the U.S., export numbers would be small to nil. And to say the design was popular in Japan is only a relative judgment. It’s not like every band had to play MOONSAULTs – even in Japan, it’s an acquired taste. If the few that show up on the market are any guide, they’re rare. But they do reflect an interesting time in guitar making history, and certainly are quintessentially ‘Japanese!’ ”VG. It is almost as if, the Japanese were thumbing their noses at us by “creating their own national guitar” not to be shared with the US whose two largest guitar companies had dominated the market for “popular mass produced guitars”. And interestingly, some other Japanese companies made their own copies of the “MOONSAULT” but it has not been taken up by an US builder. Maybe it will. But in the meantime, the artistic importance of this iconic guitar design has been recognized by critics throughout the world and has been included in several art shows, exhibits, and books (“Dangerous Curves”). I am offering here a 1990 “Silverburst” (the original color scheme offered in the beginning of this product’s life) MOONSAULT in excellent condition. It includes its original case bag. The body and set-neck are mahogany with a Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard that has pearl inlays in ascending moon phases. The pickups appear to be Schaller (which were mostly used on the MS-80 from the earlier 1990’s). The tuners are GOTOH as are the other hardware pieces on the guitar. Also, this guitar has the pearl inlaid “Kawai Eagle” along with the iconic “Crescent Moon” on its headstock. If you are a collector, this is a must have for your collection. I own several so this one is free to go. Again, information taken from the VINTAGE GUITAR article: “How many MOONSAULTs were made is unknown. Because they weren’t marketed in the U.S., export numbers would be small to nil. And to say the design was popular in Japan is only a relative judgment. It’s not like every band had to play MOONSAULTs – even in Japan, it’s an acquired taste. If the few that show up on the market are any guide, they’re rare. But they do reflect an interesting time in guitarmaking history, and certainly are quintessentially ‘Japanese!’” This beautiful guitar is guaranteed to be in excellent cosmetic and operational condition. FREE SHIPPING IN THE CONTINENTAL USA. If you are outside the continental USA, please contact us for a shipping cost prior to buying. Thanks.