🇯🇵 70’s JAPAN 🇯🇵 Kimbara Stratocaster MIJ Natural Ash~ Late 1970s Matsumoku!

🇯🇵 Kimbara Stratocaster MIJ Natural Ash – Late 1970s Matsumoku Built 🇯🇵

Here’s a rare one. This Japanese-made Kimbara Stratocaster dates from the late 1970s and is widely regarded as having been built by the renowned Matsumoku factory during the golden era of Japanese guitar production. These early Kimbara models don’t appear often, particularly in this striking natural ash finish.

Featuring a beautifully grained ash body, maple neck and maple fingerboard, this guitar captures everything that made late-70s Japanese instruments so desirable. The natural finish really shows off the character of the wood, while the red tortoiseshell scratchplate gives it a distinctive vintage look.

The guitar has clearly been played and enjoyed over the years and remains a fantastic player’s instrument. At some point in its life it appears to have been routed beneath the pickguard for a bridge humbucker before later being returned to a traditional SSS configuration. The pickups are believed to be Mexican Fender units based on the magnet construction, although this cannot be guaranteed and are therefore being sold as unverified replacements.

Condition is very good for a guitar approaching 50 years old. There are various dings, chips, scratches and signs of use throughout, all consistent with age and honest play wear. Nothing that affects functionality and no structural issues to note. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the description.

Freshly checked over in-house, set up and playing nicely with a comfortable action.

A genuinely uncommon example from the golden age of Japanese guitar manufacturing and a fantastic addition to any collection of vintage MIJ instruments.

Specification

* Made in Japan

* Late 1970s (approximately 1977-1979)

* Believed Matsumoku manufacture

* Natural Ash Body

* Maple Neck

* Maple Fingerboard

* 21 Frets

* Vintage Style Tremolo

* 3 x Single Coil Pickups (believed Fender Mexico, not guaranteed)

* 5-Way Switching

* Volume, Tone, Tone Controls

* Original Style Steel Adjustable Neck Plate

Chordplay Japan Select 🇯🇵

Every guitar in our Chordplay Japan Select collection has been individually sourced and selected for its quality, character and originality. Japanese-built instruments from the 1970s and 1980s have earned a legendary reputation amongst players and collectors alike, often rivaling or exceeding their American counterparts of the era for craftsmanship and attention to detail. This rare Kimbara is a wonderful example of why vintage Japanese guitars continue to attract such a loyal following worldwide.