NOGD (new old guitar day!) - Kawai KS-11-XL

[GuiTony]

Actually, it was last week.

On Tuesday eve I got a message on my blog - someone had seen a guitar (listed on the blog) that I was looking for in his local shop.

I googled the shop, got the number, gave them a call the next morning, and did a deal for the guitar.  The shop owner actually sent me the guitar before I'd paid him!  It turned up last Friday.

I'm a very happy new-old-guitar-owner!










I've been looking for this precise model / colour combination for many many years.  I've bought other Kawais during my search (I now have 4), but this was the one that started me on my search.

The bridge isn't original (but I have the original) and the neck p'up has been replaced over the years.  There's also a bit of damage around the bridge post on the bass side, but I think that's just the maple cap that's been damaged.  A few scratches & dings, but nothing significant after 30 years of life.

It plays beautifully and sounds great - these things were built to last.

You can also see the multi-part neck, seems like three strips of mahogany plus an extra piece for the bottom of the tenon joint.

I'm not thinking that as one of the p'ups is already non-original, maybe I'll swap them both out for some BKPs ... 

[sgmypod]

Odd but nice

[d1dsj]

Nice guitar... reminds me of a carve top John Birch. If you don't mind me asking, how much was it? It looks VERY well built!

[GuiTony]

If you don't mind me asking, how much was it? It looks VERY well built!

£300 delivered.

It is amazingly well built.  But then Kawai mainly do pianos, so I guess they know about how to stick wood together in a way that it's going to last many a year.

Here's the rest of the family ...



On the left - my original, bought from new, KS-12-XL.  Had it since 1980ish.

In the middle - the KS-11-XL that I bought a year (more?) ago when I'd just about given up hope of finding the natural maple finished one

On the right - a KS-10-Junior which I found on eBay 3-4 years ago.  Not my preferred model, but it finishes the set.

Well, sort of finishes the set.  I'm tempted to add a KS-12-XL in black (the other finish that it came in), and a KS-10-XL model if I ever find one.

[d1dsj]

Cool set, I like the Mahog coloured one too... very nice and seem like a bargain for the price!

[Philly Q]

I like it - quite simple and elegant.  :)

I guess it weighs a ton though?

[GuiTony]

I guess it weighs a ton though?

Just a tad over the ton  :lol:

[Fourth Feline]

Gosh, that brings back memories. I remember them being heavily promoted in the mid  to late 70s - and the guitarist in a local UFO / Thin Lizzy type covers band owning one. Weren't  ( at least some of )  the headstocks made of aluminium alloy ?

I mostly remember 1) the weight , 2) the sales slogan :

" Kawai - a new star rising from the East".

I like the mixture of simplicity, yet obvious quality on yours. The perspex scratchplate,  simple wrapover bridge / tailpiece - and that nicely wide / close grained /   well bound rosewood fingerboard.  :)

[Philly Q]

Gosh, that brings back memories. I remember them being heavily promoted in the mid  to late 70s - and the guitarist in a local UFO / Thin Lizzy type covers band owning one. Weren't  ( at least some of )  the headstocks made of aluminium alloy ?

I could be barking up the wrong tree, but I wonder if you're thinking of the early Kramers, which had an aluminium neck with a sort of "tuning fork" headstock?  Or maybe Travis Bean, which was aluminium with a "T" shape cut out.

[GuiTony]

I could be barking up the wrong tree, but I wonder if you're thinking of the early Kramers, which had an aluminium neck with a sort of "tuning fork" headstock?  Or maybe Travis Bean, which was aluminium with a "T" shape cut out.

It's only those Kramers that I remember with aluminum headstocks - certainly don't remember the Kawais with anything similar.  Though - tbh - it's only in the last few years that I've become quite so interested in them.  I've now got some of the period's ads, catalogues, etc, and will probably add more guitars too when I find them

 :)

[dave_mc]

sweet :)