NationStates Jolt Archive

Warning - reasonably big pictures.

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/8756/sv4000026ql.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/666/sv4000032to.jpg

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/8044/sv4000049io.jpg

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/4177/sv4000051bd.jpg

Picked up this steel-string dreadnaught acoustic for $50, including leather case, in a second-hand store...I haven't cleaned it up yet, it's a bit dusty. It also needs a new nut...it looks like glue has been put on it. Maybe it was worn down, or something. Apart from a few minor nicks, it's in otherwise good condition. The brand is J. Watson, Japan, Est. 1951, but I can't find any other trace of that online...

It plays nicely, despite the strings on it looking like they're about 20 years old. I'll get them changed on the weekend.

I thought the patterns on it were unusual - and there is a mother-of-pearl pattern on the headstock (Picture two. It glistens in the light, but that isn't evident there). Anyone seen one like this?

And more importantly, what do people think it's worth? :D

Trying to decide if I should sell it, or change it over to be left handed so I can play it, see.

Haven't ever heard of the company. Myabe I'll help you search for it. Looks like a beautiful guitar. Mellow or sharp sounding?

Haven't ever heard of the company. Myabe I'll help you search for it. Looks like a beautiful guitar. Mellow or sharp sounding?

Yeah....no trace of it on the internet whatsoever.

It seems mellow. The strings are cruddy, though, so i'll have to wait for some nice bright-sounding new ones to tell for sure. :)

Wow. That's A Pretty nice Guitar. :cool:

Yea, I'm looking to buy a Martin here once funding gets higher. Though I would love to find a guitar like that for $50.

Yea, I'm looking to buy a Martin here once funding gets higher. Though I would love to find a guitar like that for $50.

Heh, well, that's $50 in our money...so about $40 of your dollars...*and* you get a leather bag thrown in as well. :D

I'm sending an email to some people I know who deal with guitar odds and ends, can you send me some email tags for the picture? Hopefully they will know of this guitar.

I'm sending an email to some people I know who deal with guitar odds and ends, can you send me some email tags for the picture? Hopefully they will know of this guitar.

What do you mean by email tags?

And thanks for your help, I appreciate it. :)

Can't photobucket generate email tags also?
Oh well, I'll just save the picture and use it as an attachment.

Can't photobucket generate email tags also?
Oh well, I'll just save the picture and use it as an attachment.

Well, there's "Hotlink for forums" and "hotlink for websites"...



<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8629/sv4000029zb.jpg" border="0" width="1120" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

like that?

-and a minor correction, the full brand name is "J. Watson and Co."

Looks like you found a gem. (obviously not the Ibanez series, you know what i mean). I've never heard of that make of guitar, but for $50, -thats what, about £25-30?- thats quite a bargain. Maybe the company went defunct a long time ago, that could be why there's no trace of it on the Web.

Looks like you found a gem. (obviously not the Ibanez series, you know what i mean). I've never heard of that make of guitar, but for $50, -thats what, about £25-30?- thats quite a bargain. Maybe the company went defunct a long time ago, that could be why there's no trace of it on the Web.
That's what i'm thinking...which makes it an old guitar, and thus all the more valuable. Hehe.

Still waiting on a reply about that guitar.

I play Bass, but I suppose I could play the guitar if I really wanted to. It's kind of old looking, but that doesn't mean it's not fabulous!

Still waiting on a reply about that guitar.

Thanks for your help again!

I play Bass, but I suppose I could play the guitar if I really wanted to. It's kind of old looking, but that doesn't mean it's not fabulous!

Yeah, but i've got nothing against old guitars. My classical acoustic is some 30 years old as well....the older the better in this case.

Yes, I've heard of Drednaught guitars, I do believe they are still around.

I don't know much about them, nor the guitar you have, but still for $50 not too shabby :D

Dreadnaught is just a size. They're the biggest you can get. :)

-Snip-

Oops .. I'm a n00b <_>.

Oops .. I'm a n00b <_>.

Hehehe...I remember that feeling all too well. But hey, only one way to find out these things, right? :)

Bump...just incase anyone else might have an idea...

Bump...just incase anyone else might have an idea...


<---Plays guitar.

It looks to me like one of the cheap Japanese made knock-offs that were sold in vast numbers back then, and even now.

They primarily made imitations of popular models of the time. (Silvertone, Washburn, Fender..etc)

Since the company is probably defunct, it looks as though you likely paid about as much as the guitar is worth.
Your best bet, as far as value goes, would be to a collector of such things.

I can say, that if it plays nice, and sounds good...then you got a great deal on a guitar you may like...wich is worth 50$ any day.

No clue, not a guitarist, jus a key basher/drum machine/sequencer type.

But if its made in 51...damn bro, keep it. Age mellows and evens out the sound soooo nice.

Friend of mine had a 12 string martin seagul, about 50 years old...with silver strings...incredible sound..l

<---Plays guitar.

It looks to me like one of the cheap Japanese made knock-offs that were sold in vast numbers back then, and even now.

They primarily made imitations of popular models of the time. (Silvertone, Washburn, Fender..etc)

Since the company is probably defunct, it looks as though you likely paid about as much as the guitar is worth.
Your best bet, as far as value goes, would be to a collector of such things.

I can say, that if it plays nice, and sounds good...then you got a great deal on a guitar you may like...wich is worth 50$ any day.

Actually, it's worth more. Even a cheap steel-string here would cost at least $100.

The thing that strikes me is the pattern-work...and it is *definitely* mother of pearl on the headstock. I doubt you'd put that on an especially cheap guitar. But meh, I don't care either way. I was looking for a decent steel-string. :p

Actually, it's worth more. Even a cheap steel-string here would cost at least $100.

The thing that strikes me is the pattern-work...and it is *definitely* mother of pearl on the headstock. I doubt you'd put that on an especially cheap guitar. But meh, I don't care either way. I was looking for a decent steel-string. :p


You sure its real Mother-of-Pearl, and not the fake plasticy stuff?
Sometimes its hard to tell the difference.

I thought I knew a lot of the old defunct manufacturers, and Ive never heard of "J. Watson and Co."

ALTHOUGH.....I HAVE heard of Johnny "Guitar" Watson, who was fairly popular blues player in Japan.
He died in 1996, but Im highly doubting its the same person.
If it was...then that guitar might be worth something.

No clue, not a guitarist, jus a key basher/drum machine/sequencer type.

But if its made in 51...damn bro, keep it. Age mellows and evens out the sound soooo nice.

Friend of mine had a 12 string martin seagul, about 50 years old...with silver strings...incredible sound..l

I dont think its a 1951.

I think the company was founded in 1951.

Very cool, almost as cool as a Marshall JCM-800 amp though.

I'm jealous of anyone who owns one.

You sure its real Mother-of-Pearl, and not the fake plasticy stuff?
Sometimes its hard to tell the difference.

I'll prove it.

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/3649/guitar21tz.jpg

Not so clear in pictures, but you can vaguely see the reddish glow when the light hits it at a certain angle. There are bits where it reflects green, as well. I don't think it's plastic...

ALTHOUGH.....I HAVE heard of Johnny "Guitar" Watson, who was fairly popular blues player in Japan.
He died in 1996, but Im highly doubting its the same person.
If it was...then that guitar might be worth something.

Yeah, I looked him up earlier, but it says "Established 1951" when he was born in 1935. I doubt it.

Im guessing you got a webcam?

Can you get me a clear picture of the label?

Serial numbers?

It could be abalone wich isnt cheap, but not as pricey as Mother-of-Pearl.

Very cool, almost as cool as a Marshall JCM-800 amp though.

I'm jealous of anyone who owns one.

I have a Laney LC-30-II combo valve amp. It's good enough for me. :p

Im guessing you got a webcam?

Can you get me a clear picture of the label?

Serial numbers?

It could be abalone wich isnt cheap, but not as pricey as Mother-of-Pearl.

I'll go grab the digital camera in a minute. The model number is WD-155 and "00360" is printed under that.

Yo Kanabia you got a TG!

Here we are...this is the clearest i'll be able to get the label. (the numbers are faded and hard to read as it is)

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/4885/sv4000066lt.jpg

Yo Kanabia you got a TG!

Replied!

Ive just done a lot of digging..and I cant find a single reference to that company.

That guitar is either really rare...or the company made a buttload of them, and promptly went out of business.

The WD-155 probably means "Wooden Body, model 155. and the serial number is 360.

If I had to take a guess at how old it is, without seeing it up close, I would say late 70's.

Im wondering why the name isnt printed on the headstock?

Ive just done a lot of digging..and I cant find a single reference to that company.

That guitar is either really rare...or the company made a buttload of them, and promptly went out of business.

The WD-155 probably means "Wooden Body, model 155. and the serial number is 360.

If I had to take a guess at how old it is, without seeing it up close, I would say late 70's.

Im wondering why the name isnt printed on the headstock?

Thanks for looking. I couldn't find a single thing, either.

You might be right about the age. My classical acoustic is from the mid 70's, and this one looks about the same. (if I were to hazard a guess) And no idea about the lack of name on the headstock...

Thanks for looking. I couldn't find a single thing, either.

You might be right about the age. My classical acoustic is from the mid 70's, and this one looks about the same. (if I were to hazard a guess) And no idea about the lack of name on the headstock...


Np.

Good luck!

Even if its not worth anymore than you paid for it, if it sounds good...keep it!

Sometimes guitars from small companies that went defunct years ago, sell for nice little sums to collectors....you never know.

None of this matters. 'Tis not the guitar, but the hands that play it.

Just look at Willie Nelson's guitar ...

http://thumbs.photo.net/photo/1046936-sm.jpg

None of this matters. 'Tis not the guitar, but the hands that play it.

Just look at Willie Nelson's guitar ...

http://thumbs.photo.net/photo/1046936-sm.jpg

nahh..its both.

Willie is God.

Any man who has smoked more ganja, than I could piss on....has my respect.

None of this matters. 'Tis not the guitar, but the hands that play it.

Just look at Willie Nelson's guitar ...

http://thumbs.photo.net/photo/1046936-sm.jpg

It has it's own charm, i'm sure. :p

You sure its real Mother-of-Pearl, and not the fake plasticy stuff?
Sometimes its hard to tell the difference.

I thought I knew a lot of the old defunct manufacturers, and Ive never heard of "J. Watson and Co."

ALTHOUGH.....I HAVE heard of Johnny "Guitar" Watson, who was fairly popular blues player in Japan.
He died in 1996, but Im highly doubting its the same person.
If it was...then that guitar might be worth something.
Jonny Watson was playing in Japan in the early 50's.
Here's an ad for a CD which he's on.
VARIOUS
Occupied Japan
(Reference #FSD1540)

Fascinating double CD of the recordings of the Shinchu-Gun soldiers stationed in Japan 1950-53. CD1 is of American jazz and boogie woogie, great in itself, but what is really interesting is the second CD. The soldiers play either Japanese songs or those composed out of their Japan experience, most notably by a certain Johnny Watson with titles such as "Pachinko Mambo", "Ikebukuro Hustle", "Shinbashi Blues" and "Nihonbashi Bop" all areas of Tokyo given an American twist. Wonderful stuff


Price: £21.99

Ther's also an ad for a " Wilson/Watson rapier 4 Red 1964 "
at http://www.guitargalleries.com/guitars.htm
which may be unrelated.

You may have a real gem there. I'd get it proffessionally valued either by a good muscic shop or a music auction house. Collectors of blues stuff my go wild over it and you'll be able to afford that Martin (with luck). Although there are better accoustics out there that cost less ;)

Jonny Watson was playing in Japan in the early 50's.
Here's an ad for a CD which he's on.


Ther's also an ad for a " Wilson/Watson rapier 4 Red 1964 "
at http://www.guitargalleries.com/guitars.htm
which may be unrelated.

You may have a real gem there. I'd get it proffessionally valued either by a good muscic shop or a music auction house. Collectors of blues stuff my go wild over it and you'll be able to afford that Martin (with luck). Although there are better accoustics out there that cost less ;)

Ooh, I hope so. Not getting my hopes up too high, though. :p

(More likely, i'd spend the cash on an electric :D)