Can anyone identify this symbol inside a guitar?

[Danny]

  There are quite a few here that ride bikes. I use to, but it was long distance riding on BMW touring bikes. I had three bikes right before I got married. Two BMW tour bikes and a Virago.
   Don't have any now, but I found a mirror off the Virago in the garage today and started thinking that another touring bike would be nice.

[unforgiven]

  There are quite a few here that ride bikes. I use to, but it was long distance riding on BMW touring bikes. I had three bikes right before I got married. Two BMW tour bikes and a Virago.
   Don't have any now, but I found a mirror off the Virago in the garage today and started thinking that another touring bike would be nice.

That's awesome!  I'm strictly sportbikes, street and track.  Believe it or not, I do want a new Goldwing but I don't have any room for it.   

[unforgiven]

My Dad sent me the pictures I requested.  Not sure if they help or not.

[Danny]

  The headstock may of had a simple decal on it which could have been removed easily. The neck is not a bolt on so that rules out some makers. But it still appears to be a Japanese or possibly Korean made early 70's Martin copy. Almost all the Japanese builders made a Martin and sometimes a Gibson copy during the early to mid 70's. Some of the higher end models were worth a lot. But most are medium to good quality from that era and not worth a lot. Good players can be found from that deluge of Asian guitars flooding the U.S. market.
  There is a slight possibility that it could be an Asian Harmony as well. In 1975 I believe Harmony ceased operations in the U.S. and they were continued somewhere in Asia for a few years. At one point Harmony made more guitars than ALL the other makers put together. They are still in peoples closets and under the bed waiting to be discovered again and in need of a neck reset.

[flatlander]

  There are quite a few here that ride bikes. I use to, but it was long distance riding on BMW touring bikes. I had three bikes right before I got married. Two BMW tour bikes and a Virago.
   Don't have any now, but I found a mirror off the Virago in the garage today and started thinking that another touring bike would be nice.

So you're gonna start with the mirror, and build the bike out from there? I like it.

[NewStrings]

But a pleasant diversion indeed!!!  Great photo, very nice wheels!!! 

NewStrings

[Danny]

So you're gonna start with the mirror, and build the bike out from there? I like it.

Matt that's the idea!  The Virago was a low slung V-twin with nothing that identified it on the tank or sides. It was black and chrome. It looked like a small Harley and other bikers would always ask me what it was. It only said Yamaha on a cover plate low on the motor and it was stamped in the metal. I can't remember why I took one mirror off, but it said Yamaha in raised casting letters, so that may have been why. I liked it being a bit of a mystery.
          Actually I was thinking of removing the glass mirror from the casing to slip in the soundholes of guitars for repair work, it's just the right size. Besides I want a big bimmer touring bike with a faring and saddle bags for some "iron butt" rides out "Across the great divide" 

[sneaky]

it looks like any one of the dozens of MIJ brands that show up on line in Japan, precisely when it was made is anybody`s guess...by the mid `60s LOTS of makers over here were using laminated wood for lower end stuff, by the `70s there were just too many to count, I thought about saving all the names of the different brands I came across on the web but after 50 or so I just gave up...there was no shortage of cheap acoustics MIJ at the time...that is not to say they were not building some great solid wood guitars as well `cause they were, I own some. I have not seen that symbol before nor does it look like any Japanese kanji to me...as my wife was passing by I asked her she said look Korean to her but certainly not Japanese, and the circle surrounding the symbol is incomplete so maybe there is a part o the symbol missing? Is the top solid? The wood seen through the sound hole looks like the typical plywood I see lots of. But you know, sound is always the most important thing to me so if it sounds good thats all that really should matter. I have a LOT of old MIJs and it`s very difficult finding good data on most, sure theres a lot of stuff on the web but sifting through it all to reach the truth is not easy. Lawsuit...man theres a term that gets thrown around a lot nowadays, as far as I know there even was only one...Gibson threatened Ibanez and in fact it never came to pass, more of a threat of a lawsuit...least thats what I`ve read.

[Danny]

it looks like any one of the dozens of MIJ brands that show up on line in Japan, precisely when it was made is anybody`s guess...by the mid `60s LOTS of makers over here were using laminated wood for lower end stuff, by the `70s there were just too many to count, I thought about saving all the names of the different brands I came across on the web but after 50 or so I just gave up...there was no shortage of cheap acoustics MIJ at the time...that is not to say they were not building some great solid wood guitars as well `cause they were, I own some. I have not seen that symbol before nor does it look like any Japanese kanji to me...as my wife was passing by I asked her she said look Korean to her but certainly not Japanese, and the circle surrounding the symbol is incomplete so maybe there is a part o the symbol missing? Is the top solid? The wood seen through the sound hole looks like the typical plywood I see lots of. But you know, sound is always the most important thing to me so if it sounds good thats all that really should matter. I have a LOT of old MIJs and it`s very difficult finding good data on most, sure theres a lot of stuff on the web but sifting through it all to reach the truth is not easy. Lawsuit...man theres a term that gets thrown around a lot nowadays, as far as I know there even was only one...Gibson threatened Ibanez and in fact it never came to pass, more of a threat of a lawsuit...least thats what I`ve read.

Sneaky I figured if anyone knew it would be you. MIJ is the company I was trying to remember the name of. What is the M name. That is the company that even made Epiphones with the bolt on necks for a short time.

   I just realized MIJ is Made In Japan.  But there was a Japanese company that starts with a "M" that made a number of early 70's guitars with different brands on them. Most had the bolt on necks. Matsumoto or something like that. I know I may be way off on the name but it does begin with an M.

[Danny]

  Here is a quote from Wikipediea.

         "Takamine's US-American distributor is Kaman. A Takamine copy of a Martin guitar was the cause of a letter from Martin Guitars in the early 1980s because Takamine's acoustic guitars including the logo design were supposedly nearly identical to Martin Models. According to Chris F. Martin IV, CEO of CF Martin and Company in a speech given to the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum members on August 8, 2005, no lawsuit was ever actually filed, and Takamine did change the appearance of their guitars."

                 I always assumed there was an actual lawsuit to one of the Martin copiers, but maybe not. It just became a descriptive word which has been badly abused for the sake of profiteering. I'll not use the term loosely anymore.

[flatlander]

  I'll not use the term loosely anymore.

If you do, we'll have to sue.

[Danny]

If you do, we'll have to sue.

     Matt's on a roll.

[SMan]

  There are quite a few here that ride bikes. I use to, but it was long distance riding on BMW touring bikes. I had three bikes right before I got married. Two BMW tour bikes and a Virago.
   Don't have any now, but I found a mirror off the Virago in the garage today and started thinking that another touring bike would be nice.

Diverting again.......

I rode my Virago From Tacoma to Tahoe, and then back up the Pacific Coast last summer.  Best ride I have ever been on. 

Sorry, back to your original programming..........

[unforgiven]

Thanks everyone for the information.  I was just curious about the guitar but the education that came along with it is very much appreciated.  I know a hundred times more now than when I asked the question.  Thanks also for the compliments on the bikes.  

[Danny]

Diverting again.......

I rode my Virago From Tacoma to Tahoe, and then back up the Pacific Coast last summer.  Best ride I have ever been on.  

Sorry, back to your original programming..........

Mine was the first model. Which also happened to be the 1st V-Twin made in Japan and it was 750. Later they made larger models and I think even a smaller one. Mine really hugged the road and had a low slung seat.
        I bet you have a newer, larger model.

[gotahifit]

LOL!  It's all good.  Newbie to this forum but been on forums since there were forums.  Playing guitar is actually my second love.  This is my first love and the cause of me not being able to play for about four months after I crashed.  Now this is a topic change.





Been there, done that... (well, 30 years ago) 

g

Maybe we need a few more 

[unforgiven]

Been there, done that... (well, 30 years ago) 

Never too old my friend!  I'm 45 this year and hope I have a lot left in me.  This is a friend of mine that's spectacular crash was caught on camera last year and our group made it into a motivational poster for him.  You can see him sliding in the dirt off to the left.  Tom was 72 in this picture, took the ambulance out and said it was his last time.  He lied.  He's already been back and I'll be at the track with him in May.

[SMan]

Since the OP started it here's my scoot.  

[unforgiven]

Absolutely and nice ride!  As long as it's not against the rules.   

[Danny]

Absolutely and nice ride!  As long as it's not against the rules.   

Ain't against my rules.  Nice pics guys.