Please Help ID This Guitar

**Rick5150** · 01.25.07, 03:57 AM

I bought this for $60 at a local music center sometime around 1980-1982. There was no name on the guitar anywhere. The left side of the guitar had six slide switches and two knurled dial-type switches. The tremelo was a no-name brand as well. It sounded like crap and I loved it. I got rid of it when I bought my first Kramer. I am sorry I did though. Sorry about the quality of the picture - it is all I have from back then.

http://www.ricktheriault.com/images/5150/Coolguitar.jpg

**VHLimey** · 01.25.07, 08:22 AM

Looks like some old Wilson/Watkins type of thing that come out of England. Might easily not be though.

**tommywho5150** · 01.26.07, 01:14 AM

Originally Posted by VHLimey

Looks like some old Wilson/Watkins type of thing that come out of England. Might easily not be though.

i think you are right on the money there, i got one in my attic, i was gonna stipe it and hang it on a wall for novelty value coz it sounds like crap!

AT · 01.26.07, 04:10 AM

My first-second thought was that it looked like a Baldwin/Burns (obviously not, though, for that price). So the England thing might be correct. It also has slight characteristics of the Peavey T-60 (the designs of the time).

**rs812** · 01.26.07, 05:27 AM

I think that's actually one of the first Ibanez guitars. I have a picture of it in a book called "The Ultimate Guitar Book" by Tony Bacon on page 108 (no way to scan it). The caption says "1965 Ibanez- This is the main brandname to emerge from the prolific Fuji Gen-Gakki factory, based in Mtsumoto. Original-design Ibanez solid electrics first appeared from Fuji in the early 1960's. In th USA they bore a Goldtone name."

Hope this helps!

Ryan

**Rick5150** · 01.26.07, 01:45 PM

Thanks! You nailed it!! It is an Ibanez Goldentone 3904 model from 1964-65

This is the best picture I could find, but there was another similar one (model 3903) that was close except for the pickup configuration and the switches.

I really appreciate that!! Now I just have to find one

**rs812** · 01.26.07, 04:38 PM

Glad I could help! The angle of the string retainer bar reminded me of the one I had seen in the book.

Good luck with your search!

Ryan

AT · 01.28.07, 01:42 AM

This was kind of a warm-fuzzy Guitar Room thread! Folks can be so helpful...

**VHLimey** · 01.30.07, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by tommywho5150

i think you are right on the money there, i got one in my attic, i was gonna stipe it and hang it on a wall for novelty value coz it sounds like crap!

There were 3 weren't they? Watkins, Wilson and wasn't the third WEM or something????

My mate's dad has a Wilson Rapier 44, that actually sounds good.