Friday, 20 February 2015

Vintage Sigma Electric Guitar

guitarz.blogspot.com:






Here's a Sigma that I've not seen before. The seller believes that it is from the Matsomoku plant in the 70s. I agree with the country origin, but that logo screams 1980s.

All in all it is an alright looking guitar that seems to be drawing influence from a few styles. The seller also calls it a "hippie sandwich" which is a new term for me. I assume they are referring to the layered laminated body construction.

It was listed for $580 at the time of writing this post, but seems to have sold as it's no longer listed.

R.W. Haller





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18 comments:

  1. "Hippie sandwich" is indeed a term for layered construction. As far as I know, the term is usually used/originated with Alembic guitars and basses, probably because of Alembic's association with the Grateful Dead.

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  2. Nice guitar, check out some of our new offerings at thefretzone.com

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  3. Wow! (Or maybe it should be "Oh wow man!"?) Talk about a blast from the past. I hadn't heard the term "hippy sandwich" in ages. That's what envious guitarists used to call those gorgeous and (then) radically designed Alembic guitars and basses members of the Grateful Dead were playing.

    We all wanted one. But then, when we found out what they cost, we suddenly decided our self-refinished Fenders, which our girlfriends decoupaged or painted pretty pictures on, were just fine, thank you very much. :-))

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  4. I have one just like the one in the picture you posted here. It's extremely difficult to find any information on these guitars. I'm guessing not many were made. I'll be damned if I can find a serial or model number anywhere on this guitar. I opened the access panel to the volume/tone pots and nothing. The pots have some serial numbers but that's it. Over all it plays great! Really nice fret board action...
    AL..

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  5. I have one just like the one in the picture you posted here. It's extremely difficult to find any information on these guitars. I'm guessing not many were made. I'll be damned if I can find a serial or model number anywhere on this guitar. I opened the access panel to the volume/tone pots and nothing. The pots have some serial numbers but that's it. Over all it plays great! Really nice fret board action...
    AL..

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  6. i have a sigma with this headstock shape,,and its suppose to be made by matsumoku for sigma by martim in the early 80s ,,japan did a few test guitars 12 or 24 guitars each modelfor the us market,,so theese are extremely rare with this headstock and logo type,,
    i got this info from a guy that wrote a paper for martin guitars reg their work with japan during the 70-80s era,,he had photos from the martin factory with theese odd guitars standing in line on the factory floor

    best reg robert from
    www.odinguitars.se
    sweden

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  7. i have a guitar with the same headstock ,,but with another strange bodyshape
    theese were made for martin guitars by matsomuko in the early 80s,,for their usa market,as a test run,the were only 12 or 24 made of each guitar,so theese guitars are extremely rare,i have only seen this and mine guitar in 30 years,, got this info from a guy that wrote a paper on martins work with japan during the 70-80s,,i got a photo were theese guitars was in a show room in martins factory,,

    best reg robert
    from
    www.odinguitars.se
    sweden

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  9. I have this same guitar. Any offers?

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  10. I have the bass guitar model..I live in Canada.

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  11. I have the bass guitar model..I live in Canada.

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  12. Wow! Only 12 to 24 of these freaky looking Sigma guitars were ever made?
    Glad I own one. Like I said before, my Sigma has very good fret action. I'm comparing the fret action to my 1983 Wine Red Les Paul Custom and it's up there. The Les Paul is far superior in materials and workmanship but for an Unknown Sigma it's pretty good.
    Thanks for all the info guys. Cheers!..

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  13. Why does this look like a Lado falcon?

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  14. Why does this look like a Lado falcon?

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  15. is this a Lado falcon?

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  16. Why does this look like a Lado falcon?

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  17. Why does this look like a Lado falcon?

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  18. I have one also very similar just different color extremely hard to find any info on this I believe it was a prototype

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