Bill Lawrence very red hardtail Strat from Japan

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I saw this very red Japanese-made Bill Lawrence Strat on eBay, and couldn't help wondering if there was any relation to my own cellophane red DiMarzio Strat, which I was told by a Guitarz reader was made by a now defunct Japanese manufacturer called Harayama (about whom I can find absolutely NOTHING).

I contacted the eBay seller to see if he had any more info, and he replied:

Japanese made Bill Lawrence guitars were manufactured by Moridaira from late 80s to mid 90s in the factory of Morris. Moridaira is a Japanese musical instrument company that introduced Gibson and Fender to Japan in 60s and the current importers/distributors of Moog, Paiste, Orange, and so on.

Moridaira's house brand of guitars is Morris. Morris is the best well-known acoustic guitar manufacturer here in Japan. Morris has been manufacturing acoustic guitars since 1967 and they also made electric guitars in the 70s and early 80s.

Kawai and Ibanez have also had guitars with similar finishes, so perhaps it was something of a Japanese speciality.

This guitar is currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of £675. Bill Lawrence of course is a famous designer of guitars, pickups, etc, and so would only have lent his name to the finest of Japanese made instruments, so you can be sure this Strat (hardtail and with H-S-H pickup configuration) is something special.

G L Wilson

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