By a fair margin, these are our most popular guitars either in their restored original condition, or to a varying degree of upgrade. This one is a fine example of the breed - the 3.70kg (8lbs 2oz) weight is a fairly light example, and beautifully balanced. The White finish has gracefully faded and there are 49 years worth of scars and chips - the sort of finish that costs a lot more when buying a new guitars.
 
That big fat Maxon at the neck is perhaps the signature sound for these Teles - they are so creamy, and have a surprising amount of wire in them to get a stronger sound than you may expect. It teams up with a proper valve amp perfectly and from Jazz to Blues, it will serve you well. There is nothing to accurately compare it to - it is in a league of its own. The bridge Maxon remains and delivers that biting howling tone you expect from your favourite Tele in the rack.  A tiny nudge down on the volume control warms up the tone without losing the presence.
 
The guitar has been subtly upgraded under the control plate by the previous owner - a modern 3-way switch and the volume pot has been replaced like for like for the original. This just adds a bit of peace of mind reliability for the gigs.
 
Any pre-1976 Matsumoku Tele will have the amazing full C Harayama neck - not a telegraph pole, but much more substantial than skinny JV Fujigen Teles. The Gibson scale may horrify the purists, but this is how the Matsumoku Teles were - even the later Backaroo Arias were shorter than a Fender. Swapping between a Les Paul and this Tele mid-set will be so slick! This Tele may have the Westminster decal on it, but this is identical to Aria Pro II TE-400 introduced later that year - an extra 10,000 Yen but the same guitar - the same woods, spec and finishing. A year later, the Teles all became Fender scale, and had the more traditional style of Tele pick-up.
 
The prospect here then is a genuine vintage guitar - that solid feel of an early Matsumoku guitar, and the cheeky differences between a Fender and Nobuaki's opinion on what a Tele ought to feel and sound like. Vive la difference, let this be an enjoyable and useful addition to the armoury, or it can serve as your one and only.
 
We can go nuts on it and give it a more modern bridge and pick-up - we can put some Gibson frets in; upgrade the tuners; anything is possible if the budget is there, but this can stand on its own 2 feet as it is.