Terada D-55

[GGJaguar]

Terada makes nice guitars (but probably not authentic D-55 nice).

 

[Guildedagain]

Lol, they solved the TR conundrum.

Yes, Terada good, and this must be a JDM guitar, but why the G? American guitar worship has always been there, regardless how fine guitars made in Japan are but this is fancy so probably had a considerable price point.

I'd like to see the label.

 

[SFIV1967]

Lol, they solved the TR conundrum.

Shortly after they solved it completely...Here a FW-720:



Or on the FW-718-M-12-C (What a model name!)



Ralf

 

[Guildedagain]

Holy.

Unaware of these. Even fancy copy guitars have too high a price point...

 

[chazmo]

Very cool, GG and Ralf... Isn't Terada a place in Japan? I guess I didn't know that Terada was also a brand name.

 

[SFIV1967]

Isn't Terada a place in Japan? I guess I didn't know that Terada was also a brand name.

Terada is a quarter in Osaka.



But the Terada instruments factory is actually near Nagoya.

"Terada was established in 1912 initially as a toy violin maker but from around 1955 onwards Terada started making proper stringed instruments. By the 1970s they had three factories near Nagoya (Higashiku factory, the Kanie factory and the Shirakawa factory). Production peaked in the late 1970s and early 1980s when they were making upwards of 10,000 guitars each month for both domestic and export markets. Terada specialised in making semi-acoustic and acoustic guitars and made OEM guitars for Ibanez, Orville by Gibson, Epiphone Japan, Gretsch amongst others." (Source: Archived Terada fan site)

Ralf

 

[SFIV1967]

I'd like to see the label.

Those Guild copies were made by a ton of Japanese companies in the 70's.
Here's a similar label from the FW-657N:





Ralf

 

[Guildedagain]

If the same Terada, they went on to make Gretsch guitars for FMIC.

 

[Neal]

If the same Terada, the went on to make Gretsch guitars for FMIC.

And not just any old guitars for Gretsch. Terada makes the top-of-the-line Gretsch Proline series. These Gretsch guitars go for $2700 to $4000 brand new. They have spectacular build quality, way better than the 1950's and 1960's Gretsch's that were made in Brooklyn.

I own a Terada-made Gretsch 6118 Double Anniversary, and it is superb.

 

[GGJaguar]

They have spectacular build quality, way better than the 1950's and 1960's Gretsch's that were made in Brooklyn.

Agreed! I much preferred my Terada-built Gretsches to my vintage Gretsches in terms of fit and finish. The only thing I liked better on the vintage models was the pickups. Too bad FMIC couldn't blueprint them better.

 

[Stuball48]

I think I would tarada my S-300 for a Terada D55 copy.

 

[freddyfingers]

My Gretsch Setzer model was made there. It leaves very little to disappoint. Since I’ve got it new in 2010, its never needed anything other than change the strings. Neck has always played the same. Other than raising the pickups to TV Jones specs, its a keeper right out of the box.