Butterfly Headstock inlay

[ripper70]

Hello All,

Had my curiosity sparked when I found this picture on an eBay listing. Anybody able to I.D. this thing? Supposedly a Matsumoku MIJ LP from the 70's. Can't help but be intrigued.

Ripper70

[bfcg]

It's a Cameo or some other brand but made by the same factory on the same line with the same parts.
Not a good guitar. Lower level of the MIJ stuff.

[ripper70]

Thanks for the info. I knew I'd find an answer here.

Ripper70

[Muddslide]

Originally Posted by bfcg

It's a Cameo or some other brand but made by the same factory on the same line with the same parts.
Not a good guitar. Lower level of the MIJ stuff.

I've got one of these and I wouldn't call it "lower level." Some, I'm sure, are.

However, since I got mine, I've done quite a bit of research (as much as possible) and I've discovered these butterfly inlay models really run the gamut. They got "branded" under several different names, and often were sold with no name on the headstock.

They got sold under the "Cameo", "Mann", "Lyle" and several other names. Also, LP copies under those names were also sold without the butterfly.

Apparently, there were several tiers of these butterfly clones made, from plywood hunks to ones as nice as any coming out of Japan in the late 60s-70s.

The one I got seems to be mid-range...three piece mahogany body with a nice maple cap. The pups and wiring are cheap and will be replaced. Everything else on it is killer. It's the one in my avatar.

[bfcg]

Originally Posted by Muddslide

I've got one of these and I wouldn't call it "lower level." Some, I'm sure, are.

However, since I got mine, I've done quite a bit of research (as much as possible) and I've discovered these butterfly inlay models really run the gamut. They got "branded" under several different names, and often were sold with no name on the headstock.

They got sold under the "Cameo", "Mann", "Lyle" and several other names. Also, LP copies under those names were also sold without the butterfly.

Apparently, there were several tiers of these butterfly clones made, from plywood hunks to ones as nice as any coming out of Japan in the late 60s-70s.

The one I got seems to be mid-range...three piece mahogany body with a nice maple cap. The pups and wiring are cheap and will be replaced. Everything else on it is killer. It's the one in my avatar.

Sorry man, didn't mean any offense. I should have just spoke of my old Cameo. I have no way of knowing about anything else from that factory.
Mine was a natural 2 piece body(maybe maple) it was heavy and the top was a hollow shell. You could tap on it and it would sound hollow. The p/u's were total crap along with the tuners. It would not set up properly so I never bothered modding it. That was 1975. I don't know if there is any way of telling if it is a good one or not unless you have it in your hands. If it plays good and feels good...it's good.

[Muddslide]

Originally Posted by bfcg

Sorry man, didn't mean any offense. I should have just spoke of my old Cameo. I have no way of knowing about anything else from that factory.
Mine was a natural 2 piece body(maybe maple) it was heavy and the top was a hollow shell. You could tap on it and it would sound hollow. The p/u's were total crap along with the tuners. It would not set up properly so I never bothered modding it. That was 1975. I don't know if there is any way of telling if it is a good one or not unless you have it in your hands. If it plays good and feels good...it's good.

Hey brother--no offense taken!

I only meant I seem to have gotten lucky because the body and neck on mine are really good. I've read a lot of people saying these weren't even good for firewood and others say they are as good as any lawsuit copies of the era.

Somehow or another, the butterfly inlay headstock models seemed to have gone out all over the place with different names, different levels of quality, etc.

The pups and wiring in mine ARE crap, and are going to be replaced ASAP. But the body and neck are great and the previous owner did me a solid by installing a new nut and tuners from a recent Gibson SG.

[ripper70]

Here's why I asked...

vintage 70's les paul mij might be epiphone greco tokai

I didn't know what to make of this. Turns out someone else snagged it. Better him than me...I think.

Ripper70

[knor82]

hi how much would you pay for this, (me and my guitar lol) sorry a didnt have a better pic, its the same headstock than the one on the pic above...

[Freakyvoiz]

I know I'm necro-posting but I managed to come into contact with one of these "mystery guitars" about a year ago through eBay. It has the pearl butterfly inlay, bolt on neck, SCs disguised as HBs and it needed a little work. The only problem I'm finding with identification is that it has NO serial numbers...anywhere. I put in my own serial under the pickups for identification purposes but I still want to know more about this guitar so I can tell people when they ask about it, rather than looking like an idiot and saying "I have no idea what it is hur dur dur". I dont have any pictures at the moment but I have listed all the information I can.

All in all it isnt a bad guitar. The guy I bought it from said he bought it years ago, played it a little bit and then put it in his closet, where it sat until I bought it. When I got it it was in BEAUTIFUL condition, very minor dings and scratches for it's age. The neck was a bit warped, but nothing I couldn't fix by tightening the Truss. I replaced the pickups with a couple BC Rich pickups out of a Kerry King V a friend of mine used to have. The KKV pickups gave it a big beefy sound and I havent been happier. I just need INFORMATION!

[DeMontGuitars.com]

Originally Posted by Freakyvoiz

I know I'm necro-posting but I managed to come into contact with one of these "mystery guitars" about a year ago through eBay. It has the pearl butterfly inlay, bolt on neck, SCs disguised as HBs and it needed a little work. The only problem I'm finding with identification is that it has NO serial numbers...anywhere. I put in my own serial under the pickups for identification purposes but I still want to know more about this guitar so I can tell people when they ask about it, rather than looking like an idiot and saying "I have no idea what it is hur dur dur". I dont have any pictures at the moment but I have listed all the information I can.

All in all it isnt a bad guitar. The guy I bought it from said he bought it years ago, played it a little bit and then put it in his closet, where it sat until I bought it. When I got it it was in BEAUTIFUL condition, very minor dings and scratches for it's age. The neck was a bit warped, but nothing I couldn't fix by tightening the Truss. I replaced the pickups with a couple BC Rich pickups out of a Kerry King V a friend of mine used to have. The KKV pickups gave it a big beefy sound and I havent been happier. I just need INFORMATION!

now im REALLY necro-posting. but i have a very similar guitar. I'm doing some heavy research on it and have a couple of my expert friends giving me their opinions. if you'd like to talk about it more send me an email Nate@DeMontGuitars.com
or check out the photos and discussion of mine at DeMont Guitars | Facebook

i love these old guitars!

[Ilovefetus22]

I just bought one of these guitars "my second I have owned". It has no name but my first one was branded "Cameo". below is a link to the guitar.

YouTube - "Butterfly Headstock" Les Paul Lawsuit Guitar

YouTube - "Butterfly Headstock" Les Paul Lawsuit Guitar