Really need help to identify this guutar

[Robert.M]

Hi guys! I really need some help with finding out which brand this really is, I was told it was 1 of 20 made for Whitey Kirst (Iggy Pop's guitarist from 1990 to 2003)
The owner told me that that that's why Whitey is on the headarock since it was made for him, but do anyone know which guitar brand it actually is? I've looked online but can't find any info on it
Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[brokentoeswalker]

It looks at first glance and first guess to be Korean. Timeframe would lean that way too if it was for his time with Iggy. Does it have a neck scarf ??

 

[Robert.M]

I had a same thought as you with it being Korean too. When I searched it up an interview about guitars and gear, which the interviewer asked about and tokai came up. Eaay to be confused about it

 

[Robert.M]

 

[Robert.M]

No, it doesn't have a neck scarf

 

[eborej]

We'd need a full reveal to try and tie it to a MIJ manufacturer. Shots of the back of the body, PU cavities, control cavity, switch cavity, underside of the PUs, pots, bridge & tailpiece. Even then we may not be able to determine if it has a veneer top or the number of body pieces but everything I mentioned would help piece together a theory. There are some indications that it is not a high-end model but I could be wrong.

 

[Duane_the_tub]

I'd start with the pickup cavities. The clue you need is most likely in there.

 

[Robert.M]

I asked the guy to do it when he gets off work, but one red flag for me is that there is no serial number on the back of the headstock

 

[Roxy13]

I think it's most likely Korean or Chinese, although I too wouldn't mind seeing the routing in the pickup cavities.

The top of the headstock and the bridge posts make me think that is not MIJ though.

 

[Robert.M]

 

[Robert.M]

I got some photos from the from PU cavity, back of the neck and the pots.
I'm not very informed about japanese/Korea guitars, but does these photos indicate that it's not a Japanese Les Paul?

 

[Roxy13]

I think so. The plastic coated wiring everywhere is not something you would normally see in a MIJ guitar. Some MIJs do use mini pots though.

Also it looks like a short tenon neck although it's hard to tell with the black paint.

 

[Robert.M]

Yeah, I'm starting to think the same thing myself.
It was said it was paper's of authentic but I was told the guy the seller bought it from got it cheap because the paper's of authentic "disappeared" during moving, but when you're gonna sell something like that for 1500 dollars then I would say proof of the origin, story and the paper's of authentic at least should be included

 

[Roxy13]

I would not pay $1500 for that. You can get quite a nice MIJ for that money.

 

[Lollo]

I think it's a bach, from czech republic, modified headstock inlay.

 

[CB91710]

$1500 is WAY too much for that without provenance.

The inlay and TRC are consistent though.... it COULD be legit, but there's no way to confirm.

 

[m5570]

Why don’t you just email Whitey?

 

[eborej]

There are a couple of pictures on his Facebook page that were posted in 2010 of a guitar and they look like it:

Facebook

www.facebook.com

..

Facebook

www.facebook.com

..

Apparently he also likes guns and fine wine.

 

[joe.sharpe.miniboom@gmail]

Hi, I've just seen this thread, I'm a guitar tech in the UK and a customer will shortly be bringing along one of these guitars, I am reasonably versed on mij and mik and will take some photos to aid the thread!

 

[Nick-O]

There are a couple of pictures on his Facebook page that were posted in 2010 of a guitar and they look like it:

Facebook

www.facebook.com

..

Facebook

www.facebook.com

..

Apparently he also likes guns and fine wine.

That 2nd FB picture has to be that same guitar. Every line and waver matches to my old eyes. I'd email or FB Whitey and just ask.