eldegas.com

These two guitars are currently for sale on eBay.
I'm grouping these two acoustic guitars in one post since they're both Matsumoku made and being sold by the same vendor. They are both in exceptionally good condition and still have the all important inside labels intact. If there was any doubt that Uncle Mats made acoustics in the 70's this should lay that skepticism to rest.

The reason for posting is to try and strengthen the suspected link between some 1970's ED models and Matsumoku. What really caught my eye was the Westone model number, F-13, which mimics the sort of prefix we often see on ED's. The detailing and general design of the Aria W-30 also looks familiar to ED fans.

See what you think. Don't forget to scroll down the page for a link to a great picture series so you can really compare. I have saved all the posted pictures, so if there is a desire to maintain them here for reference purposes, I'll put them on Photobucket and make them available.

ARIA W-30
Very pretty guitar but has a few scuffs and dings. One tuner replaced. No case
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Aria-W-30-Japan- ... 4aa82662d2

WESTONE F-13
A somewhat plainer and smaller guitar but in really nice condition. Includes the old warranty card! No case.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Westone-F-13-Auditor ... 4aa8266251

I would bet dollars to donuts that see ED acoustics from Japan are indeed Matsumoku. Not sure if I'd apply it as a fast & hard rule for all the MIJ models, but some are almost certainly Mats' work.

Agreed.
I think ED may have began sourcing their white label from Mats in the early to mid 70's. But by late 70's and certainly into the 80's Mats was pretty much turning out name brand MIJ labels such as Westone, Aria Pro II, Vantage, and even Epiphone, as well as a whole range of other labels. ED/B&J was a small operator in this sort of mix and likely moved down the line of available MIJ and later, MIK manufacturers, until they ultimately ended up in bloody Romania!
In that mix I have no doubt other quality instruments came out of plants like FujiGen and possibly Hoshino, and maybe Hondo and Samick out of Korea

I think you're right on the money, Barry.

I would bet the increased demand for Mats also priced them out of B&J/ED's realm. I would hazard a guess that the move to Korean / Guatemalan / Romanian production was purely for cost-savings in order to keep the instruments on the low side of the price line.

Look at the modern Asian guitar manufacturing nowadays with production into Chinese and Indonesian plants... same deal.