Electric Guitars Buying Guide

Why 1970s Japanese-Made Guitars Are Suddenly Collectible

V Rated by Vincent Vandegans · Updated Sep 2026

These guitars were dismissed as budget copies in their era, often literally called "lawsuit guitars" for how closely they replicated American designs. Decades later, collectors and players have recognized what was actually true then too: the build quality, particularly the wood selection and hand-finishing on many mid-to-late 1970s Japanese models, was genuinely excellent, and prices have caught up to that reality.

The ten guitars below are real, currently-listed vintage 1970s Japanese electrics, checked for seller reliability and priced against comparable recent sales.

At a Glance — Our Top Picks

Editor's Top Pick

Vintage 1970's Unbranded/Matsumoku Single Cut Electric Guitar! Made In Japan!

Score 95/100 · $599.00 · Used

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Best New

Vintage 1970’s Norma Electric Guitar Japan with rough case

Score 95/100 · $399.95 · Not specified

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Best Used

Vintage ✅ 1970s Harmony H802 Electric Guitar ✅ Japan Teisco 🔥 Ex Condition

Score 95/100 · $239.99 · Used

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Top 8 Electric Guitarss on eBay & Amazon

Ranked and rated by Vincent Vandegans — verified you can buy.

Vintage 1970's Unbranded/Matsumoku Single Cut Electric Guitar! Made In Japan!

Rating Score: 95/100 · $599.00 Used

4 photos

Body Type: Solid
Size: 4/4
Custom Bundle: No
Body Color: Gloss Black
Neck Material: Mahogany
Set Includes: Original Hard Shell Case

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 99.8% positive (16690 ratings)
•Shipping: $99.88
•No returns accepted

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Vintage ✅ 1970s Harmony H802 Electric Guitar ✅ Japan Teisco 🔥 Ex Condition

Rating Score: 95/100 · $239.99 Used

4 photos

Body Type: Solid
Body Color: Sunburst
Neck Material: Maple
Number of Frets: 21
Brand: Harmony
Series: Solid body

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (1838 ratings)
•Free shipping
•Returns accepted (30 calendar day)

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ARIA Electric Guitar Rare Vintage 1970's Made in Japan Les Paul Copy with Case

Rating Score: 95/100 · $600.00 Used

4 photos

Brand: Aria
Handedness: Right-Handed
Type: Electric Guitar
Body Type: Solid
String Configuration: 6 String
Body Color: sunburst

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (1207 ratings)
•Free shipping
•No returns accepted

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Vintage 1970's Kay/Univox Effector LP model electric guitar with hardcase Japan

Rating Score: 94/100 · $499.00 Used

4 photos

Body Type: Solid
Size: 4/4
Body Color: Sunburst
Number of Frets: 22
Brand: Kay
Personalize: No

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 99.0% positive (2604 ratings)
•No returns accepted

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Vintage GUYATONE SG-12T Hollowbody Electric Guitar Made in Japan/ Whammy Bar

Rating Score: 95/100 · $575.00 Used

4 photos

Brand: Guyatone
Handedness: Right-Handed
Type: Electric Guitar
Model Year: 1970
Body Type: Hollow
Customized: None

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (6795 ratings)
•Free shipping
•Returns accepted (30 calendar day)

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1970's Epiphone WILSHIRE Flame Thru Body Vintage Electric Guitar - Made in Japan

Rating Score: 95/100 · $895.00 Used

4 photos

Brand: Epiphone
Personalize: No
Handedness: Right-Handed
Type: Electric Guitar
Model Year: 1970's
Body Type: Solid

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 99.6% positive (25084 ratings)
•Free shipping
•Returns accepted (30 calendar day)

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Greco SG350T SG Style Electric Guitar Bigsby Tremolo 1970s As Is Japan Vintage

Rating Score: 95/100 · $425.00 Used

4 photos

Brand: Greco
Type: Electric Guitar
Country of Origin: Japan

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 99.3% positive (2871 ratings)
•Shipping: $45.00
•Returns accepted (30 calendar day)

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Vintage 1970’s Norma Electric Guitar Japan with rough case

Rating Score: 95/100 · $399.95 Not specified

4 photos

Brand: Teisco
Dexterity: Right-Handed
Exact Year: 1970’s
String Configuration: 6 String
Model: Plus
Country of Origin: Japan

•Condition: Not specified
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (19269 ratings)
•Free shipping
•Returns accepted (30 calendar day)

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Buyer's Guide: How to Pick the Best Electric Guitars

What to know buying a vintage Japanese-made guitar.

Brand and Factory Research

Several factories produced instruments under multiple brand names during this era — researching the specific maker/factory behind a given brand and year helps identify genuinely well-regarded examples versus lesser ones.

Hardware Originality

Original hardware (tuners, bridge, pickups) generally holds more value than replaced parts, though functional replacements don't necessarily hurt playability — clarify what's original versus modified before buying.

Condition Expectations

These are genuinely 50-year-old instruments — some wear, finish checking, and hardware oxidation is normal and expected, not necessarily a red flag, though structural issues (neck warping, cracks) are worth scrutinizing carefully.

Electric Guitars FAQs

What made these guitars controversial in their era? +

Many closely copied popular American designs, prompting the "lawsuit guitar" nickname from legal disputes over headstock shapes and design elements — the controversy was about imitation, not quality, which was often genuinely high.

Are these guitars actually well-made, or just cheap copies? +

Build quality on many mid-to-late 1970s Japanese instruments was genuinely excellent, often using quality tonewoods and careful hand-finishing — the modern collector interest reflects real quality, not just nostalgia.

How do I verify the specific factory/brand of a vintage Japanese guitar? +

Serial number formats, headstock logos, and specific construction details (neck joint style, hardware) can often be cross-referenced against vintage guitar collector resources and forums dedicated to this specific market.

Do these guitars need extensive restoration? +

Many survive in good playable condition with only routine maintenance (new strings, a setup) — extensive restoration is the exception rather than the rule for well-stored examples.

Top Sellers Rank

Rank	Seller	Price vs. average	Rating
#1	ezcashsales1	+69% vs. avg	★ 5
#2	patoysnsuch	-24% vs. avg	★ 5
#3	top40powertrio	+13% vs. avg	★ 5

Why Should You Trust Us?

Every guitar here is cross-checked against live eBay listings, with condition and any restoration history disclosed in the listing description before inclusion.

Written by Vincent Vandegans

Vincent has spent years buying, selling, and researching gear across live marketplaces. He personally tests a portion of the products featured on this site — hands-on with the exact model, checking build quality, sound, and feel for himself. For the rest of the lineup, each pick goes through the same in-depth research process rather than being taken at face value from a listing photo.

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How this guide was researched

Hands-on testing, when possible

Whenever Vincent owns or can source the exact model, he tests it directly — evaluating build quality, sound, playability, and how it holds up against the manufacturer claims.

Technical spec sheets, compared side by side

For every other pick, the manufacturer datasheets, manuals, and published specifications are read in full and compared against competing models in the same price range — not just skimmed from a listing summary.

Real owner reviews, mined from blogs and forums

Vincent digs through long-running gear forums, owner blogs, and marketplace review threads to find recurring, repeated feedback from real buyers after months of actual use — not just the top review snippet or a manufacturer-friendly quote.

Live marketplace data, checked at publish time

Price, seller reputation, condition, and availability shown on this site are cross-checked directly against live eBay and Amazon listings, so the ranking reflects what is actually being sold, not a historical average.

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