What defunct guitar brand, would you like to see make a return

guitars4you

ICBM said:

Most of the Matsumoku factory lines - Westone, Westbury, the proper Arias (not what the brand is stuck on now), Maya etc.

An interesting and good call - I know Westone was distributed by FCN - Fletcher Coppock and Newman in/around the 80's - But not sure if it was a UK brand name for FCN, or was it a world wide brand and FCN were the UK distributors - Ditto Westbury which I recall were sold by Rose Morris

Offset

Burns.  The Scorpion, specifically.

Whitecat

Signature Guitars - Canadian small builder that Alex Lifeson was partial to in the mid-80s. The guitars probably belong to that era tbh but I’ve always wanted to try one. 

Rocker

Line6 especially if the guitar electronics were available off the shelf for DIY installation in self build or other guitars. 

Sporky

Daisy Rock. No, really. I had two and they were both great.

PAL

guitars4you said:

I miss Hamer - The original USA Hamer Guitar company - So would like to see a return, run by Joel Dantzig - I don't mean the Hamer brand, as of today, in name only, from the far east - I'm talking about the original boutique/custom guitar company from the USA

Many old brand names are brought back to life, mainly via a far eastern production facility - But I'm talking about either a) brands that are still defunct or b) the original company 

So who/what would you like to see arise again in its original form

Yes I agree. I'm a an owner of a USA Hamer they are really great guitars.

ScreamingDave

Rocker said:

Line6 especially if the guitar electronics were available off the shelf for DIY installation in self build or other guitars. 

Yeah, this!   I had an original Variax and a Variax acoustic (which I soooooo wish I’d kept!) and the guitars themselves were pretty good, if a bit bland.  I then bought another a few years back and it was a dog of a guitar!  Why did they take innovative electronics and stick them in the lowest base model Pacifica?!  I get it that it was all about cost, but a another £100 on the price tag and they could’ve at least built it into a 112

Paul_C

ICBM said:

Most of the Matsumoku factory lines - Westone, Westbury, the proper Arias (not what the brand is stuck on now), Maya etc.

Westone for me (I have one Thunder 1-A here, but I wouldn't mind another one, or two).

Bigsby

Bond. I really liked the Electroglide.

p90fool

ICBM said:

Most of the Matsumoku factory lines - Westone, Westbury, the proper Arias (not what the brand is stuck on now), Maya etc.

I think I'm alone in walking into guitar shops in the early 80s and being totally bored and underwhelmed by all those Westone, Aria, Vox and countless other badge engineered, natural finish double cut with fake neck-through maple stripes guitars.

Sure they were a step up in quality from earlier unplayable catalogue guitars, but my god they were a yawn fest when you could buy 60s Fenders for similar money. 

hessodreamy

Dearmond. They were making some lovely guitars until fender bought parent company Guild and shut Dearmond down. 

Offset

Always loved the original Tony Zemaitis guitars (not the stuff that's being built in the far east these days).  Always unobtainium for us mere mortals, obviously.

Fez

PAL said:

guitars4you said:

I miss Hamer - The original USA Hamer Guitar company - So would like to see a return, run by Joel Dantzig - I don't mean the Hamer brand, as of today, in name only, from the far east - I'm talking about the original boutique/custom guitar company from the USA

Many old brand names are brought back to life, mainly via a far eastern production facility - But I'm talking about either a) brands that are still defunct or b) the original company 

So who/what would you like to see arise again in its original form

Yes I agree. I'm a an owner of a USA Hamer they are really great guitars.

That is how the youngsters say lush.

StuartMac290

Bigsby said:

Bond. I really liked the Electroglide.

Hell, I was just about to throw in Bond for the lolz.

Always fancied picking an old one up and getting someone to for a proper fretboard to it.

hollywoodrox

Performance & Rosco but like they were in the 80s with cool artwork 

  would like to see Valley Arts  bought by FMIC  & the orders style models made well but affordable like Charvel MiM’s 

Robin Guitars with cool artwork 

axisus

LionAquaLooper said:

Parker

100% this answer. The Parkers were brilliant guitars, totally innovative, amazing to play, sounded great. I had a deluxe for many years (that I eventually gave to my son). The styling wan't for everyone, but then no design ever is universally loved.

But not the bass. The bass was uberfugly.

Philly_Q

Hamer.

Now let's read the thread and see who else has said Hamer.

Philly_Q

Quite a bit of Hamer then.    

And I agree regarding the "proper" early '80s Aria Pro II and Washburn models.  The names still exist but they're just faceless, identity-free budget crap now.  Also the original BC Rich models, which were cool although I wouldn't really want to own one now.

Offset

Hamer from me too.  Having recently joined the club I'd have to say (on the basis of my limited exposure) they are lovely.

Offset

Philly_Q said:

Also the original BC Rich models, which were cool although I wouldn't really want to own one now.

Yes you would Phil.