Memphis Guitars ?

I bought a Memphis Strat style guitar today and the thing rocks ! Much better than the Fender MIM series. It is a clone of an American Strat ! Anyone know where these fine instruments are made ? I heard a division of Gibson ?

Memphis is the brand on headstock. It rocks because the pickups sound great !
I use pinch harmonics a lot and this has a fast smooth maple neck also.

Which brand does it have on the headstock?

Just "how" does it rock better?

No, Memphis brand guitars have nothing to do with Gibson. I remember these as being some of the worst made guitars I have ever put my hands on (but this was some 20 years ago). With the advances in CNC machinery Chinese and
Korean imports (like the Memphis) are able to produce some really decent budget guitars (electronics and hardware aside).

If you like it, that's great.

I bought a Memphis 302 MB electric guitar today at a yard sale for $10.Its in nice condition and it works.Its metallic blue.Its made in Korea.Anybody out there know anything about this guitar?How old is it and whats it worth?PLMK.Thank you.

I have seen quite a few of the (memphis) strat copies in the local pawn shops, and on ebay. Probably even seen some on gbase...Even played one or two. Seemed to play just fine.
They are not worth much new-or-used in my opinion. Like ANY odd brand copy that was originally retail priced at @ $200.00 or less. But if in good condition, they are a functional and cheap alternative to a real strat.
This is the guitar you get before you get the real strat, or the better copy of one.

As with many old (and new) imports, the name on the headstock was usually a chosen one by the importer. You will find many brands like Lotus, Hondo, Applause and others that all use the same (cheaper) hardware and are presumeably built at the same factories. Most are ply bodies. Some more expensive models had better hardware like grover tuners and hot pickups. The earlier models had 1 pc cast tremolos with large sustain blocks but they used tiny screws and are incorrectly bevelled on the pivot and jump out of tune. Keep in mind that there are even earlier Japanese versions of these which were made during Japan's late 70s-80's heyday and are quite often "sleepers" that are quality built solid wood bodies and even alnico pickups. The one thing the Koreans got right very quickly was their necks. Many of those Memphis and others have very good all 1pc maple neck/fretboard and oversize headstocks that can be reshaped if desired. I have a number of discarded bodies not worth selling, but they were worth the dirt cheap price just for a good project neck!

It is most likely made overseas by Samick....
Regards,
kcbuck

I believe that at least some of the memphis guitars from the late 70s and early 80s were actually matsumoku built. the wing series looks exactly like the vantage guitar wing series which were very good guitars for the money. i doubt that memphis will be as collectible though

I have a memphis looks like a gibson plays nice i heard tha yahama made gibson knock off and gibson sued yahama and thay marked them with memphis and sold stock

I collect guitars that were make in the Matsumoku plant in Japan. Mick is correct! If you can verify the year and MIJ, I believe that it would not only make an excellent player, but also a good investment. The Matsumoku plant turned out guitars that were second to none in quality, any musician that has seen and played some of my guitars would agree.

I have a Memphis Guitar. Gibson Explorer knockoff that I have had since I bought it new in 1976. Natural wood tone with white guard. It still plays. Sounds Good on my Peavey 130 Special amp that I got in '78. Looking at them both now. Paid about $160 new.

HI RBaker 1701, As previously stated Yamaha made these guitars originally but were the subject of court action, they were later distributed by "Kaman" who owned "Ovation" Adamas and Hamer, along with some amp companies e.g. Trace Elliot from the U.K.

Fenderphil