The Suzuki Legacy

Founded in 1887 by Masakichi Suzuki, the company began as a violin maker. By the mid-20th century, under the leadership of Masakichi’s descendants, Suzuki expanded into other fretted instruments, including mandolins, ukuleles, and eventually guitars. By the 1970s, as the demand for affordable yet high-quality acoustic guitars surged—especially from overseas markets—Suzuki ramped up production. Their factory was small by modern standards but employed skilled luthiers who were trained with both traditional Japanese woodworking techniques and Western guitar-making methods.

The Guitars: More Than Just Student Models

Although some Suzuki guitars were marketed as student or beginner instruments, particularly for export to the U.S. and Europe, many models from the 70s and 80s featured solid woods, hand-scalloped bracing, and meticulous detailing that rivaled much more expensive guitars. Certain models—especially those labeled Three S (SSS)—are now highly sought after on the vintage market.

They used some unique materials and styles such as:

• Spruce tops with rosewood or mahogany backs and sides
• Slot-head tuners on parlor-style models
• Folk and classical models that mirrored Martin and Gibson styles, but with Japanese styles
• Excellent intonation and neck stability, even after decades

These guitars were not just replicas—they had their own character. They offered a warm, articulate tone and were known for their easy playability and reliability.

Exporting to the West

During the 1970s and 80s, the West was experiencing a boom in affordable imports from Japan. Suzuki was among the many Japanese brands supplying guitars to U.S. catalog retailers like Sears and Montgomery Ward. Often sold under different labels (sometimes even rebranded), Suzuki-built guitars became a quiet staple in homes across North America and Europe.

While they didn’t enjoy the same name recognition as Takamine or Yamaha in the guitar world, Suzuki’s instruments were well-respected by players in the know. For many aspiring musicians, a Suzuki guitar was their first instrument—solid, affordable, and surprisingly rich in tone.

What Happened to the Factory?

By the late 1980s, market pressures and shifts in global manufacturing (especially the rise of Korean and later Chinese factories) caused many Japanese brands to scale back or relocate production. The Suzuki factory, focused once again on its core business of orchestral string instruments and music education, quietly stopped producing guitars.

Today, the Suzuki Violin Company still exists, but its focus has returned to violins and educational materials—especially under the famous Suzuki Method. The guitar factory may be a thing of the past, but its legacy lives on through the vintage instruments still in circulation.

A Hidden Treasure for Collectors

For collectors and players seeking something off the beaten path, vintage Suzuki guitars from the 70s and 80s offer excellent value. If you come across one at a pawn shop, estate sale, or online marketplace, give it a try. You might be surprised at how a modest-looking Suzuki from the 1970s can hold its own against much pricier contemporaries.

At Moku we’ve had the honor to receive a Grand Suzuki Super Sounds Japan Neck Through 1970’s in the shop! See the quality for yourself.

The post The Suzuki Guitar Factory: An Underrated Japanese Brand Whom Delivered One Of The Best Guitars In The World appeared first on Moku Custom Guitars.

Until recently, everything — sold and available vintage gear — was listed together in the same categories. This made it difficult to tell what was actually still for sale, and meant a lot of unnecessary scrolling and second-guessing.

We heard you — and we’ve made a change.

What’s New?

We’ve reorganized the site to make things much clearer and more user-friendly. Now, only currently available vintage gear is shown in our main categories. No more sifting through sold listings trying to figure out what’s still up for grabs.

The Moku Guitar Archive

That said, we know that vintage lovers don’t just care about what’s for sale right now — you also want to learn, compare, and get inspired. That’s why we’ve created the Guitar Archive.

The Moku Guitar Archive is a curated collection of previously sold vintage instruments — a place to:

• Explore the history of what’s passed through our hands
• Study specs, finishes, and details on rare and unique models
• Use as a reference point for your own dream gear or future searches

It’s our way of preserving and sharing knowledge about vintage instruments — because we believe that information about these timeless pieces should always be available, even after they’ve found a new home.

Why It Matters

This change allows us to showcase what’s truly available today, while still offering a rich historical resource for vintage enthusiasts, collectors, and players alike.

Explore the collection

Check out the Guitar Archive to dive into the history — or browse our Current Guitars For Sale to see what vintage gear is ready to ship today.

Thanks for growing with us, and for being part of the Moku Custom Guitars community.

— Team Moku

The post The Moku Guitar Archive appeared first on Moku Custom Guitars.

Let’s crack open the cases and explore how these two models shaped the modern player’s toolkit — and why they’re still relevant today.

The RG Series: Where Shred Meets Precision

The Ibanez RG made its official debut in 1987, building upon the earlier Roadstar II series (1983–1986). The RG stood for “Roadstar Guitar,” but quickly took on its own identity — leaner, sharper, and unmistakably faster.

With its Super Wizard neck, 24 jumbo frets, and pointy double-cut body, the RG became the archetype for a modern metal guitar. The RG550, in particular, became a favorite among shredders thanks to its high-output pickups and floating Edge tremolo system — a Floyd Rose-inspired bridge designed in-house by Ibanez.

It wasn’t long before players like Paul Gilbert and Steve Vai were synonymous with the Ibanez sound, pushing these guitars into new territories of speed and complexity.

The EX Series: The Quiet Innovator

Enter the Ibanez EX series — launched in the early 1990s, during the golden era of budget-friendly, performance-oriented guitars. “EX” stood for EXperimental, although some argue it referred to Export — since these models were often manufactured in Korea by Cort for international markets.

While the EX never received the same marketing push as the RG, it shared several core elements:

• Slim bolt-on necks
• Basswood (USA) or alder bodies
• HSS or HSH pickup configurations
• Tremolo-equipped and hardtail variants

Where the EX stood out was accessibility. It gave younger or budget-conscious players a chance to experience that “Ibanez feel” without the flagship price. And surprisingly, some models (like the EX370) came with features you’d expect from higher-end instruments — including triple-pickup layouts and sculpted heel joints.

Though discontinued in the late ’90s, the EX remains a favorite among modders and collectors looking for quality builds at reasonable prices.

Design Evolution: A Forward-Thinking Approach

What unites the RG and EX series isn’t just shared parts or styling — They leaned into super-thin necks, deep cutaways, lightweight bodies, and ultra-modern aesthetics. This helped them resonate with a new generation of guitarists raised on metal, prog, and fusion — and who expected their gear to keep up.

As guitar historian Tony Bacon notes in Electric Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia, Ibanez “had become one of the few companies truly innovating in electric guitar design during the 1980s and 1990s”.

Still Rocking — and Still Available

Whether you’re chasing the classic Ibanez speed-neck feel or looking for a solid mod platform, both the RG and EX models continue to deliver. And if you’re looking to get hands-on with this history, I’ve got one Ibanez RG and one EX model currently available in my shop. They’re cleaned, set up, and ready to scream.

Browse the RG & EX models now

Sources

1. Ibanez Wiki – RG Series History: https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/RG_series
2. Ibanez RG550 Review and Specs: Guitar World Archives (1987–1990)
3. Cort Manufacturing and Korean Production History: https://cortguitars.com/about/
4. Ibanez EX Series Overview (GuitarSite.com Archive)
5. Bacon, Tony. Electric Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia. Backbeat Books, 2000.

Final Chord

In a world of reissues and boutique builds, the Ibanez RG and EX remain timeless reminders of what happens when design meets demand. Whether you’re chasing vintage tone, hot-rodded performance, or just a slice of guitar history — these axes are ready for battle.

Got questions about the models in stock? Contact me! — I’m always happy to talk gear.

The post Shredding Through Time: The Unique History of the Ibanez RG & EX Series appeared first on Moku Custom Guitars.

The post Moku Merchandise Finally Lifted Off! appeared first on Moku Custom Guitars.

The post We’ve Made Finding Products Easier appeared first on Moku Custom Guitars.

The post Why Choose for Vintage (Guitar) Pedals? appeared first on Moku Custom Guitars.

The post Inside the Moku Rebrand: What’s New and What’s Next appeared first on Moku Custom Guitars.

The post A Guide to Guitar Machine Heads: Types, Functions, and Performance Factors appeared first on Moku Custom Guitars.

The post August Promotion – 10% Off All Pickguards – Use promo code PICKG10% appeared first on Moku Custom Guitars.

The post Delayed orders without track and trace within The Netherlands due to PostNL appeared first on Moku Custom Guitars.