Mountain Guitars....

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Comment by Ray Bramlette on April 7, 2013 at 4:49pm

I have a Mountain M-34 guitar for sale which looks like a Martin 00-28 for sale in EBay (WONDERFUL VINTAGE 1928 MARTIN 00-28 STEEL STRING BRAZILIAN PHENOMENAL TONE EX http://r.ebay.com/HTmNpV).  This M34 I own, more than any other Mountain and especially the CF Mountains Guitars, fuels the rumor that Martin's parts and construction methods were used to the extent that it looks almost exactly like the 00-28.  I posted a comment in the ongoing blog about vintage Mountain Guitars drawing attention to the astonishing identical details shared by the two guitars.  If you look at the photos of the Martin, you'll see that the bridgework is exactly the same, the 2-piece back; even the inlays in the fret board are the same.  There is a little knobby that sticks out where the neck meets the head stay, probably for support, but it is exactly the same too.  The only thing that is different is the head stay!

I can send photos.

Ray Bramlette

Arby19@hotmail.com

Comment by Paul Stringer on January 28, 2013 at 12:28pm

No, I have not sold mine yet. You can contact me at 972-257-1100 if you are interested.

Comment by Ian Fiddleweed on January 27, 2013 at 11:23am

Mr. Stringer, did you sell your Mountain W-150?  My apologies, I've been out of reach for quite some time. 

Comment by Balfour Tremblett on January 26, 2013 at 3:18pm

My Mountain guitar has the paper label inside the guitar. It is a model K190J made in Japan. The nut, bridge, strap peg, and string pegs are all solid brass. I don't know if they were all made this way???? I purchased it new in the early 1970's. This is just something you may want to look for when you purchase.

Comment by Paul Stringer on April 18, 2012 at 7:39am

I have a Mountain Guitar Model W-150 made in Japan for sale. Good condition and plays well. Pictures available. Let me know.

Comment by Ian Fiddleweed on April 22, 2010 at 1:38pm

I'll add that name to my search list, and you will be the first to know if I spot one.

Comment by Devallon "Dee" Tatum on April 22, 2010 at 12:32pm

Ian, you are very welcome. As you search, keep your eyes peeled for another Martin copy under the brand of T. Haruo. I am looking desperately for a T. Haruo myself. Should you come across one - keep me in mind. Next time I get to Iowa City, I'll take you up on that beer.

Comment by Ian Fiddleweed on April 22, 2010 at 11:17am

Again, Thanks! This is all making sense. The mountain that I am referencing belongs to a good friend/neighbor in LA named Chris Campbell, who grew up in San Diego and has been playing since childhood and is classically trained. He won't trade or sell that mountain for anything, and he's played a great number of guitars as you can imagine. The blogs about these mountains seem to come from real players- low level pro's or one time pro musicians who could have been in line for such a promo guitar. Chris had a close friend who was running a music store in San Diego in the late eighties who all but insisted he buy this guitar, and while there are no markings on it anywhere, he remembers being told that it was made in Japan. Of course my thoughts are that if there are other's out there that are not being cared for, I want to snatch them up. I owe you a beer Mr Tatum. Let me know if you ever get to Iowa City!

Comment by Devallon "Dee" Tatum on April 22, 2010 at 11:02am

Hello Ian. Glad to have shared that with you. I lived and worked out of Dallas Texas when I was repping for Samick. Today, I live in Illinois and I am the International Sales Manager for Washburn Guitars. In spite of being in this business since 1982, I can't say I know who this "Hiashi" character is that you refer to. Let's talk about your Japanese Mountain. Ian - I am not reading this to you from a factual accounting of the history of Mountain. This is speculation only, based on my relationship with Jim Peterson, and general practices of that era. Mountain was a price point acoustic line, hence the production in Korea. General quality was acceptable - a value for the price - but usually not superb instruments. It was very common for an importer of a Korean line to slip over to Japan, where the very nice Martin copies were being produced, and order a few, maybe 100 pcs for example - under the Mountain brand - and import them with the intention of scattering them across his Mountain dealer networks to raise the perceived image of the brand as a whole OR perhaps to gain the support of a few artist endorsers by handing them an instrument that they truly were comfortable playing on stage. This was an effective practice, and there were only 2 or 3 factories making the Martin copies in Japan during that period, and they were all good. They were pricey, and difficult to sell - because they costed almost as much as a Martin - but the practice was effective in selling the lower cost Korean Mountains in greater quantities. On of those Japanese models seems to be what you have, or had, or are simply trying to find. Again - comb San Diego. Take care.

Comment by Ian Fiddleweed on April 22, 2010 at 10:45am

Wow! That is a tremendous help! Did you live in Korea when working for Samick? Is this Hiashi character a myth? Will take this info and dig in- I'm in LA right now anyway (I split my time between here and Iowa City) so a drive down may be in order. Out of curiosity, what did you think of these copies? Did you have the same response to them as so many others seem to have had, including myself? And lastly, how did you stumble upon this blog of mine? I'm new to this and am probably not using the site to it's fullest. Many many thanks Mr. Tatum. Huge piece of the puzzle.

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