TCGAKKI Nihei
The Sentiments Behind Kawai's MoonSault
Once you see it, you’ll never forget it
The Kawai MoonSault: A "Concentrated Essence of Originality"
TCGAKKI This is Nihei. In this post, I’d like to explore the appeal of theKAWAI MoonSault —a guitar with a design and name so unforgettable that it stands out even in the history of Japanese original guitars.
KAWAI and Electric Guitars
Kawai Musical Instrument Research Institute, which began manufacturing and selling pianos in 1927, changed its name to Kawai Musical Instrument Manufacturing in 1929. Twenty-nine yearslater, in 1958, the company began producing classical guitars.
In1963, the company ventured into the manufacture of electric guitars for export. In 1967, it absorbed Teisco, with whom it had been partneringsince 1963, aiming to increase and expand production.
Following the Group Sounds boom, which lasted until around 1969, and the subsequent Flower Power movement, Kawai manufactured Teisco models for the domestic market and copy models such as the VOX Teardrop and Martin GT-75 for export. In1974, the company began OEM production of electric guitarsfor the domestic market.
Finally, in 1977, Kawai launched its original electric guitar lines: the XSeries and the MSeries.
The X Series featured a dual-sound switch that allowed players to produce both humbucker and single-coil sounds, while the M Series included a phase switch and other unique features.
Bolstered by confidence and momentum, Kawai adopted a single theme for its next original guitar.
That theme was “The Story of Space ” !!
The background to this theme was the growing human fascination with space, fueled by events such as the Apollo moon landing in 1970.
And the original guitar born from this is none other than the Moon Sault!!
The secret hidden within the crescent-shaped body
When considering the theme of “The Story of the Universe,” the first thing that came to Kawai’s mind was the sun. This led to the creation of a groundbreaking design featuring a round body , a crescent-shaped headstock, and star-shaped position marks.
This became the prototype for the later Moon Sault.
However, while the design described above made a lasting impression—one that was impossible to forget once seen— it was deemed too large and heavy to be practical as a musical instrument, leading the team to explore numerous other designs.
Among these, a design incorporating " ergonomics "—a field the development team had long been interested in—was eventually created.
In designing based on ergonomics, they thoroughly researched theaverage height, weight,and centerof gravity of Japanese people at the time, and constructed the design based on that data.
Starting from the initial round design, the area where the elbow rests was cut away based on ergonomic measurements, resulting in a crescent-shaped body.
At first glance, the body design appears to be a beautiful crescent moon, but since this shape was created strictly based on "ergonomics," a closer look reveals that—unlike the phases of the actual moon— the radius (R) differs between the neck side and the body end when the body is divided in half.
The Greatest Challenge in Creating the Moon Sault
Just as the body shape was finalized and we thought development would proceed smoothly, the development team faced yet another challenge.
The challenge was that while the body itself was developed based on ergonomics, we had to create a headstock design that not only prevented the overall balance from becoming extremely poor when holding the guitar but also complemented the body design.
We spent even more time on the headstock design than on the body shape, resulting in a design where the tip of the star-inspired headstock protrudes in three directions.
The body represents the moon, the head represents a star, and the head features inlays depicting a crescent moon, the brightest star, and numerous stars shining around it.
Furthermore, the truss rod cover is shaped like a rocket inspired by Apollo 11, creating a designthat truly embodiesthe development themeof “ATale of theUniverse”throughout the entire guitar.
Finally, the specifications for the neck were finalized.
The neck was designed with the concept of “ensuring that players accustomed to Gibson-style guitars would feel no discomfort when switching to a Fender-style model,” resulting in a C-shape with just the right thickness and width.
The fingerboard inlays feature a stylish design where the moon appears to wax from the 12th fret toward the 1st fret.
One guitar is all you need! A sound concept designed for "versatility."
The sound concept was developed in parallel with the overall design. The resulting sound concept was “ All-Mighty.”
To achieve this, it features the DSU humbucking pickup, for which a patent was filed in 1977. This pickup incorporates aluminum foil wrapped around the outer circumference of each coil to reduce noise.
It also features a three-magnet structure to prevent a drop in volume when switching to single-coil mode.
Furthermore, the DualSoundSwitch and Phase-Out Switch —already featured in the X and M series —were incorporated, along with a power boosterand distortionin the preamp, resulting in truly “all-purpose” controls capable of handling anything.
Parts Selection Focused on the Theme
The parts include a Badass bridge and Grover tuners, and since the theme ofrockets andspacesuits dictated asilver color scheme, silver parts were chosen instead of the more luxurious gold options.
The Final Challenge in Completing the “Space Story”
The final element considered in the design was the color.
Since even a single misstep with color could ruin the theme, it was chosen with great care.
As a result, two color schemes were created: “ Silver Sunburst ” and “ Cosmo.”
The Silver Sunburst features a burst pattern that transitions from silver to black, evoking the image of the moon and stars shining against the pitch-black cosmos.
Cosmo, on the other hand, features a black center with a blue burst radiating outward, recreating the “three-dimensionality of space” where light takes longer to reach us the farther away we are.
Its name is "Moon Sault"
After all the designs were finalized, it was finally time to breathe life into this original guitar by giving it a name.
When naming the model, the development team was reminded of the " Moon Sault," an ultra-difficult move on the horizontal bar devised by Mitsuo Tsukahara, who was a member of the Kawai gymnastics club at the time.
The development team felt that the name “Moon Sault” was a perfect fit for the guitar they had created, and they named it “Moon Sault ” with the hope that players would feel as though they were soaring into space while playing it.
Thus, the highly original and unique “Moon Sault ” was released in 1978! Production of the Moon Sault was discontinued once in 1985, but a 10th-anniversary model( equipped with a Floyd Rose-style tremolo ) was released in 1987, followed by the MS-80 with an acrylic bodyin 1990.
Since then, many users have continued to request a reissue of the original Moon Sault, and a fully reissued model was released in 1997, demonstrating its enduring popularity over the years!
[Hands-On Review] Comparing All Generations of Kawai Moon Sault Models
Moon Sault Silver Sunburst/Cosmo
The original Moon Sault, as explained above
Model name: MS-1000 .
It was sold from March 1978to February1985.
The fact that the pickup bobbins, escutcheons, and binding have discolored to a cream color due to sun exposure is a common feature seen in Japanese guitars of that era, giving it a vintage charm that evokes a sense of history.
(On this Cosmo model, the tuners have been replaced with GOTOH ones. )
Moon Sault Moon Light Yellow
When it was first released in 1978, it was available in two colors: Silver SunburstandCosmo. However, as requests for custom colors gradually increased, Kawai began exploring additional color variations.
Consequently, in 1981, Red and this Moon Light Yellow were added to the color lineup.
Moon Light Yellow features a yellow burst finish sprinkled with gold and silver glitter, giving it the appearance of the moon surrounded by shining stars.
Since the gold and silver glitter was applied by hand, each instrument has a unique appearance.
Additionally, Moon Light Yellow was popular among young people at the time, partly because Yoshio Nomura of the Tanokin Trio used it.
Moon Sault MS-140CC Green
A model with a colored acrylic body created for the 1993 Instrument Fair.
The MS-130C, featuring an acrylic body, was released in the same year; this model retains the same parts and specifications but features a colored acrylic body.In addition tothis Green version, the body was available in Orange, Pink, and Gray Smoke color variations.
Unlike the original Moon Sault, this model features a bolt-on neck and a simple control layout consisting of one volume knob, one tone knob, and a pickup selector switch.
Moon Sault MS-40 Cosmo
This model debuted in 1997, marking the 70th anniversary of Kawai Musical Instruments, the 20th anniversary of theMoon Sault, and the 40th anniversary of Kawai’s entry into guitar manufacturing.
When it came to Moon Sault models in the 1990s, the MS-80—which featured simple controls like the MS-140 mentioned above —was sold as the standard model. However, many users eagerly desired a Moon Sault with the original control layout, and this MS-80 was released in response to those requests.
It is crafted using the same jigs as the original Moon Sault and features the same parts.Thecoloroptions — Cosmo, Silver Sunburst, Red, and Moon Light Yellow—are the same asthose from the era,making this a model truly worthy of being called a “complete reissue .”
Let’s compare the original Moon Sault and the MS-40!
The MS-40 is a complete reissue of the original Moon Sault, but you might be wondering, “How do they actually compare?”
It’s rare to see the original and the MS-40 side by side! We couldn’t pass up this opportunity, so let’s take a closer look!
Of course, the shape, control specifications, and functions are identical. But if you look closely, you can spot some differences!
As expected, the original MoonSault shows overall discoloration. In particular, the white parts—like the bindings and escutcheons—have taken on a creamy hue.
On the other hand, the MS-40 shows almost no fading. This difference is likely due to the use of paint and parts that are less prone to fading, thanks to technological advancements.
Looking at the bridge, I also noticed a change in the studs on the Badass bridge. The studs on the MS-40 are larger than those on the original. While this is due to a change in the part specifications, it’s a valuable detail that helps distinguish the original from the reissue model.
As the MS-40 is crafted using the same manufacturing methods, tools, and parts as the original, its appearance is virtually identical. The differences are limited to unavoidable changes in part specifications, and despite 20 years having passed since its release, I am deeply impressed by the dedication and commitment of Kawai’s engineers in achieving such a complete reproduction.
Afterword
When I first saw the Moon Sault, its visual impact was so strong that, to be honest, I didn’t take the time to closely examine the finer details of its construction.
However, while researching deeply for this article, I could sense the craftsmen’s passion, sensibility, and the efforts they made to realize their dreams in every detail. As a result, I’ve come to love not just the Moon Sault’s appearance, but everything about it.
I’d like everyone to experience the full scope of Moon Sault —a guitar so meticulously crafted that it’s almost impossible to find a single detail that wasn’t given careful attention.
(TCGAKKI Nihei)
References
Rittor Music Guitar Graphic Issue 7
Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Website
Author: Nihei (TCGAKKI, Electric Guitar Specialist)
He was introduced to the guitar through the manga "BECK" in junior high school and, influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana, discovered rock music.
Graduated from a vocational school specializing in guitar making. Worked as a staff member at TCGAKKI Acoustic Floor and TCGAKKI Premium Guitar Lounge. Currently, as the electric guitar specialist, he actively spreads his love for the instrument through writing columns and appearing on YouTube.
A Few Words: When I first saw Moon Sault, the visual impact was so strong that, to be honest, I didn’t really take the time to look closely at the details—like how the parts were put together.
However, while researching Moon Sault for this article, I delved deeper and could sense the craftsmen’s passion, sensibility, and the efforts they made to realize their dreams in every detail. As a result, I’ve come to love not just Moon Sault’s appearance, but everything about it.
It’s so meticulously crafted that I think it would be harder to find a single aspect where they didn’t pay close attention to detail—I really want everyone to experience the full scope of Moon Sault.
Qualifications & Experience: 8 years as a musical instrument appraiser
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