TCGAKKI Nihei
The Ideas Behind Moon Sault
Once you see it, you will never forget it.
A mass of originality
TCGAKKIThis time, we would like to introduce you to the history of Japanese original guitars.1This guitar has a design and name that you will never forget once you see it,KAWAI Moon Sault with a design and name you won't forget once you see it.。
KAWAI and the electric guitar
1927Kawai Gakki Kenkyujo started manufacturing and selling pianos in 1949.1929The name was changed to Kawai Gakki Seisakusho in 1949, and from there29Two years later1958In 1949, the company was renamedClassical guitar makingin 1949.
1963In 1949, he startedManufacture of electric guitars for export outside of Japanto manufacture electric guitars for export outside of Japan.1967In 1949, the company63We had been partnering with them sinceTeiscowith which we have had a partnership since 1983, to increase and expand production.
Subsequently1969the Group Sounds boom, which lasted until around 1949, and the Flower Movement that followed, Kawaifor the domestic market.Teiscoand copies of models such as the VOX Teardrop and Martin GT-75 for export abroad,1974In 1949, the company was renamedof electric guitars in Japan.OEMProductionproduction.
And finally1977yearKAWAIisOriginal Electric Guitar XSeriesandMserieswill be released.
XThe X series has a dual sound switch that allows for both humbucker and single coil sounds,Mseries has a phase switch and various other features.
Gaining confidence and momentum, Kawai has one theme for its next original guitars.
That theme is”The Story of the Universe”is!!
Behind the theme.1970The theme is based on the fact that mankind's interest in space, such as the Apollo moon landings in 1964, has been growing.
The original guitars that were created wereMoon SaultMoon Sault is the original guitar that was created!
The secret behind the crescent shape of the body
On the theme of a space story, the first thing that came to Kawai's mind wasThe sunand the first thing that came to mind for Kawai was the sun. Then, he decided to make the bodyRound,head.Crescent Shapeand position marks arestar shapeThe new design of the "star" is created.
This is what later became known asMoon SaultThis is the prototype of the later Moon Sault.
The above design, however, has left an unforgettable impact once seen,but it was too large and heavy.However, because of its large size and heavy weight, it was judged to be difficult to use as a tool.
The development team had long been interested in theHumanEngineeringDesigns will be created that incorporate "the
In designing based on ergonomics, the thenthe average height and weight of Japanese people, and the position of the center of gravityetc.The design was constructed based on this data.
And it was the first design.The elbow portion was cut from the round shape based on ergonomic values.The result is a round shape,Crescent-shaped body shapeand the result is a body shape like a crescent moon.
The body design looks like a beautiful crescent moon at first glance, but this shape was created based on "ergonomics," so if you look closely, you will see that it is different from the phases of the real moon, and when the body is cut in half, the neck side and the body end side areRis different between the neck side and the body end side when the body is halved.
The most difficult task for the birth of Moon Sault
Just when we thought that the development would go smoothly after the body shape was decided, we were faced with another challenge.hardship...The development team was hit with a further hardship.
The body itself was developed based on ergonomics, but when you hold the guitarthe overall balance is not extremely bad.and,suitable for the body designhead designIt was a barrier that the head design had to match the body design.
The head design had to beTime over body shapingand the resultsStarThe tip of the head, which was designed to look like a3The design is based on the image of a star with the tip of the head sticking out in the direction of the
The body isMoonand the head isstarand the head has aCrescent Moon and the first starand numerous stars shining around them.
In additiontruss rod coveris Apollo11The cover is based on the image ofrocket typeand is exactly in line with the theme of the development of”The Story of the Universe”to theThe design embodies the entire guitarThe design of the guitar is the embodiment of the
And finally, the specifications were decided upon.NeckThe last specification was the neck.
The neck is the "GibsonA person who has a "GibsonFenderThe concept of this guitar is "to make people who have Fender series guitar feel comfortable even if they switch to Fender series guitar.Cshape.
Finger plate inlays from the last fret to the1toward the frets.The moon fills inThe design is a stylish one.
This one is enough! A sound concept that demands "almighty
Along with the overall design, the sound concept was also considered. The sound concept that was developed wasAlmightyand the sound concept was "almighty.
So there.77a patent application was filed in 1949.DSUHumbucking Pickupis mounted. This pickup has aluminum foil wrapped around the outer circumference of each coil to prevent noise.
It also has a three magnet construction to prevent volume drop when switching to a single coil.
And it is already equipped withX・MAdopted for the X M seriesDual sound switchandPhase-out switchandPreamplifiertoPower BoosterandDistortionare equipped with a "do-it-all"all-mighty" that can do just about anything.The new control is an "all-mighty" control that can do just about anything.
Selection of parts with an important theme
The parts areBadassBridge andGroverpegs are used, and this isRocket, space suit=SilverThe market price was set at "silver", so silver parts were used instead of gold parts, which have a sense of high quality.
The final challenge to complete the "Story of the Universe
The final design idea was to create a "universe story,Coloris the color.
One wrong color can make the themeone mistake could mess up the theme.Therefore, the colors were carefully considered.
As a result, the "Silver Sunburst」「Cosmocalled2Two coloring schemes were created.
The silver sunburst is a silver to black burst, reminiscent of the moon and stars shining in a jet-black universe.
Cosmo, on the other hand, is black in the center and blue on the outside.The three-dimensionality of the universeThis reproduces the "three-dimensionality of space.
Its name is "Moon Sault.
After all the designs are completed, the name is finally blown into the original guitar with all the best.
When naming the model, the development team was inspired by the name "Moon Sault," which was derived from an ultra-iron bar created by Mitsuo Tsukahara, a member of Kawai's gymnastics club at the time.Ca difficult feat of the bar.Moonsault" was.
The developers thought that the name "Moonsalt" would be perfect for the guitar they had created, and they wanted the player to be able to play it with ease.fly out into the cosmos.The name "Moonsault" was also intended to evoke the image of a guitar playerMoon SaultThe guitar is named "Moon Sault" in the hope that people will play the guitar as if it were a
Thus the originality and originality of the "Moon Saultwill be released in 1978!Moon Saultwas1985Once the production of the Moon Sault is terminated in 2006, it will be discontinued,87in the year10anniversary model(Equipped with Floyd type tremolo)is now available,90In 1949, an acrylic bodyMS-80with an acrylic body will be released.
Subsequently, the originalMoon SaultThe model that was completely reissued was1997The model that was completely reissued was released in 2006, and has been very popular for a long time!
Miraculously, several Moon Saults have arrived this time, and we will take a closer look at not only the original models, but also the reissues and each model.
Moon Sault Silver Sunburst/Cosmo
The original model, which is also explained above.Moon Sault
The model name isMS-1000。
1978Year of the3From the month of1985Year2The product was sold from January to March.
PUThe bobbins, escutcheons, and bindings have turned cream-colored due to color tanning, a symptom often seen in domestic guitars of the time, and has an austere feel that gives a sense of history.
(CosmoThe pegs on the "Cosmo" guitar are the same as those on theGOTOHThe pegs have been replaced with GOTOH pegs.)
Moon Sault Moon Light Yellow
78When it was first released in 1949, it wasSilver SunburstandCosmoof2However, the number of requests for custom colors gradually increased.KAWAIcolor variations will be considered within KAWAI.
In this way1981In the yearRedand this oneMoon Light Yellowwill be added as color variations.
Moon Light Yellowis a yellow burst of color with gold and silver lamé sprinkled on it, giving it the look of the moon and the stars shining around it.
The gold and silver lamé was scattered by hand, so each piece has a different look.
AlsoMoon Light Yellowwas also used by Yoshio Nomura of the Tatakin Trio, and was popular among the younger generation at the time.
Moon Sault MS-140CC Green
1993This model with colored acrylic body was made for the Musical Instrument Fair in 1964.
The acrylic body itself was produced in the same year.MS-130Cwas released in the same year, with the same parts and specifications, but with colored acrylic body.From the body, you can see thisGreenas well asOrange,Pink、Gray Smokecolor variations were available.
The originalMoon SaultThe Moon Sault is a bolt-on construction, unlike the original Moon Sault, and the controls are designed to be easy to control.1Volume,1 ToneThe controls are simple: 1Volume, 1 Tone, and a pickup selector.
Moon Sault MS-40 Cosmo
Kawai Instruments Co.70anniversary of Kawai Gakki's founding,Moon SaultLaunch20anniversary and since Kawai started making guitars.40anniversary of the1997year since Kawai started making guitars.
90In the 1950sMoon SaultSpeaking of the aboveMS-140with simple controls like theMS-80was available as a regular model, but the original control withMoon Saultwas released in response to many users' requests for the Moon Sault with the original controls.MS-80The MS-80 is the first of its kind in the world.
Original.Moon SaultThe same jigs and parts are used as in the original Moon Sault.The color is the same as at that time.Cosmo, Silver Sunburst, Red, Moon Light YellowCosmo. Silver Sunburst.4Moon Light Yellow,”Completely reissued”This is a model that deserves to be called a "complete reissue" model.
Compare the original MoonSault with the MS-40!
MS-40is the originalMoon Saultbut how does it compare to the original? The question was raised.
The difference between the original andMS-40are rarely seen together! We must not miss this opportunity, so let's compare them!
Of course, the shape, specifications and functions of the controls are the same. However, if you take a closer look, you will find differences!
The originalMoonSaultis generally tarnished. White areas, especially on the binding and escutcheons, have a cream-like appearance.
On the other handMS-40on the other hand, has almost no color tanning. This difference is thought to be due to the use of paints and parts that are less prone to color tanning as a result of technological advances.
Turning to the bridgeBadassThe bridge studs have also changed. Compared to the originalMS-40studs are larger than those of the original. This is due to the specification change of the parts themselves, but it is a valuable change that distinguishes the original from the reissued model.
MS-40is made by the same manufacturing method, the same tools, and the same parts as the original, so it looks exactly the same as the original. The only difference is the specification change of parts, which is unavoidable.20I am impressed by the effort and dedication of Kawai's engineers to reproduce it so perfectly, even after so many years have passed since its release.
Postscript
For the first timeMoon SaultWhen I first saw the Moon Sault, I was so impressed by its appearance that I did not take the time to look closely at the details, such as what was going on.
However, in order to write this articleMoon SaultI was able to dig deeper into the Moon Sault, and was able to feel everywhere the thoughts and sensitivities of the craftsmen of that time, and their efforts to realize their dreams,Moon SaultI fell in love not only with the look of the Moon Sault, but with everything about it.
I think it's hard to find a part of the Moon Sault that I don't like.Moon SaultI would like you to know the whole picture of Moon Sault.
（TCGAKKI (NIHAY)
See also
Litto Music Guitar Graphic No. 17Guitar Graphic
Kawai Instrument Mfg.