Kawai Moonsault Guitar (circa 1980s)
One of the most unconventional and impractical body shapes from the electric guitar world, this Kawai Moonsault was a big hit in Japan. Really. The initial production was 1982 and the build quality was superb as Japanese guitar manufacturing had hit its stride in the early 1980’s, many producing better quality guitar than those in USA. It was available in two models, both with master volume and two tone controls. The tone pots were push/pull for coil splitting, and the other model (pictured below) had additional switches for phase switching and active electronics. I am not sure of the date of this guitar as they continued production into the 1990’s, but very few made their way to North America.
It is a surprisingly lightweight guitar (good, because you’ll have to be standing to play it) that has a fabulous neck profile and Mother of Pearl binding on the headstock for an exotic look. They even had the different phases of the moon depicted in the fretboard inlays. The huge array of tonal options are a highlight to this monster of a guitar, as you can move from single coils to humbuckers with alternate phase for each pickup configuration, then add a 9v battery active boost to all those and you’ve got one versatile player. But remember to stay on your feet!
There is a plexiglass version of this on ebay.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kawai-Crystal-MoonSault-Guitar-Plexi-see-through-extremely-rare-Ltd-Edition-/150973820885?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2326bdafd5
Great collection! You’re one of the only other people I’ve come across that has a Kawaii Moonsault. I find mine is comfortable to play and balances well on the strap, even with the odd body shape.
http://mycoolguitars.com/my-collection/kawai-moonsault-mly-140/
Its great playing it on stage – I get a crowd asking questions after every set!
Are you selling this by any chance? If not do you know where I could buy one? I am I’m love haha
I picked up one of these new old stock in England back in 1996 for $300 and put it on Ebay, some guy in Atlanta GA won the auction I think $1,200 if memory serves correctly. The guitar was mint but had a feint surface scratch on the front and the active electrics did not work. Identical color to this blue one pictured. Great playing and sounding guitar, and another I wish had kept.
Hola, tengo una guitarra Kawai Moonsault color gris con negro, yo estoy en el fin del mundo!! Argentina!! Es una guitarra hermosa!! La cuido mucho!! La tengo desde los años 90, cuál sería un precio razonable para venderla?? Y si hay algún interesado, me puede contactar!!! Gracias totales!!