“It could have stood shoulder to shoulder with the late ’60s greats”: why this Japanese classic is now a vintage-market favorite

Guitar manufacturers have long understood the power of attaching an artist’s name to an instrument. Iconic examples such as Les Paul, along with signature guitars bearing the names of Chet Atkins and Nick Lucas — often cited as the first guitarist to receive a signature model — helped shape the modern guitar market.

As the electric guitar boom took off during the 1960s, that tradition continued. Gibson introduced the Trini Lopez semi-hollow, while Mosrite partnered with The Ventures to create a full line of artist-endorsed guitars.

Across the Pacific in Japan, a surf band known as Sharp Five was given its own signature instrument by Guyatone: the LG 350-T Sharp 5 (with the numeral intentionally replacing the word). The band’s standout guitarist, Nobuhiro Mine, played a key role in the guitar’s design at just 20 years old. He would later go on to help develop numerous iconic instruments and remains an active performer today.

With the Sharp 5, Nobuhiro Mine emerged as a pioneer of Japanese surf rock. Unfortunately, neither the band nor their namesake guitar gained real traction in the U.S. market — an outcome that feels undeserved. Both the group and the instrument were innovative, distinctive, and well crafted.

 

Produced at Guyatone’s Kawai factory, the 1968 LG 350-T featured here is an outstanding example. Its dramatically offset cutaways and wildly unconventional headstock immediately draw attention, but they are tastefully balanced by a striking blue pickguard set against a deep blue sparkle body. The sculpted top, carved in an almost German-inspired style, was highly unusual at the time, appearing on very few guitars outside select Rickenbacker models and some Mosrites.

Beyond its bold appearance lies a remarkably well-built instrument that could easily have competed with late-’60s classics — and today remains a standout on the vintage market. The guitar features an ultra-slim neck reminiscent of Mosrite designs, with 22 low-profile frets on a rosewood fingerboard bound in cream. Like Mosrite, it uses a metal nut and zero fret, but avoids the often-problematic volute. The result is a guitar that feels fast, smooth, and effortless to play.

Its pair of single-coil pickups visually and sonically recall Stratocaster-style designs, particularly the Fender Jaguar, though with slightly higher output and more low-end presence. Controls consist of master volume and tone knobs, along with a three-way selector switch. The guitar excels at cutting funk rhythms and classic surf lead tones, with the middle position wired out of phase for a notably rich and distinctive sound.

With added distortion, the guitar truly shines, delivering plenty of harmonic bite without becoming overly microphonic. While some later production years reportedly featured noisier pickups, early examples like this one remain impressively quiet. The tremolo system operates smoothly and musically, closer to a Bigsby feel than anything designed for extreme dive bombing.

Measuring 24 inches from nut to saddle, the Sharp 5 sits at the longer end of the three-quarter-scale spectrum. The frets are slightly closer together, though this is barely noticeable in practice. The only real drawback is the neck angle: the headstock extends almost straight from the neck with minimal downward pitch. Three dual string trees help compensate, but the feel can verge slightly toward a banjo-like response. Even so, this minor flaw does little to diminish what is otherwise a fantastic instrument.

Originally priced at around $95 in 1968, a Sharp 5 in good condition now commands between $1,000 and $2,000 on the vintage market. in 2025 for $1,300 — considering its age, condition, and the presence of the original Sharp 5 decal, which later versions lacked. For players and collectors seeking a distinctive vintage electric guitar that looks great, sounds inspiring, feels light and playable, and remains relatively affordable, this model comes highly recommended.