Lotus (guitar)
Encyclopedia
Lotus was a brand name of guitars used
from the late 1970s until the late 1990s. Lotus guitars were usually copies of other brand name guitars, such as the Gibson Les Paul
and the Fender Stratocaster
. The quality of the instruments was very good for the price (usually around US$400–$900).
The most common and lesser-quality Lotus guitars were usually manufactured by Samick
and others in Korea
and India
. The top of the line early 1980s models were made by both Cort Guitars
(neck-though models, early Korea) and Morris / Moridaira (neck-through models, set-neck Washburn
Eagle copies, and decent Les Paul copies, Japan).
Both the early Korean Cort and Japan
ese Morris-made Lotus guitars are of exceptional quality, like the Matsumoku
guitars of that era.
Lotus guitars are no longer in production. While the low-end guitars have rightfully only experienced a minimal gain in value, the high-end models usually range from $100–$300 and are becoming quite collectible.
Chauntelle DuPree
of the band Eisley
used a Lotus Stratocaster copy for many years on tour and to record. While the quality of this guitar would not typically be considered to be on a professional level, it did provide an inexpensive platform for experimentation and upgrade (with non-Lotus parts) which resulted in a unique sounding instrument.
The Morris-made Lotus guitars are almost always lost in the mix of their other guitars but are truly amazing players and usually are the hardest and rarest to find as Lotus/Morris only made them for a few years (2-3 at most). These guitars all are solid-bodied and have exceptional necks that were made in the same factory as Tokai
. There are only 3 models that known for sure that came from Lotus/Morris:
These three models are easily on par with Westbury and the upper class neck-through Vantage guitars (both made by Matsomuko).
Lotus started with the elite league of Japanese craftsmen and made wonderful guitars initially (Morris) but trying to keep up with the heavyweights such as Aria
and Fuji-Gen Gakki Ibanez
was difficult. Mis-management and especially the inability to market their initial superb quality guitars immediately had Lotus owners scrambling for cheaper labor, ending in India with poor quality and eventually no takers for their product as China
and Indonesia
guitar producers stepped up in quality for similar prices.
from the late 1970s until the late 1990s. Lotus guitars were usually copies of other brand name guitars, such as the Gibson Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
and the Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
. The quality of the instruments was very good for the price (usually around US$400–$900).
The most common and lesser-quality Lotus guitars were usually manufactured by Samick
Samick
Samick is the name of a Korea-based musical instrument manufacturer, one of the largest in the world.The name refers to the entire Samick Musical Instruments, which owns several manufacturers of pianos, guitars, and other instruments. The company started as 'Samick Pianos' in 1958, manufacturing...
and others in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The top of the line early 1980s models were made by both Cort Guitars
Cort Guitars
Cort Guitars is a guitar manufacturer centered in South Korea. The company is one of the largest guitar makers in the world, and produces instruments for many other companies.- History :...
(neck-though models, early Korea) and Morris / Moridaira (neck-through models, set-neck Washburn
Washburn
Washburn is an uncommon surname of English origins.The WashburnW166pro In Blue is considered the rarest colour!!...
Eagle copies, and decent Les Paul copies, Japan).
Both the early Korean Cort and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese Morris-made Lotus guitars are of exceptional quality, like the Matsumoku
Matsumoku
Matsumoku Industrial was established around 1900 as a woodworking manufacturer of various items but is best known as a manufacturer of high quality guitars and bass guitars.- History :...
guitars of that era.
Lotus guitars are no longer in production. While the low-end guitars have rightfully only experienced a minimal gain in value, the high-end models usually range from $100–$300 and are becoming quite collectible.
Chauntelle DuPree
Chauntelle DuPree
Chauntelle Annette DuPree is the lead guitarist for the band Eisley. She is the eldest of six children. Three of her siblings, Sherri, Stacy, and Weston are also members of Eisley, along with their cousin Garron DuPree. She started playing guitar when she was 16 and formed the band with her...
of the band Eisley
Eisley
Eisley is a rock band from Tyler, Texas, consisting of four siblings and their cousin , all of whom were born and live in Texas. Although the band's name translates to ice island in several Germanic languages, it was actually selected by the bandmates because of its link to the Star Wars saga...
used a Lotus Stratocaster copy for many years on tour and to record. While the quality of this guitar would not typically be considered to be on a professional level, it did provide an inexpensive platform for experimentation and upgrade (with non-Lotus parts) which resulted in a unique sounding instrument.
The Morris-made Lotus guitars are almost always lost in the mix of their other guitars but are truly amazing players and usually are the hardest and rarest to find as Lotus/Morris only made them for a few years (2-3 at most). These guitars all are solid-bodied and have exceptional necks that were made in the same factory as Tokai
Tokai Gakki
, often referred as Tokai Guitars Company Ltd., is a Japanese guitar manufacturer founded in 1947 and situated in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka prefecture. Tokai have produced acoustic guitars, electric guitars, electric basses, autoharps, and melodicas...
. There are only 3 models that known for sure that came from Lotus/Morris:
- The Lotus L670B (a direct copy of the 1980-1982/3 fender bullet MIA and MIJ, but not MIK) other than it has switches instead of buttons, a different headstock shape, a solid body and the same pickups. There were no letters on the headstock.
- The Lotus Vantage copy (Washburn Eagle, Aria (guitar company)Aria (guitar company)Aria is a Japanese manufacturer of acoustic and electric guitars and basses.- History :Aria was formed in Japan in 1953 by Shiro Arai as Arai and Company. They began retailing acoustic guitars in 1960, although the company didn't actually start manufacturing their own until 1964. Aria arranged for...
Cardinal or IbanezIbanezis a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
Artist) double cutaway (batwing) guitar with a solid body, 3 per side tuners on headstock, rosewood fingerboard with brass inlays, brass nut and neck-through (though there may have been a bolt-on model). This was usually in a emerald green, polished mahoghany or stained blue/white breadboard style and occasionally gloss white with 2 exposed humbucker pickups. - A more conventional Les Paul copy, usually only seen in gloss black or tobacco burst. These were neck through with hardware similar to their double-cutaway Vantage copy.
These three models are easily on par with Westbury and the upper class neck-through Vantage guitars (both made by Matsomuko).
Lotus started with the elite league of Japanese craftsmen and made wonderful guitars initially (Morris) but trying to keep up with the heavyweights such as Aria
Aria
An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
and Fuji-Gen Gakki Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
was difficult. Mis-management and especially the inability to market their initial superb quality guitars immediately had Lotus owners scrambling for cheaper labor, ending in India with poor quality and eventually no takers for their product as China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
guitar producers stepped up in quality for similar prices.