Matsumoku

In 1951, Matsumoku was founded as Matsumoto Mokkō (Matsumoto Woodworking) by Tsukada Satomi in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It was originally a woodworking business that specialized in building cabinets for Singer who contracted Matsumoto Mokkō to build sewing machine cabinets in a joint venture with Nippon Steel.

Early Production Years, the 1960s

In 1960 a new 1.4 ha factory was constructed in Matsumoto City on a 4 ha site. In 1963, production of guitar bodies and necks began as OEM for the Fujigen company. This continued until 1967 when reciprocal parts exchange and joint manufacturing of some badge names began between Arai Trading (Aria) with Fujigen who had built a new factory in 1966 1 km from Matsumoto. Early Aria badged guitars are confirmed as of 1965 with Univox production as of 1966. In 1969 a new addition was built to the factory and the first confirmed Les Paul Custom copies were produced, ushering in the start of the so-called 'Copy Era' in Japanese guitar manufacturing.

Middle Production Years, the 1970s

In 1970 the factory officially began production of Epiphone guitars and in 1971 the name change to Matsumoku Kogyo Co. Ltd. was made, with Kogyo translating as Industrial. The first half of the 1970s was dominated by copy model production of mainly Gibson and Fender models, but also some Rickenbacker and Mosrite copies for a couple years. The number of contract badge names accelerated and then declined by the mid 1970s.

In 1975 the dominant brand name made by Matsumoku was Aria which underwent a name change and new marketing direction in 1976, newly branded as Aria Pro II. In 1977 the flagship electric guitar model of the new Aria Pro II line was introduced as the PE-1500, which was a joint venture Matsumoku assisted design. This was followed by the SB-1000 bass in 1978.

In 1975 Matsumoku acquired the Westone name and initially developed acoustic guitars followed by electrics using this name as an as in-house brand. Many contract badge names from the late 60s and the early 70s have left the market by the mid 1970s. By 1978 Univox production ended, Westbury had begun a couple years earlier in 1976, Vantage production began in 1979, and the first uncatalogued Westone electrics appear in 1979. The dominant brand in the late 1970s is Aria Pro II with dozens of models in production and a clear transition away from copy models being replaced by unique design models. Peak monthly production as of 1977 was approximately 10,000 guitars.