My mom bought a Maya C112 3/4 nylon acoustic guitar from a music shop on Union Street in San Francisco in 1968. I’ve been looking for information on it, but haven’t been able to find anything online for that particular model. The closest match I’ve found in online listings is model C114. Most of the info on Maya guitars says they were around in 1970s but nothing about late 60s. I told my mom but she was pretty sure it was in ‘68 when she lived in the neighborhood she bought the guitar in. Anyone know anything about the C112 guitar or the Maya catalogue from that era?

I have a Maya Les Paul and I love to play on my guitar. Still after all these years I question the authenticity of my Maya Les Paul.
Does anybody know if there are books available where I can find the characteristics of the Maya guitars especially about the Les Paul?

As round hole(sun world) 10poleCharDor
GloBalMeteors(cramps&all) stray
Kat strut loads of marketry inlays
Curved bowte pearldrop picture
Label said same about making for
Music but was signed as made
In Germany, so incantation Ja panoptimin
Things gong viral useless Eustace
Queen Liz Lit ER Google hunts ends!!
Clockwork alexinfowars!! Hypno!

Looking for original saddles and bridge plate for a Maya Strat. Please contact me if you have available.

I bought a maya c119 classical guitar for $49.00aus at a pawn shop Melbourne Australia on21st june 2019 I have to restring the guitar and was surprised by the quality of workmanship on the label has maya we made this guitar for people who love guitar music and japan it has a two piece back and it beautiful timber it looks almost identical to the hiroshi tamura c30 guitar on ebay for $3000.00 aus from japan the timber is the same can anyone help me as to who sold it

I have a maya semi hollow. I dont know what model is it though, it also has the made in japan sticker at the back of the head. I just finished repairing its neck as it was neglected in my grandparent’s house. It has all the stock parts which is suprisingly still working.

Ive got a Maya SG copy, found it in a pawn shop in Geelong Victoria Australia 25 years ago. I have no idea what it is worth but love playing it to this day.

Is it misrepresented that “real maya s400 for sale at this website?

who wants to buy my maya guitar made in 1970’s?, just email me if you are interested. [email protected]

Hi I just purchased a this guitar and it seems to be an exact copy of a martin d-18, they used laminate top, back and sides but the tuners are great and it appears to have a really nice mahogany neck and rosewood fret board. The thing is a cannon and has a incredibly straight neck and great low action. Anyone know anything about the maya f340

Hi. I have a Maya bass guitar for sale. For anyone who may be interested please get in touch and I can send photos and details.

I bought this Maya classical guitar model 0128at the Len Williams Spanish Guitar Studio in Leicester Square London in either 1964 or 1965.
It cost around £120 which was a lot of money in those days. It has travelled around the world with me although I gave up playing long ago, I couldn’t part with it.
Any info on this guitar?

I bought a Maya F335 guitar from a kind of junk shop that sold all kinds of everything.
In the shop window was a guitar once owned by by David Bowie which caught my attention.
I couldn’t resist a look at this guitar. It turns out the guitar was a real heap of junk.
The shop owner asked me if I was looking to buy a guitar hero had another one in the back of the shop he was selling for someone.
He presented me with the Maya F335. As soon as I picked it up and started to play I was impressed thinking it must be quite expensive. I asked the price he told me the owner was looking for £60. I told him I wasn’t looking to spend that much. He said to make an offer.
I said I’d give £30. He went and phoned the owner, came back and said my offer was accepted. I paid the £30 waited for a receipt he then came back with the receipt and a hard case to go with the guitar!
That all happened in 1988.
I still play the guitar to this day!

Hi, I Bought A Maya Les Paul 1969 Black Beauty Copy In About 1977 For Around $139 AUD. I Don’t Play So It’s Spent It’s Life In The Case It Came In Only For Me To Take It Out Once In A Blue Moon To LOOK At It & Play WITH IT Until Next Time. I’ve Often Wondered About The Brand & Have Become Obsessed Trying To Get Information On It. I Have A Book By Tony Bacon On Ibanez & One By Frank Meyers On The History Of Japanese Guitars (1950’s & 60’s) Yet There Is No Mention Of Maya In Either Book. Over The Many Years I’ve Had It I’ve Thought Of It As ”Just A Cheap Japanese Copy” (Bolt On Neck etc.) But Now I Just Don’t Know Due To Sites Like This. I’m No Expert On The Quality Of Guitars & Would Happily Accept It’s Exactly What I Think It Is. The Body Construction Seems To Be Layered or Made Of A Plywood As There Seems To Be Slight Indentations In The Surface Of The Edges Of The Guitar. The Fingerbord Block Markings Are A Silver Paint. As A Display Piece It Does A Good Job & It Has Motivated Me To Recently Purchase The REAL ITEM. I Have Tried To Compare Them But They Both Sound O.K. To Me & They Both Seem To Have A Low Action. I’m Sure If A Player Was To Test Them Out In A Blind Test The Gibson Would Come Out In Front But As Far As Value Goes I Don’t Know That The Real One Would Come Out 20-30 Times Better Which Is The Range Of Their Price Differences. (If You Can Even Compare The Prices 40 Years Apart. )They Will Both Be Kept For Different Reasons As Really They Represent Different Things At Different Times Of My Life. Meanwhile The Search For Information On Maya Continues.

I have a Maya guitar serial nr MJ200N – I bought it from a friend in the early nineties – in mint condition and I always get complimented on the guitar. Do have a Yamaha 12 string as well. I actually did not know about the history of the Maya guitar until recently when I did some research. Very impressed with the fact that I am the proud owner of such a rare guitar!!!

If anyone is interested in this guitar make an offer. Email me at grayone40@ gmail.com

I Have a maya semi acoustic Its sat in the cupboard since 1975 was a birthday pres
no idea whats its worth or where to sell it. its in great cond
any help out there

I have had for a few years a very accurate 1970s(early) LP custom copy in bright solid red with black pu rings and cream humbuckers. This thing is amazing! It must be approximately 1972 according to pot codes. Looks like a Norlin era Les Paul custom and has a volute and two screw bell truss cover,binding with nibs aka Gibson as well as a hefty 10 plus lbs. in weight. The top is arched but not dramatically.Fully bound front and back with 5 ply black,white. The headstock has the diamond inlay as well as a open book shape. Sonically it’s really sustain healthy and the neck is a very comfy c/d shape. The top is maple and the body a one piece mohoghany. Only odd feature is a rosewood fretboard instead of the Gibson ebony. The tuners on it are early 70’s Schaller black nylon and chrome replacements and it has a nice lightweight plastic hardshell case. I paid around $360 for it from someone in Texas and it has become a fav of mine when I’m want to play any old Bowie Spiders tunes,Mott and anything glam. It expresses itself well both clean and crunched up and so far I’ve found it shines through nearly any amp I play it through. I’ve read that the “el Maya” guitars were supposedly superior to these,but I’m so impressed with this Maya that I’m not too concerned with worrying about the comparison. I’ve have seen some variants of this LP shape with Maya and el Maya guitars but there all been bolt on necks. Not mine.Wow,what a lucky find this guitar has been. It compares well with my neck through Fernandes Monterey and also my Goya Les Paul Deluxe copy,also from Japan in the seventies. If anyone has another like it,please get in touch or at least write a bit of your thoughts on this thread.

Long time ago I read that the Maya – El maya factory was situated in tokyo between 1968 – 198? where an earthquace destroyed it, and never rebuilt it again. Thats wy this guitars are a rare vintage icons. Is it true or not? I don´t know but I love the “taste” of my maya model 330 with tremolo. a rare and unique single coil and total hollowbody sound. regards

Hi.
I have a Maya Jumbo Western Guitar since 1985. Model Nr.: MJ200N Serien Nr.: 00806 .
I think she is from the 70er. It is an very good Instrument as Taylor.
Leo

I am thinking of buying a maya classical guitar made in the 70s. I don’t have the opportunity to play it, and am hoping someone out there could give me some imput on this axe, tone / playability / propensity for constant luthier bills, etc. Says that it was designed after a Martin model. Now I know that every guitar has it’s own sound, so a little imput would be appreciated, thanks, T.J.

I got a Maya ES-175 copy that has a mahoghany neck that feels even better than my other 5 vintage Gibsons. It has a 3 ply maple top which probably sounds better than Gibson’s 5 ply. The Pickups are fantastic and I doubt can be improved. The only major change were I can honestly say the Gibson was better is the tuning machines. I replaced the originals with nickel Grovers, which made the guitar sound better with the extra weight at the headstock. A great guitar most likely made by the master luthier Tahara, even the fingerboard looks Brazillian and high quality. I don’t see how an El Maya or Greco or Aria or even a Gibson can be better other than market value. Very unknown and underrated gem!!! Now they made lots of different guitars and the quality varies, El Maya is looked at more positively because they put out the Hollow-bodies and semi-hollow and not the lower end models. Though the Maya and El Maya es-175’s and 335’s were most likely made by the same guy, Tahara.

I bought a used Maya semi acoustic guitar in the 80’s for 500 pounds. I tried every single guitar in the shop and the Maya by far played the best. To this day I’ve never found another guitar that comes close and that is selling for less than $20k. Maybe I got a one off. Maybe they’re all that good. I can’t say for sure. Mine was the first and only Maya guitar I’ve ever come across.

I am trying to sell this guitar. belonged to my deceased wife. any info on price range ???

I have an old Maya acoustic guitar that I bought about 4 yrs ago, from a woman who I had gone to High school with back in the ’70s. She said she had bought the guitar back in the 70’s, not sure what year though. In the sound hole the sticker says: Maya, Made by Takamine, No. TF101S, and then beside that it says Japan. This is a small guitar about a 3/4 size, with a great sound. The bridge needs work and the tuning keys should be replaced also, but it sounds and plays great.

I just purchased a left handed Maya Les Paul Special style today on Trademe, paid $146NZ in auction, drove 2 hours to collect, I had no idea what it was, but the pictures on the auction looked ok, I was hoping it was Japanese maybe 80’s, very pleased to find this forum, and good to know that perhaps it is late 70’s, it only has 3 strings and a few dents, it looks as though someone has added neck packers to adjust the action (now the last 3 strings rattle on the frets), should be not too difficult to tidy up… the neck is very straight, I am not sure what the fretboard inlay is made of, I am sure is not plastic, feels more like aluminium or something… will try to find out, there is some defect around the edge of the body, noticed it first when arrived home, behind the neck, at first thought it a structural crack and was dismayed, but now see it at other area around the body on the same line, it looks more like a line where the edge trim has been routed in… not concerned at this stage… supposed to be working from home tomorrow, but now think I will take a quick 45 min. drive to the nearest music shop to get some strings and a few bits and bobs for it, not sure whether to string it as right handed or start learning left handed, probably will replace the tuning keys with some I have from an old Epiphone, and keep originals, so far, very happy with purchase…

I have a nice Maya F400 12 string which I bought in Dubai for about £100 in 1983. Haven’t used it for ages but found it the other night then found this website. It’s in excellent condition and I’m off to get new strings for it!

I was lucky enough to buy a Maya Strat copy in Australia for $150 shipped.
Truth is that when I spent some tome setting up and cleaning up this guitar
that was very neglected , it turned out to be a fantastic playing and sounding
guitar that is as good or better than the brand it copied. This strat has aged
beautifully with the neck turning amber. I still have the original pickups but have
swapped them out and put Am standards in for now. Some pics here
[IMG]http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr63/SNAPPERAZZI/D77A2FD1-49CC-42B1-ADBB-D3D036F8F6BE-37773-0000355D1DBAC695_zps30b237bc.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr63/SNAPPERAZZI/965D2216-34D3-4A07-95CE-051D69611557-37773-0000355D2B89184C_zpsdcc95f69.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr63/SNAPPERAZZI/1D672FD2-3257-4225-BB2F-FF4441300C7E-1192-000001B19E1E6300_zps8190d7d7.jpg[/IMG]
My JV Squier and Maya Strats are my favourite guitars of all time.
check them out in action here http://www.exile11.com

I once had a beautiful,semi accurate Maya Jazzmaster.It was in an aged white finish,and the neck was a flame maple c style.Amazingly beautiful guitar.

Hi,
Nice to find a site with so much love for Maya guitars.
I heard an N45J in a local luthiers a few years ago.
I was totally blown away by the tone and the very obvious resemblance to a certain American maker’s guitars…
Open book headstock, 2 screw truss rod cover,50’s neck profile,2 colour sunburst, etc etc.
John, the luthier was very impressed too… a very hard act.

So I watched ebay every week for over a year and a half until one came up. I was the only bidder… so got it for a song from it’s original owner. I had to ship an empty box & packing material to the other end of the UK as the seller was only selling with local pickup. Thankfully she had relented under my pitiful begging pleas and agreed to wrap it up for pickup.
Got it shipped back and it was immaculate, in it’s original case.
And the sound is glorious. As my guitar collecting muso friend said ” that is the Led Zeppelin III tone that I have been chasing for years…”

Serial is 19770926, so not the same as the two previously mentioned 199770709’s.
How about a made date of 26th September 1977? Discuss…

Since then I have picked up several Maya related items.
A lovely aged cream ’68 Strat copy (think Hendrix Monterey, big headstock, ‘A’ width neck, all maple). Sounds lovely too.

I also bought on impulse, a cheap beat up tele copy from a retired local gigging musician. It has a mahogany 1 piece body with a thin deep blue nitro finish & solid brass bridge. He reckoned that it was made in Bristol for Shakin’ Stevens guitarist.
If that was true, that would be the legendary Mickey Gee, but I have no provenance, so it’s just another guitar tale.

The neck was an all maple bullet truss rod no name that he said was the only neck he ever liked, as he disliked regular Fe*der necks.
When my luthier friend was setting it up with BareKnuckle Yardbirds, he discovered that the neck had the Maya stamp on the butt end… weird, but very pleasing.
This thing has Mojo in spades, several people have tried it and have dubbed it “the best tele that Fe*der never made”.

Add in a couple of Teisco style Maya branded tele/strat hybrids with cool garage band style & sound.
Also very nice through(thru) neck Strat,with Korina wings and Korina/rosewood/maple stripe from headstock to butt.
Has original Dimarzio SDS-1’s and is a real rock machine. Again, no name to substantiate it’s origin, but was advertised as a Maya, so it has a home with me 😉

Never been lucky enough to get an El Maya yet, supposedly from the same company, but I’m still looking.

Graeme

http://www.music-trade.co.jp/otherhistory.html

Has anybody ever heard of a Gibson Hummingbird Maya. There is one locally and I am itching to at least go try it but so far I can not find any info about it. It appears to have a model number of FG50 or F350 (picture is blurry). Anyways if anybody knows anything that would be great!

I have a maya jsh me85 and was so wondering if anyone could help me in giving me a little more information on it please 🙂

I have a Maya Stratocaster copy that I rescued from a dumpster around 1980. I had to work on it to get the intonation right. I’ve popped the pickguard and I don’t think it has its’ original pickups because the soldering is really a mess. It is a pretty heavy guitar. It is all white with a maple neck and fret board and plays OK. I’ve always planned on replacing the pickups and switch but have never got around to it. It doesn’t play as easy as my American made Strat but it isn’t bad. I never sold it because I never had any idea of it’s value and didn’t want to rip anyone off or be ripped off.
I’ve never met anyone else that has one.

I have a Maya ecoustic guitar model FK-338-D and i have had it since 1983 and i wanted to know if this is a good guitar or what. it has a humingbird on the pick guard like a gibson but i am finding the tuning keys are just about worn out. does anyone know if this is a good guitar. i like it but i have no sense of what its worth. maybe someone out there knows. thankyou all in advance

Very brief addition to last comment!!.Can’t attest to the veracity of this one,but I did hear once from a UK music shop owner that Stentor had had a falling out with Maya’s makers along the lines of ‘you assured us that no other products from yourselves would enter the UK market[presumably under a different name?]and,in our view,you’ve reneged on the deal’.I feel that the 25.5” scale Maya N45J Artist[with a fair degree of solid wood in its construction and thus putting it somewhere near the top of the Maya range]will always resemble[playing characteristics-wise]the US Epiphone/Gibson/Martin/Guild square-shouldered dreadnoughts and the super jumbos that all share its scale length.To me all of these exhibit a tauter stiffer feel when played[with technically more volume]than the looser noticeably more resonant[IMO]24.75”scale round-shouldered Gibsons.

Hi Kevin and all the best rehabilitating the Maya.I think Tahara’s company[did work for Rokkoman way back when?]are the craftsmen responsible for my[admittedly stiff but may loosen up in time]Gretsch 400 non-cutaway.In the dream world of ‘what if’,the N45J should have been kitted out with a Brazilian rosewood reverse-belly bridge instead of the Indian rosewood variety.With its slightly deficient bass the juan I bought never got a true folk clubbin’,and thus remained[and has still remained,I think,in my youngest nephew’s hands]absolutely pristine from top abalone ‘Maya’ overlay?to[afterthought]endblock-mounted nickel finish Schaller straplock button.Parting with it[but keeping it in the family],I never got the chance to acquaint it with newer string options like Elixir.Mine responded far better however ‘back in the day’ to Guild Phosphor Bronze Lights than D’Addario J16s[which for some reason really seemed to sell it short tone-wise].A luthier who inspected it quipped that he thought that the builder guy must have been under pain of death if he didn’t leave sufficient wood to ensure it remained borderline brick outhouse!.I mentioned US luthiers that I’d read about in eg Pickin’ magazine who though nothing of stripping the binding off F5 mandos,carefully sawing the tops off,reprofiling/removing ‘meat’ from top braces,and expertly refitting the tops/binding.Yesteryear’s sound improvements for bass-deficient acoustic guitars consisted of,with some artisans,finding the middle of the bass top-brace and cutting a 0.25” notch in it.According to these fellers,doing that had the same effect as scalloping braces,and turned the top-brace going down from the bridge to level with the tailblock into two separate vibrating areas.I asked the aforementioned luthier if he’d be prepared to try this on a guitar he seemed to feel respect for,and he intimated that he would[with some improvement in the clarity of the bass E string].

Saw a nice acoustic guitar with a price tag of £145 which seemed to be sticking sales-wise in Norman’s Music Shop Burton-on-Trent 30-odd years ago.I had a chat with an old guy who was looking at the instrument,a Maya N45J,and managed to discover a bit more about it.He,a Stentor rep,had hand-picked the round-shouldered tobacco sunburst mahogany-bodied jumbo for his daughter who then couldn’t get on with steel strings.Norman,the proprietor,agreed to waive his commission and I bought it for £120?.A nice surprise came in the shape of a black tolex-covered hard case with interior(blue)velvety guitar cover.Stentor waxed lyrical about the instrument when I contacted them,saying that it was a ’79/early one and especially fine!.They sent a review done by luthier Stephen Delft who,although the jumbo looks akin to a Gibson J45 with an elongated J50 pickguard,thought of it(with its 25.5” scale as opposed to a J45’s 24.75”)as the ghost of the long-lost(USA)Kalamazoo-built Epiphone Texan.Sound-wise re the top five strings one could close one’s eyes and imagine one was listening to Phil Ochs’ Gibson with a lovely rich bell-like chime up to and including the fretboard’s dusty area.The bottom E(guitar overbuilt?)was a bit muffled/deficient,so I got a decent luthier to carve a notch halfway along the bass-brace(which seemed to help a little).My ex-wife had the guitar for several years though the neck was a tad clubby and her hands were small.After an acrimonious parting she thankfully(phew!)agreed to accept a 70’s batbridge Gibson J200 in lieu of the Maya.Once my youngest nephew saw the perfect finish on its solid spruce top(solid sides?/bent laminated back)and understated refined nickel plating on the all-metal tuners(like Grovers but with Gibson-style tulip buttons),he needed no persuasion to make it a centrepiece of his collection.As Gibson(unlike the UK distributors)were gracious re the replacement of a faulty moustache-bridge J200 at the time,I gave my nephew the guitar.All of his previous talk about wanting the ‘King of the Flattops’ ceased completely to be replaced by a continuing respect for the ‘Killer from Kobe’.

Get some info here.I tried and dug really hard, including obvious bothering of certain people, to put those up there.
hope you find some of it valuable. Enjoy Maya!

http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/forum/index.php/topic,20346.0.html

http://torchsvintageguitarresearchblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/maya-guitar-mystery.html

I have a Maya model F7460S that I picked up at a pawn shop in Idaho in 1976. It has good sound, but I would like to find out more about the history of it. It appears than nobody can find the history. : Hi. : Does anyone have any information on Maya Guitars. What I know so far is they were/are a Japanese maker and were apparently based in Kobe from the early 70’s until the earthquake in the 90’s. They made high-quality knock-offs of major brand instruments in the lates 70’s and 80’s at least as good as the Ibanez Lawsuit models of the same era. Not quite up to Gibson yet, but learning fast. : I have a really nice copy of a late 70’s early 80’s Gibson ES 175. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Email me if you want to see pictures.

I own a Maya Artist model 12-string guitar, Model Number F7485. It was purchased new in 1991. I would accept any reasonable offer to buy it. Pictures available by email. : Hi. : Does anyone have any information on Maya Guitars. What I know so far is they were/are a Japanese maker and were apparently based in Kobe from the early 70’s until the earthquake in the 90’s. They made high-quality knock-offs of major brand instruments in the lates 70’s and 80’s at least as good as the Ibanez Lawsuit models of the same era. Not quite up to Gibson yet, but learning fast. : I have a really nice copy of a late 70’s early 80’s Gibson ES 175. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Email me if you want to see pictures.

Hi, for 20 minutes up to now spended in internet in a search for any information I found only forum posts about Maya guitars. I own Maya SG replicant made in the ’70s I think. I have this by all means Japanese masterpiece since 1999 and I wonder how I had never made any search about it ’till now. But you know "The truth is out there" 🙂

: Hi. I also would like to know some information about maya, particularly their value. I own a Telecaster copy : Does anyone have any information on Maya Guitars. What I know so far is they were/are a Japanese maker and were apparently based in Kobe from the early 70’s until the earthquake in the 90’s. They made high-quality knock-offs of major brand instruments in the lates 70’s and 80’s at least as good as the Ibanez Lawsuit models of the same era. Not quite up to Gibson yet, but learning fast. : I have a really nice copy of a late 70’s early 80’s Gibson ES 175. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Email me if you want to see pictures.

My grandfather gave me one of his numerous guitars and it is a Maya F385. Weird thing is , is that it’s a twelve string acoustic. Sorry if I sound dumb, I’m new with the whole guitar thing. I don’t know where my grandpa got it. I know it was my mom’s when she was a kid, so he must have picked it up in the mid-70’s. I really enjoy it although I am just learning how to play. Just thought I tell you all that.

I have a Maya 335 copy that I bought new around 1981. It is fantastic and I bought in preference for a 2nd hand Gibson 335 which seemed to be made of plywood in comparison. I think the price new was about £260 (case extra. Duff decision investment-wise, but still one I would take today. I have an original brochure. The reason I am posting this today is that I have been looking for Maya ES175 for a number of years and have just found one. I will be collecting it on Sunday. Since buying the 335 over 20 years ago I have acquired a number of guitars, including real S400, L5 and J200 Gibsons. So I suppose I could have bought a Gibson 175 but I always wanted the Maya. It will be interesting to compare the quality of the new Maya with those. Maya guitars were marketed in the UK by Stentor. It looks as if they market Ozark guitars – could Maya have changed its name?

hi, i’m from chile, and i’m about to buy a ibanez es 175 copy, could you send me some pictures of yours please?, this way i may get a better idea from what i ‘ m getting . SOME COMMENTS PURHAPS WOULD BE HELPFULL. BYE AND THANKS. : Hi. : Does anyone have any information on Maya Guitars. What I know so far is they were/are a Japanese maker and were apparently based in Kobe from the early 70’s until the earthquake in the 90’s. They made high-quality knock-offs of major brand instruments in the lates 70’s and 80’s at least as good as the Ibanez Lawsuit models of the same era. Not quite up to Gibson yet, but learning fast. : I have a really nice copy of a late 70’s early 80’s Gibson ES 175. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Email me if you want to see pictures.

: Hi. i have read your messages,, after a very long searches about MAYA ARTIST GUITAR. Your description of the Guitar is the same by me, bat the Mecahanik is not from Schaller. The only different is the machanik. I think my Guitar is equipmend with Noname Produkt. In the body you can read a Label with follwing Text: "We made this guitar for the people who love guitar music. F344R Japan" I purchased my Insrtument on a musik street market in 1999 and payed 250,- DM = 125 Euro. It sounds very well and looks (abilone Inlays) very nice. I’m playing Jazz and Boss Nova on the Instrument. I never found samthing about MAYA GUITAR FACTORYS in the Internet. Maybe you can help me? I whish you every time very nice cords and scales. I’m sorry for my broken-english. Regard Wolfgang from Berlin, Germany see more by: http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Maya/Artist-Acoustic-01.html

I have a Maya fretless bass which i purchased 2nd hand for £80 when i was 17yrs old back in the early 80’s.I have had it now for over 20yrs now and the quality has not faded one bit.I still play in various bands and has given me much enjoyment playing it with its very low and fast, but very smooth action.

I’ll inlcude my comments since I also own a Maya and would like to find out something about it myself. I own a Strat copy that I bought about 18-19 years ago. I was taking a guitar class at night at our local jr. college. We had this guy in our 3 person (4 counting the teacher) class playing this guitar. A few months later I found that exact guitar in our local music store and I bought it. To go through the entire history of my Maya would take too long. But it’s gone from a typical Fender Strat setup, 3 single coils and a 5 way; to a 3 humbucker (1 Dimarzio, 1 Seymour JB, 1 Seymour JB Jr) with the two Seymours split with one volume knob and two tone knobs that can be pulled out to split the Seymours. I wanted the Dimarzio to be able to be split, but it wasn’t capable of being so. Some day when money isn’t a factor, I’m going to have the Dimarzio taken out and something else put in that can be split so I can have a close equivilant of a 3 single coil setup. I’ve changed everything on my Maya except the body, neck and the neck plate on the back. Other than that it’s mostly been a good guitar. I say mostly because back in the mid 80’s I had the Fender style tremlo it came with switched out for a cheap Kahler. If I had spent the extra money and got a higher $$$ Kahler, it might have been alright, but I didn’t. My intonnation has been out since the day that Kahler was put it and there seems to be no way to fix it. The body had to be bored to put the Kahler in, so it’s not like I can switch it out with a simpler tremlo system. Given my "druthers", I’d like to have a stop piece put in. One thing I’ve noticed about my Maya Strat is that it weighs about a TON more than a Fender Strat. I wish I knew what kind of wood it was made of. I’d like to wish it was mahogany, but I could’t be that lucky. I’m sure I’ll have another guitar someday, but I see no reason to part with the Maya. I might give it to a nephew someday, but I don’t think I’ll ever sell it. I paid around 150-175.00 for it and I’ve put about 700-750.00 in it. The man who owns the music store I trade with (and did the work on the Maya) says it’s "the best playing guitar you’ve never heard of". 😉

I have a Strat copy that holds up very well. I got it brand new in Saudi Arabia of all places in 1980, and it still plays well. It buzzes a bit more, but plan to get that fixed soon. For more info on Maya, check out http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/El-Maya/Various-01.html

: Hi. : Does anyone have any information on Maya Guitars. What I know so far is they were/are a Japanese maker and were apparently based in Kobe from the early 70’s until the earthquake in the 90’s. They made high-quality knock-offs of major brand instruments in the lates 70’s and 80’s at least as good as the Ibanez Lawsuit models of the same era. Not quite up to Gibson yet, but learning fast. : I have a really nice copy of a late 70’s early 80’s Gibson ES 175. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Email me if you want to see pictures.

: Hi. : Does anyone have any information on Maya Guitars. What I know so far is they were/are a Japanese maker and were apparently based in Kobe from the early 70’s until the earthquake in the 90’s. They made high-quality knock-offs of major brand instruments in the lates 70’s and 80’s at least as good as the Ibanez Lawsuit models of the same era. Not quite up to Gibson yet, but learning fast. : I have a really nice copy of a late 70’s early 80’s Gibson ES 175. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Email me if you want to see pictures. yep Id love to see pictures and I believe maya was made by ibanez not sure whether before or after lawsuit