Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars
Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case - Mahar's Vintage Guitars

Kawai

Kawai S-180 1964–1967 Red Like Teisco SS-4L Hound Dog Taylor Electric Guitar, No Case

$549.95
$549.95
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No sales tax for US customers outside California.

This Kawai S-180 1964–1967 in red is in good condition.  It plays well and is in great cosmetic shape with a few changes that require us to say it is in "Good" condition.

The Kawai S-180 is one of the mid-1960s Japanese electrics that has gained a cult following largely because of its association with Hound Dog Taylor, who famously played similar Teisco-family instruments. This example shares its layout with the Teisco SS-4L — four individual single-coil pickups each controlled by its own toggle switch, a fixed Kawai bridge paired with a separate Kawai tremolo tailpiece, and that nearly flat 20" fretboard radius that gives the neck a distinctly vintage Japanese feel. The truss rod cover is stamped "Patent 34-4127," a detail consistent with Kawai factory production of this period. The body is solid hardwood, described in the period as mahogany or similar dense local Asian lumber used by Kawai's 1960s factories.

The original red finish is intact and genuine. The tuners have been replaced — the guitar originally had strip tuners on the back of the headstock; it now carries generic closed-gear tuners, with the original plate and post rings remaining on the front of the headstock. There are visible holes from the tuner change, documented in the photos. The tuner screws are also non-original. The bridge is missing its adjustment thumb wheels and has no room to be lowered, which allowed for the low, even action of 3/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the 12th fret. Switch #3 does not function — our in-house tech notes the pickup itself is fine, but the switch keeps it off; pickup #3 currently stays silent as a result. The volume knob is missing its silver top ring. Two screw holes in the control cavity have been repaired so the screws holding the control plate on do their work. The nut may have been reglued or shimmed at some point. Everything else — original finish, pickguard, pickguard screws, neck plate, neck screws, nut, wiring, solder joints, pots, output jack, knobs, control cavity cover, all four pickups and their screws, the tailpiece, and the bridge itself — is original. Neck has no repairs, frets have no repairs.  The frets and the fretboard are in very good shape.

No case is included; the guitar will be double-boxed for shipping. 

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Color: red
  • Finish Original?: yes
  • Finish Condition: good
  • Pickguard Color: chrome
  • Pickguard Original?: yes
  • Pickguard Condition: excellent
  • Pickguard Screws Original?: yes
  • Body Condition: good
  • Body Repairs: none
  • Body Material: Solid hardwood (commonly categorized as mahogany or similar dense local Asian lumber used by Kawai factories during the 1960s).
  • Body Length: 17-3/4"
  • Lower Bout: 13-1/2"
  • Waist: 9-1/2"
  • Upper Bout: 11"
  • Body Depth/Thickness: 1-3/8"
  • Overall Length: 41-3/8"
  • Weight: 7lbs 9.5"
  • Scale Length: 24.75"
  • String Spacing At Bridge: 2-1/16"
  • Neck Material: maple
  • Neck Profile: Chunky C
  • Neck Condition: very good
  • Neck Repairs: none
  • Neck Finish Original?: yes
  • Neck Plate Color: chrome
  • Neck Plate Material: metal
  • Neck Plate Original?: yes
  • Neck Screws Original?: yes
  • Nut Width: 1-11/16"
  • Nut Material: bone
  • Nut Repairs: maybe reglued and/or shimmed at some point
  • Nut Original?: yes
  • Neck Thickness At 1st Fret: .848"
  • Neck Thickness At 12th Fret: 1.048"
  • Fretboard Material: rosewood
  • Fretboard Radius: 20", almost flat
  • Fretboard Condition: very good
  • Fretboard Repairs: none
  • Inlay: acrylic rectangle block
  • Fret Count: 22
  • Fret Condition: good
  • Fret Repairs: none
  • Truss Rod Cover: yes, stamped Patent 34-4127
  • Bridge Brand: Kawai
  • Tremolo Or Fixed Bridge?: fixed
  • Bridge Original?: yes, missing adjustment thumb wheels, bridge is lowered all the way
  • Bridge Condition: fair
  • Bridge And Saddle Screws Original?: yes
  • Tailpiece Brand: Kawai tremolo system
  • Tailpiece Color: chrome
  • Tailpiece Original?: yes
  • Tailpiece Condition: very good
  • Tuner Brand And Model: generic closed gear
  • Tuners Original?: no, originally had strip tuners on back. has original plate and post rings on front of headstock
  • Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: yes, visible holes, see pics
  • Tuner Condition: good
  • Tuner Screws Original?: no
  • Switch Brand: Kawai
  • Switch Type: individual toggle for each of 4 pickups
  • Switch Original?: yes
  • Switch Condition: #3 switch does not work, via in house tech: pickup could work, but currently stays off due to switch not working
  • Neck Pickup Brand: Kawai single coil
  • Neck Pickup Original?: yes
  • Neck Pickup Condition: very good
  • Neck Pickup Screws Original?: very good
  • Neck Pickup Cover Color: chrome
  • Middle #2 Pickup Brand: Kawai single coil
  • Middle #2 Pickup Original?: yes
  • Middle #2 Pickup Condition: very good
  • Middle #2 Pickup Screws Original?: yes
  • Middle #2 Pickup Cover Color: chrome
  • Middle #3 Pickup Brand: Kawai single coil
  • Middle #3 Pickup Original?: yes
  • Middle #3 Pickup Condition: good, via in house tech: pickup could work, but currently stays off due to switch not working
  • Middle #3 Pickup Screws Original?: yes
  • Middle #3 Pickup Cover Color: chrome
  • Bridge Pickup Brand: Kawai single coil
  • Bridge Pickup Original?: yes
  • Bridge Pickup Condition: very good
  • Bridge Pickup Screws Original?: yes
  • Bridge Pickup Cover Color: chrome
  • Solders Original?: yes
  • Wiring Original?: yes
  • Potentiometer Count: 2
  • Potentiometers Original?: yes
  • Potentiometer Condition: good
  • Output Jack Original?: yes
  • Knob Color: white
  • Knob Count: 2
  • Knobs Original?: yes
  • Knob Condition: good, volume knob missing silver top ring, see pic
  • Control Cavity Cover Original?: yes
  • Control Cavity Condition: good, repair of 2 screw holes, see pics
  • Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 3/32"
  • Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 3/32"
  • String Gauge: 10-46
  • Case Brand: no case, will double box for shipping
  • Accessories Included: none
  • Documentation: none

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By completing your purchase you are agreeing to this shipping policy. Shipments require signature on delivery, no exceptions. Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely. If there is damage, retain all packing materials intact, photograph them immediately, and send the photos to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.

Stringed Instruments: Multiple shipping speeds are available for orders on our website — Ground, 2 Day, 3 Day, and Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb orders: customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.

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