Morris MV702-SP

Another Morris model to discuss is the MV702-SP, which is part of the Vanguard series released in the late 70's until the early 90's. Unlike the MD range, which was a re-invention of the old W (Western) range of the late-60s on to the late 70's, the Vanguard series was a new design for the Morris line, designed to be a premium level guitar without the copy guitar status of the others. No laminate soundboard models were offered, with entry-level guitars already having solid Sitka spruce tops, and all models continuing to be made in Japan rather than to Korea, which Morris had expanded into for making the lower end models around the early 80's. Happily, the internal labeling keeps you informed as to where each model was crafted.

The MV702-SP here is a later 80's model, which entered the market at 40,000 Yen at the time. It was an extra model slipped in between the original MV701 and MV705 models; oddly it doesn't feature the sculpted headstock normally seen on the Vanguard series, but instead the Martin style headstock is present - i have yet to suss out why, apart from knowing this is a Special model as noted by the SP suffix. About the guitar itself; it is a dreadnought body, with a very lovely tobacco sunburst top, which is quite rare for a Morris guitar. As mentioned before, the top is solid Sitka spruce, and the back and sides are coral rosewood - this is a lighter coloured rosewood to indian, with quite an open flowing pattern in its grain - i feel it does compliment the tobacco shades on the top well. The body is bound in cream, with cream purfling that has aged a vintage yellowed white, and a white/black mosaic design down the central back joint. The soundhole is adorned with yellow/black rings, and a flecked tortoise-shell pickguard. The body itself has been subjected to quite a few dings and scrapes - nothing serious, but they are present and worth noting all the same. It is hard to spot these because of the finish however.

The Vanguard range featured a slightly narrower neck profile, more akin with Fender style necks on their acoustic range. On this model there is a rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dot position markers, whilst the neck is constructed of mahogany. The headstock is of Martin design, with a rosewood veneer. The pearloid buttons on the Morris gold tuners are a nice touch and compliment the finish well. These tuners were exceptionally smooth last time i restrung, and hold tuning well.

The sound of this guitar is nicely balanced, with even tones from bass to treble. I took it out with some friends in the summer where a group of guitarists were, and they gave it a turn and were impressed with it; i had to go through the story of Morris guitars with them too at the time, and was left with the impression they were going to try and find one online.

Here are some photos:














You can find additional photos here

Morris MD-520

Morris were one of the largest manufacturers of high-end acoustic instruments from the 70's through to the 90's in Japan, building a reputation for high quality craftmanship and use of top grade woods. Any wood they used for the soundboard was dried in their warehouse for 7 years before being used in construction.

The company was founded on an inspired visit to the Martin guitar plant in the late 60's, where on return to Japan they set up to produce quality copies of various models of Martin guitars. Early guitars made some success as entry level imports to the West, using primarily high quality plywood construction. However, as the 70's progressed, so too the skill and accuracy of the luthiers. Morris turned more to their own home market, where the guitar market in the 70's in Japan was hugely competitive, with more than 20 different factories making excellent copies of popular American acoustic models; the success of Morris to become the largest next to Yamaha is testament to their quailty and value for money. Nowadays, Morris still produce guitars, primarily focussed on smaller bodied, finger-styled guitars that retail for +£1000. A good google search will offer up more info.

This model, the MD520, was introduced in the late 70's with a retail price of Y35,000. My one is from 1984. The 2nd top model of the MD range, this features a really lovely solid spruce top, one of the best in my collection, and coral rosewood back and sides, with a simple mosaic inlay down the centre of the back. The body is bound with ivory and simple abalone pufling - nothing too flashy but with a high attention to detail. The neck is a 3-piece mahogony, bound again with ivory and simple position dot markers. The headstock has gold finished Morris tuners, and a classy Morris vertical headstock logo inlayed abalone, inspired by Martin guitars in the 70's. This vertical logo style was used by a number of manufacturers for their higher-end models. It is a lovely looking guitar in nearly new condition - the owner before me must of hardly played it, with the ivory binding hardly yellowed by daylight making me think it lived in its case most of its 26 years. The spruce top has dried out to produce a truely lovely warm tone, loads of woody character and volume, with a ringing resonance.



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As much as i love this Morris, my collection is nearing 35 guitars, so i need to sell a few along the way. For those viewers interested in buying it, please visit the listing here or send me a message.