What is the history of Abe Gut guitars by Zen On Japan?

AbeGut Guitars is a brand of guitars designed by Hiroshi Abe and Kazuo Gut, two Japanese luthiers in 1968. The brand was produced in Japan by the Zen-on Music Company. They came to the attention of the global guitar community thanks to players like Eric Clapton, John McLaughlin and Jimmy Page, who often played AbeGut guitars during iconic 1970s guitar solos and performances.

The original AbeGut series was the AbeGut A800 series. These were solid-body electric guitars made of maple and walnut, with a bolt-on maple neck featuring an ebony fretboard. These were high quality instruments, and the original '60s models are highly sought-after by collectors.

In the late 1960s AbeGut also began producing semi-hollowbody guitars. These were models called the AbeGut A150, the AbeGut A250 and the A350, which were similar in appearance and construction to the classic Gibson ES-335, but with a more contemporary vibe.

Another popular model in the AbeGut line was the AbeGut Les Paul Custom Black Beauty, which was very similar in appearance to the Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty, but was made in Japan. Another popular model was the AbeGut SG Custom Silver Burst, which was also similar to a classic Gibson model.

AbeGut guitars were popular in the 1970s, but the brand saw a decline in popularity in the 1980s. The original AbeGut company went out of business in the early 1980s.

In the late 1990s, the Zen On Music company reissued the AbeGut guitars. These reissued guitars were made in Japan and were very similar to the original AbeGut guitars.

Unfortunately the Zen-On company eventually went out of business itself, and the AbeGut brand of guitars is now defunct. These vintage guitars are highly collectible and sought-after by guitar players around the world.