COLUMN
PAWNSHOP PRIZE Roger Zimish
1968 SUPRO S700:
The Country and Western Flat Top
tones that makes it ideal for rhythm work.”
Now, this Supro guitar is far from being pristine,
Inc. (the same year that their fiberglass models
This time around in the pawnshop we found a
it has been played quite a lot over its many years
debuted). Kay purchased Valco in 1967, so
rare Supro acoustic guitar. Supro is probably
and has some scars to prove it, but boy does
there are some Kay-built guitars under the
more widely known for their cool vintage amps,
she have a sound all her own and a bag full of
Supro brand name. Kay went bankrupt in 1968,
lap steel guitars, and those funky fiberglass
that mojo to go with it! The S700 Flat Top has
and both the Supro and National trademarks
guitars from the 60’s. There are not too many
a solid spruce top 15 1/2” wide dreadnought
were acquired by Chicago´s Strum N’ Drum
acoustic guitars out there with the Supro name
shape, mahogany back and sides with wide
Company. The National name was used on
on them. In the 1968 Supro catalog the S700
top and back binding, the “deluxe western”
a number of Japanese built imports, but not
was called, “An exciting new country and
large bridge with 3 points at each end that
the Supro name. Archer´s Music of Fresno,
western model flat top guitar with a special
accentuates the stunning look of the 4 point 4
California bought the rights to the Supro name
shape that accentuates the round, full bass
ply celluloid tortoise shell guard, and is just cool
in the early 1980s. They marketed a number of
to look at. It also has an adjustable
Supro guitars constructed from new old stock
mahogany 3- bolt-on neck with a
(N.O.S.) parts for a limited period of time.”
bound rosewood fingerboard with
(source: Vintage Guitar Magazine).
models began in 1962. Valco Manufacturing
Company name was changed to Valco Guitars,
pearloid block inlays and nickel-silver
frets, asymmetrical peghead (longer
The Supro S700 is National/Valco made. The
on bass side), and it has the original
Supro peghead shape was used from ’62 –
Kluson Deluxe tuning machines. It
‘68, with the plastic logo longer on the bass
even has the silver foil serial number
side (1955 - ‘62 earlier pegheads are narrower).
sticker on the back of the headstock.
National pegheads from 1958 – ‘68 are longer
on the treble side. Foil serial number stickers
After finding this Supro acoustic
were used on Valco-made instruments from
guitar and seeing the new Supro
1964 to 1968, and the “2” prefix means it was
amp line out in the big box retail
made early-mid ‘68. So that’s the story that
music stores I did some research on
dates the guitar in the pictures.
the brand.
As I said, this guitar has some mojo to it and
“The Supro trademark was the
is full of dynamics, from soft finger picking to
budget brand for the National Dobro
full body strumming, reminiscent to a full body
Company,
what
Gibson. Its zero fret, thin, bolt on neck, and
was known as “House Brands”
the adjustable trussrod both help to make this
to Montgomery Ward, with Supro
guitar easy to play. The body does show its
models under the Airline trademark.
age with some nicks and scratches, along with
National offered budget versions of
some spider cracking in the thin nitrocellouse
their designs under the Supro brand
finish. With all that said, this is the best sounding
name beginning in 1935. National
acoustic guitar with a bolt on neck that I have
moved to Chicago in 1936. The
ever played. I have seen similar guitars from
Supro name was on wood bodied
the late 60’s going for up to $1500, this one
lap steels, amplifiers, and electric
is selling for around $400 without a case. So
Spanish arch top guitars. The first
check out those pawnshops . . . you never
solid body Supro electrics were
know what you might find!
who
supplied
introduced in 1952, and the fiberglass
54
May June 2016
CollectibleGuitar.com