Frank Meyers

Frank Meyers is a lover of all extreme, odd, and bizarre guitars and design. He has played, collected, and researched guitars and history for many years. He’s passionate about discovering the stories of the people and factories involved in the early days of music, and loves shining a light on their contributions. He is the author of The History of Japanese Electric Guitars, and attended Kutztown University and Wilkes University. Find out more at www.drowninginguitars.com.

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Frank Meyers

Rare Guitars: Are You a Player, Collector, or Tire-Kicker?

A rare Italian import reminds our columnist of some of his more colorful correspondents.

A Weird Import Guitar Ready for the Butcher Shop

A Rare Japan-Made Guitar, but Is It Unique?

A 6-string found in the workshop of the late luthier Yukichi Iwase may be the only one of these small, nearly full-scale guitars. Our columnist tells the story.

Want to Collect Vintage Guitars? Buyer Beware!

Collecting rare classic guitars isn’t for the faint of heart—a reality confirmed by the case of this Japanese axe of unknown provenance.

A Rare ’60s Japanese Guitar Fit for Hitchhiking

This oddball vintage Guyatone has a streak of Jack Kerouac’s adventurous, thumbing spirit.

How a Trashy-Sounding ’60s Greco Guitar Created Garage-Rock Magic

A flea-market find gave our Wizard of Odd years of squealing, garage-rock bliss in his university days.

The Sorrento Swinger: A Japan-Made Guitar for Its Era

Originally priced at $25 and tagged for the student market, this guitar built at the Kawai factory sounds surprisingly good, but its neck is a “husky” fit.

Of Movies, Reckless Youth, and Rare Guitars!

Our columnist links a few memories together to lead us to another obscure guitar model—one he remembers from his childhood and came to acquire as an adult.

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Frank Meyers

A rare Italian import reminds our columnist of some of his more colorful correspondents.

A 6-string found in the workshop of the late luthier Yukichi Iwase may be the only one of these small, nearly full-scale guitars. Our columnist tells the story.

Collecting rare classic guitars isn’t for the faint of heart—a reality confirmed by the case of this Japanese axe of unknown provenance.

This oddball vintage Guyatone has a streak of Jack Kerouac’s adventurous, thumbing spirit.

A flea-market find gave our Wizard of Odd years of squealing, garage-rock bliss in his university days.

Originally priced at $25 and tagged for the student market, this guitar built at the Kawai factory sounds surprisingly good, but its neck is a “husky” fit.

Our columnist links a few memories together to lead us to another obscure guitar model—one he remembers from his childhood and came to acquire as an adult.