Koichi Konatsu (RD RECORDS)

I had looked for this guitar all around Japan and finally found 2 in Tokyo and 2 in Miyazaki-ken. By the way, G. Love also uses this guitar.

When I found them, however, someone have already owned them, so I searched the American web site "e-bay"and at last, could find a Pearl in Boston, which was made in 1964. I asked one of my friends who lives in America to get and send it. So, I reckon that there are 3 Elite in Japan at present, including that guitar, which I own now. When I got the guitar from Los Angels, its condition was not so good, but after polishing all electric parts with taking off the pick-up cover, useless pick-up had also worked at last. Unfortunately, Peg of six strings was changed so that I can't tell if it was put in those days or not. Yet anyway, it's really similar to the original and I reckon that it was made in Italy. Every part except that peg, they seems to be original. The distinctive feature of this guitar is not all parts are made of Pearl but half parts are made of Black plastic.

This guitar is of course one of my personal collection, but I'm in music business, so sometimes lend it to the musicians. Actually, I currently lent it to the main vocal of "cutman-booche", Kim Wooyong a.k.a Tasuku. He plays not only the guitar but also harmonica as well. Tasuku has a well-trained voice, similar to G.Love's, but much more husky. "cutman-booche" is releasing their new album "cutman-booche" in 25/08/04 (unfortunately Japan only) and today, I'll send you the photos that I took during recording and also the ones from the promotional video, so please have a look of them.

Tasuku's main guitar is Fender strat, which is made in 1981, same year he was born, but he really loves this Crucianelli Elite too. In addition, he owns 2 other Teisco's guitar. As you know, Teisco produced wonderful bizarre guitars in the 1960s in Japan.

"cutman-booche" has their own homepage and you can listen to the song named "Nelson.G.", in which Tasku plays Crucianelli Elite, so check it out. Unfortunately this website is Japanese only but English version will open soon and hopefully Italian, French version in the future.

cutman-booche official web http://www.cutman-booche.com