What Does "Lawsuit Era" Mean on a Japanese Guitar?

What Does "Lawsuit Era" Mean on a Japanese Guitar?

A "lawsuit era" guitar is a Japanese-made instrument from the mid-1970s to early 1980s built to closely copy a Gibson or Fender design, from a period when Japanese factories were producing copies good enough to prompt a real lawsuit. The term gets used loosely today for any high-quality Japanese copy from that window, even by brands that were never actually sued.

Where the name actually comes from

In 1977, Gibson's parent company Norlin sued Hoshino Gakki, the company behind Ibanez, over its "open-book" style headstock, which closely resembled Gibson's own. Hoshino had bought Ibanez's US distributor, Elger, back in 1971, which is how the Ibanez name ended up front and centre in the case. The dispute settled out of court, and Ibanez redesigned its headstock to move away from the Gibson shape.

That's the actual lawsuit. Strictly speaking, "lawsuit guitars" are the Ibanez and other Hoshino-branded Gibson and Fender copies from that mid-1970s period, mostly built at the Fuji-Gen Gakki plant. But the name has stuck as a catch-all for the whole era of high-quality Japanese copies, and that's how most players and dealers use it today, Guitar Garage included.

The other brands people lump into "lawsuit era"

Several other Japanese brands were making excellent Gibson and Fender copies around the same time, without being named in the actual lawsuit:

• Tokai started building its own Fender and Gibson replicas in 1977 to 1978. Its Les Paul copy went through a few names, Les Paul Reborn, then Reborn Old, before settling on Love Rock after threats of legal action from American companies over the name. Its Fender-style lines included the Springy Sound (Stratocaster-style) and Breezy Sound (Telecaster-style).

• Greco, made mainly by Fuji-Gen Gakki for distributor Kanda Shokai, had been building Gibson-style EG models since 1970 and Fender-style SE models since 1973. Its best-regarded lines, the Super Real Series (1979 to 1982) and the Mint Collection (1982 onward), are considered some of the finest Japanese copies ever made.

• Fernandes built Fender-style copies, with its Burny sub-brand covering Gibson-style models.

None of these brands were defendants in the Norlin/Ibanez case, but they were producing instruments of a similar standard at the same time, which is why they get swept into the same conversation.

Why collectors still want them

The build quality is the whole story. These were Japanese factories competing directly against real Gibsons and Fenders on quality, not just looks, at a fraction of the price of a genuine 1970s American original. Higher-tier models from this era often used proper nitrocellulose finishes and long tenon neck joints, details that get cut from cheaper instruments. For a lot of players, a well-specced lawsuit-era Tokai or Greco plays and sounds closer to a real vintage Gibson or Fender than many modern reissues do, at a much lower price than an original.

What to watch out for

Not everything sold as "lawsuit era" actually is. A lot of guitars get labelled that way loosely, including some instruments that were actually made in Korea or China rather than Japan. Fender's own Japanese plant, which opened in 1982, also isn't considered part of the lawsuit era, that's a separate chapter covered in our serial number and factory guide. If a listing calls something "lawsuit era" without naming the actual factory or giving a build year, it's worth asking more questions before you buy.

FAQ

Is a "lawsuit guitar" always a copy of a Gibson or Fender? Mostly, yes. The term covers Japanese-made copies of Gibson and Fender designs specifically, since those were the two American brands whose designs got copied closely enough to matter.

Were Tokai and Greco guitars actually part of the lawsuit? No. The 1977 Norlin v. Hoshino Gakki case was specifically about Ibanez's headstock. Tokai, Greco, and other brands making similar-quality copies at the same time get grouped under "lawsuit era" informally, not because they were named in the case.

Does Guitar Garage stock lawsuit-era guitars? Yes, we carry vintage Japanese instruments from this era when the right examples come in, browse our vintage electric guitars or get in touch about what we currently have.