In the 1960’s Maurice Lipsky Music Co., a prominent importer and distributor in New York City, developed the Domino brand of guitars. One of my favorites from them was the Californian Rebel. Lipsky was also the company that offered the Orpheum brand of guitars from the 1950s on. Many Orpheum’s were made by United Guitars of Jersey City, NJ, the successor to the Oscar Schmidt Company. There is some evidence that Lipsky’s Orpheum name was used on some Italian Wandré guitars, as well.
Vintage 1960’s Domino California Rebel CE82 Electric Guitar
In 1967 Lipsky introduced a line proto-copies carrying the Domino brand name. Most were inspired by European models such as the EKO Violin guitar. Among the offerings were two models sporting a California cache, the #502 Californian, an asymmetrical copy of a Vox Phantom, and this #CE82 Californian Rebel. It was a semi-solid, since most of it is solid, but built in halves with a sound cavity routed out under the one sound hole. The top has a nice German carve relief, the slotted head adds a kind of retro vibe and cool dots along the top side of the bound fingerboard. What looks like a rosewood pickguard is wood grained plastic. Featuring high output for a single-coil pickups, two sliding switches for on/off control and a tremolo.
Who actually built this guitar is unknown, but these pickups appear to be associated with Kawai guitars, and that’s probably a good guess. Rumor is www.eastwoodguitars.com is planning a reissue of this guitar before the year is out.
If this was reissued I’d definitely snap it up. Especially if it came in a few different color options as well, I might just get a few. I really enjoy the slotted headstock and the use of a wood grained pickguard. Though I think I’d prefer a chunk of actual rosewood to the plastic, this guitar is spot on, and I think it would fit in perfectly with the Eastwood catalog of guitars.
There is a reason why these things are “Rare”… no one wanted them when they were new… because they were badly built junk… They are no more valuable now…
WICKED looking F hole! upgrade the bridge and Trem, but keep the clasical headstock. i wonder what the white toggle switch does??
this gtr would fit right in with the rest of the Eastwood Cataloge. and a Bass version would rule!
I use your pictures to ID some of the clean old Japanese guitars I would be lost without the 1960’s pics , This week I was brought a Bruno Conquerer , & an exceptionally clean Domino or Galanti , I read the comments made by a gent who was less than flattering re: Japanese guitars . This was an important turning point in guitar history , & some of the guitars are fun ! isn’t this what it is all about ? Sir William the Mostly Elegant
I won this guitar sometime in the early 70’s I think. Down on the boardwalk in Keansburg NJ in one of the arcades. I was in my early twenties and thought that it looked pretty cool, (not knowing much about guitars at the time), and spending too much I’m sure to win it. Still have it though the fretboard decided to separate from the neck. Will probably repair it at some point and see if it still works.
YES!
Please DO reissue this beauty, but please DO NOT resort to using the generic “default” humbuckers for pickups. Use something punchy and single-coil (no “Strat” units either). Part of the charm of these and so many others was the wonderful “Robert Smith” (the Cure) pickups. Great tone, and one that could surely be replicated today.
Just a side note, I have an “Orpheum” archtop that seems to be a higher end Kay, possibly early 60’s. Also, an Orpheum catalogue turned up on Ebay, some time ago, that definitely included some Wandre models. Anyone seen one in the flesh?
hello, can you help me? I am looking to build a Domino Califormia Rebel bass! I need the plans and the dimensions of the body.
I would be very happy if someone can help me.
Thanks.