The 1970s was a decade of musical experimentation, where genres clashed, and the charts became a battlefield. As rock and disco fought for dominance, guitar makers faced economic pressures that led to some truly unique creations. The result? Guitars that were as strange as the era they came from.
These weren’t just instruments—they were statements. From unconventional shapes to outlandish designs, the guitars of this period pushed boundaries in ways that hadn’t been seen before.
Let’s dive into the five strangest guitars the 1970s had to offer, each with its own story of innovation, and sometimes, outright oddity.
5. Japanese Yasuki Strat
In the 1970s, the Japanese guitar market continued to grow, with manufacturers now focused on creating guitars that matched their American counterparts. Many aimed to be perfect replicas, but some added a unique twist.
One such guitar, possibly released under both the Yasuki and Condor Corporation brands, remains incredibly rare. It drew inspiration from the big headstock Fender strats of the late ’70s but featured an odd, unattractive scratch plate.
This scratch plate housed various analogue effects, though details are now lost to time. The listed effects included a treble booster, a switchable boost and distortion circuit, and a phaser with speed control. Despite its mystery, the Yasuki strat stands out for its dual identities and rarity.
4. Yamaha SG80-T
Yamaha continued its tradition of crafting wild guitars into the 1970s. Departing from the groovy designs of the 60s SGV models, the SG-80T embraced the more subdued aesthetic of the decade. Its all-mahogany construction, with its deep brown finish, mirrored a trend many manufacturers followed during this time.
What set the SG-80T apart was its ornate German body carve and a complex tone-shaping circuit. This new feature included a five-way switch, individual treble and bass controls, and an overall tone boost knob. “Combined with a sophisticated trim,” the SG-80T was indeed a guitar ahead of its time.
However, this innovation came with its own challenges. The SG-80T was available for just a few months in 1972, exclusively in Japan, before being replaced by the more symmetrical SG series, which remains in production today.
3. Ovation Breadwinner
When you think of Ovation guitars, you might picture their durable plastic construction or the ornate triple sound holes. You might also consider the powerful preamp in their acoustics. But what’s often overlooked is their range of strikingly unusual solid-body electrics from the 1970s.
Founded in 1964, Ovation aimed to innovate with non-traditional materials. By 1966, they had introduced a Lyrachord back, which improved sustain and stability. With Glen Campbell showcasing their acoustics in 1968, Ovation was set for acoustic success, but their electric guitar ventures began in 1972.
The Ovation Breadwinner, one of the first to feature active electronics, boasted a unique wing-shaped design and giant control knobs. Originally equipped with toroidal single-pole pickups and later with mini humbuckers, it was known for its distinctive sound. Despite the introduction of the fancier Deacon model, both were discontinued by the end of the decade. Still, you can spot a Breadwinner in the hands of Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA in their eponymous movie.
2. BC Rich Bich 10-String Guitar
In a decade defined by bold and unconventional rock, B.C. Rich thrived with its distinctive designs. Founded in 1969, the company quickly gained fame for its pointy shapes and hard-rocking tones. One standout was the B.C. Rich Bitch 10-string, designed by Neil Moser.
This prototype guitar was owned by Moser and licensed to B.C. Rich. It featured a 12-string-like setup, with unison pairs for the E and B strings and octave pairs for the G and D strings. The A and lower E strings remained standard to blend a 12-string tone with clarity.
The guitar’s design included strings anchored at the headstock and tuned at the base. Though it never hit the market, B.C. Rich attempted a revival in 2003 with 25 limited edition anniversary models. Due to a contract dispute, only 16 were made.
1. Roland GS-500 Guitar Synthesizer
No list of guitar curiosities is complete without mentioning a synth guitar. In 1977, Roland shook things up with the GR-500 synth and the GS-500 guitar. That same year, they also released the Boss Traffic Light series.
The GS-500, made in Fujigen, resembled a Les Paul but functioned solely as a synth controller. It used a 24-pin cable to connect to the GR-500 and had seven knobs for controlling both the traditional humbucker and the synth module.
With eight switches, the GS-500 allowed players to toggle between the magnetic pickup, synth, or both, and adjust various settings. Though its tracking is outdated by today’s standards, the GS-500 was a groundbreaking piece of gear and stands out as one of the weirdest guitars of the 1970s.