Skylark Info

Skylark Specs and Info
Catalog Images Courtesy of Justin Atwood (Scanned in from the actual User's Manual)
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It's not too often you will see a Skylark, but chances are if you are into the Matsumoku built guitars, you'd recognize it immediately! The entire run of all three models were originally contracted by one of the large mail order music supply houses (I am told it was Music Emporium), but for some reason the deal fell thru and from what I gather were put up on the auction block after they hit the US. The buyer for JC Penny bought the entire lot sight unseen. It's not clear why JC Penney did not continue the line, but as fate would have it that run was the first, last, and only of the elusive Skylarks.

Although the images are only in greyscale as is the User's Manual, there should be enough definition there to identify the model you have. There was apparently only one finish available for each "lot" or model, and from what I have seen this holds true. Thanks again to Justin Atwood for the info on the Skylark!

Note: I still need decent pics of the 2612. Can you help?
Peek at the other pics to get some idea of what I am in need of.

Lot (model) Lineup

Click on model to view images of that model (if available)

Model Specifications

	Lot No. 857-2612	Lot No. 857-2596	Lot No. 857-2588
Body	Ash	Ash, Maple Center with Walnut Stripe	Ash, Maple Center with Walnut Stripe
Neck	Maple 3-Piece Bolt on	Maple/Walnut 5-Piece Set Neck	Maple/Walnut 5-Piece Through Neck
Machine Heads	Covered CC-12	Rotomatic GR-96	Rotomatic CR-88
Scale/Frets	24-3/4", 22 Fret	25-1/2", 22 Fret	25-1/2", 24 Fret
Fingerboard	Rosewood	Rosewood	Rosewood
Pickups	Standard Humbucking SH-12	Deluxe Humbucking DH-96	Deluxe Humbucking DH-88
Bridge	Chrome Plated SG-20	Gold Plated SG-45 Brass Saddles	Gold Plated SG-45 Brass Saddles
Control Knobs	Plastic Gold	Plastic Gold	Plastic Gold
Controls	1 - Master Volume 1 - Master Tone 1 - Coil Tap Switch 3 way PU Selector	1 - Master Volume 2 - Tone 2 - Dual Sound Switches 1 - Phase Switch 3 way PU Selector	1 - Master Volume 1 - Master Tone 1 - Boost Volume 6 Position Rotary Switch 2 - Dual Sound Switches 1 - Phase Switch 3 way PU Selector
Finish	Red (Matte)	Red (Glossy)	Blue (Glossy)

Controls

2588 Preamp Wiring Diagrams
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These are crops from scans of an actual 1981 JCPenney Catalog - Thanks go to Classical Guitarer

Above is a crop of the color page depicting the Skylark guitars.
Below Left is a cleaned up version of the description page of the same catalog, below right is of the actual yellowed page.

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