1981 Daion Mugen Power Mark XX TAN (tan)

Excellent condition, 8/10, Made in Japan, including original green hardcase with logo, gold hardware, all original parts, 2pc black original humbuckers, hardtail, wooden knobs and switch tip, laminated body, 9-ply neck, almost no fret wear, bound fingerboard with small brass dots, 3-way switch and 2pc mini switches, tiny piece of wood missing on the switch cover on the back, otherwise very clean condition, more info: This is Daion's flagship model. It is a neck through guitar comprised of ash, maple and rosewood. The fretboard is rare macassar ebony adorned with brass inlay position markers. Most power mark models were made with a maple center for the body. However, the tan power marks were made with a brazilian rosewood center, making them the most valuable and sought after of all Daions. more info from Daion.com: There were two series of the POWER Series Mark XX - the first generation produced from 1979-1980 and the second generation (this page) produced from 1980-1984. Production Changes There are some subtle production changes in the second generation. NOTE the production changes are approximate by year and are solely based on a sample size of ~20 instruments. We do not know the exact serial number or month when a change was made. Knobs Rosewood knobs and switch tips can be found on 1980 to 1981 modes. Metal knobs and switch tips were introduced sometime in 1981 and ran through 1983. Plastic amber colored switch tips and knobs were seen on 1984 models. Some collectors see the rosewood knobs (also used on the first generation models) as more collectible as they are perhaps more true to the original design. The rosewood and metal knobs and switch tips are an original design and, to our knowledge, not shared with other guitar manufacturers. This makes replacements incredibly difficult to find. The plastic knobs on the 1984 models are off the shelf and readily available. The 1981 Japanese catalog and the 1981 German catalog actually shows both rosewood and metal knobs in the photos of the Mark XX. Tuners There were at least three tuner designs used from 1980-1984. There is a unique tuner design on 1980 models, another variant that ran roughly 1981-1982, then a final variant from 1982 to 1984. It is generally believed that Gotoh made the tuners for Daion. We have noticed the nut on the tuning pegs also varies between 9mm and 10mm during production, so both sizes are correct. Bridge Early bridges have a similar design to the Washburn Wing Series and first generation Mark XXs. Somewhere during 1981 production Daion switched over to a script bridge that has more surface area on the bridge plate to incorporate the Daion logo. Headstock Logo and Fingerboard Sticker Probably in an effort to get the brand more visible on the guitar, at some point in 1984 the Daion script logo was added to the headstock in gold lettering. Also by 1984 a Daion logo sticker was being applied on the fingerboard between the 19th the 20th fret. Not surprising...