California Rebel

Although the name sounds pretty contemporary, this was actually one model name from a Japanese line of electric guitars imported by Maurice Lipsky, a New York-based distributor who sold the instruments under the Domino brand name in 1967. The California Rebel was most likely built by Kawai, which at the time was one of the largest manufacturers of guitars in Japan. Though it appears to be a solidbody at first glance, the Rebel actually had an f-hole on the upper bout, opening into a sound cavity. Other unusual features were the semi-trapezoidal body shape, painted on “binding,” and classical guitar-style headstock. With budget prices ranging from $75 to $130, Domino was clearly competing with domestic builders like Harmony and Kay, some of which were sold in the Montgomery Ward and Western Auto store catalogs.