Its principal attraction is the “accordion” switching system, with six pushbuttons on the upper horn (engaging all, 3+4, 3+1, 2+4, 1+2, and kill/off). Hershman’s 1965 sunburst Goya Rangemaster was made by ZeroSette with two split single-coil pickups. In ’68, the Japanese-made line of Greco thinlines (far right) used whimsical ZeroSette/Goya pickups.
Exactly when they began producing guitars is uncertain, but they were at it by ’64. As demand for electric guitars exploded after the Beatles, more turned to electrics, including ZeroSette, which was founded in 1945 as a subsidiary of the American accordion company Giulett. By the early ’60s, some of the instruments were being brought to the U.S., including Eko models made by Oliviero Pigini, of Recanati, Italy, and Egmonds, from the Netherlands. Many were founded as accordion makers, but after the brief accordion boom of the mid ’50s went bust, they began making acoustic guitars. Guitarmaking in western Europe had taken off following World War II, with centers in Sweden, Finland, Holland, Germany, Sicily, and Italy. Instead, in ’65 he debuted the Goya Rangemaster solidbody electric built in Italy by ZeroSette. Hershman (the company) did not immediately replace the Hagström electrics. Goya’s mahogany-body thinlines from the ’66 catalog (right) used the same pickups and electronics as in the solidbodies. The ’68 catalog (left) showed the final ZeroSette-made Goya thinlines, including single- and double-cut versions. After the breakup, Goyas were again distributed by Hershman Musical Instrument Corp., which by then had moved in next door. From ’59 until ’63, Hagström built Goya electric guitars before a disagreement caused Hagström and Hershman to part ways.
23rd Street, which may have been a partnership with Hagström. Later that year, Hershman established Goya Guitars, Inc. In ’59, he expanded the Goya line with electric guitars made by Swedish accordion builder Hagström, beginning with the innovative plastic-covered hollowbody Deluxe and Standard models with modular pickup assemblies. In ’54, Hershman introduced Levin-made acoustic guitars under his own brand, Goya, as an alternative for players who couldn’t afford a Martin, Guild, or Gibson but wanted something better than a Kay and Harmony. On a buying trip in 1952, Hershman met the owners of Levin Guitars, one of the largest makers in Europe. One prominent New York “jobber” was Jerome Hershman, whose Hershman Musical Instrument Corporation was exhibiting at NAMM shows by 1940, maybe earlier. Stores were supplied by distributors who bought instruments wholesale from manufacturers such as Harmony, Kay, Regal, Valco, United, then marked them up and delivered them to places like Durdell’s Music. There were no Guitar Centers, no vintage-guitar shows, no internet. In the ’50s, guitars were typically obtained one of two ways – ordered from catalogs published by Sears and Roebuck or Montgomery Ward, or bought from a local music store. The ’62 Goya catalog (right) included Hagstrõm-made guitars. After a week of humidity it really started to open up tone wise.1965 Goya Rangemaster American guitars made in the 1950s and ’60s constitute an almost-holy canon, yet most players in that era took their first steps on imported instruments – often good and interesting in their own right, like the Goya Rangemaster. The other guitar was from Argentina and the year 1956. Once I was happier with the action, I bought new ball end nylon strings for it since that was what was on it.Īlso just decided to add some humidity to the case, to see if it helps tone in any way, etc. I am not much of a folk, or classical player. That is still to high for my liking though. I shaved the bridge bone to lower action to spec. The action was higher than spec for nylons. It only has finish checking on the top, no other signs of damage. It has sat since her husband past, about 30 years ago. The Goya G-10 is from 1965, with a nitro or lacquer finish. I was recently given a couple of old acoustics from an elderly neighbour, when she heard that I played. The Swedish made guitars have a following. There are reasons why Martin bought Goya.
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