The Shaftesbury 3400 is a classic Japanese-built Les Paul-style electric guitar from the golden era of early imported instruments, offering a substantial feel, dual-humbucker layout and distinctive Black Beauty-inspired styling.

Built by Matsumoku in Japan for UK distributor Rose-Morris, the 3400 was designed as an affordable alternative to the Gibson Les Paul Custom and became one of the more highly regarded Japanese single-cut guitars of its period.

Its specification includes a bolt-on neck, rosewood fingerboard, twin humbuckers, traditional four-control layout and gold-plated hardware, giving it a familiar Les Paul-style feel while retaining its own early-1970s Japanese character.

This Pre-Owned example is in Good condition, weighs an actual 9.16 lbs, and is supplied without a case.

AT A GLANCE

Detail	Specification
Brand	Shaftesbury
Model	3400
Type	Les Paul-Style Electric Guitar
Country of Manufacture	Japan
Manufacturer	Matsumoku
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Pickups	Dual Humbuckers
Weight	9.16 lbs
Condition	Good / Pre-Owned
Case	Not Included

PRE-OWNED CONDITION REPORT

This is a Pre-Owned Shaftesbury 3400 in Good condition.

The Good condition grade reflects an instrument with noticeable signs of previous use and age while remaining fully functional and suitable for continued playing.

Given the age of these guitars, cosmetic wear to the finish and plated hardware is entirely consistent with normal use.

This individual guitar weighs 9.16 lbs.

No case is included.

KEY FEATURES

• Shaftesbury 3400

• Japanese-made vintage Les Paul-style guitar

• Built by Matsumoku

• Black polyester finish

• Single-cutaway body

• Contoured / arched-style top

• Bolt-on neck

• Rosewood fingerboard

• White fingerboard binding

• Pearloid block inlays

• 24.75" scale length

• 22 frets

• Dual humbucking pickups

• Traditional 3-way pickup selector

• 2 Volume controls

• 2 Tone controls

• Adjustable bridge

• Stopbar-style tailpiece

• Gold-plated hardware

• Black pickguard

• Actual measured weight of 9.16 lbs

• Good Pre-Owned condition

• No case included

WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT

The Shaftesbury 3400 comes from a particularly interesting period in Japanese guitar production.

Rather than being one of the later inexpensive copies that flooded the market, the 3400 was a comparatively substantial Matsumoku-built instrument intended to offer players a genuinely usable alternative to an expensive Gibson Les Paul.

The combination of dual humbuckers, rosewood fingerboard, block inlays and gold hardware gives it the unmistakable appearance of a vintage Les Paul Custom-inspired guitar.

At 9.16 lbs, this particular example also has the reassuringly solid feel associated with the model.

DETAILED FEATURES & BENEFITS

Matsumoku Construction

The Shaftesbury 3400 was produced in Japan by Matsumoku, one of the best-known Japanese guitar manufacturers of the period.

Matsumoku would go on to build instruments for a number of respected brands and developed a strong reputation for well-made guitars at accessible prices.

Les Paul Custom-Inspired Styling

The 3400 was clearly inspired by the Gibson Les Paul Custom.

Its black finish, block fingerboard inlays, multi-ply-style binding and gold hardware give it the classic Black Beauty aesthetic.

Bolt-On Neck

Unlike a Gibson Les Paul, the Shaftesbury uses a bolt-on neck.

This gives it a slightly different response and attack while retaining the general feel and layout of a single-cut dual-humbucker guitar.

Rosewood Fingerboard

The rosewood fingerboard provides a familiar playing surface and is decorated with large pearloid block markers.

24.75" Scale Length

The 24.75" scale length closely follows the traditional Gibson format and gives the strings a slightly softer feel than a 25.5" design.

22 Frets

The guitar uses a traditional 22-fret layout.

Dual Humbuckers

The 3400 was originally fitted with a pair of covered humbuckers.

Period examples are documented with Maxon pickups, giving the guitar the warm and powerful dual-humbucker character expected from the design.

Traditional Four-Control Layout

The familiar Les Paul-style electronics provide:

• Neck Volume

• Bridge Volume

• Neck Tone

• Bridge Tone

This allows both pickups to be balanced independently.

Three-Way Selector

The 3-way toggle provides neck, both-pickups and bridge settings.

Adjustable Bridge

The bridge provides individual saddle adjustment for accurate intonation.

Stopbar-Style Tailpiece

A fixed tailpiece arrangement anchors the strings securely and reinforces the Les Paul-inspired design.

Gold-Plated Hardware

Gold-plated hardware was part of the 3400’s original Black Beauty-inspired specification.

On surviving vintage examples, wear to the plating is common and consistent with age.

9.16 lbs Actual Weight

This individual guitar weighs 9.16 lbs, giving it a solid and substantial feel.

WHO IS IT FOR?

The Shaftesbury 3400 is particularly well suited to players who enjoy vintage Japanese guitars, Les Paul-style instruments and early Matsumoku production.

It should also appeal to collectors looking for interesting UK-market Japanese guitars from the period before the better-known late-1970s and 1980s Matsumoku models.

PLAYING STYLES & APPLICATIONS

The Shaftesbury 3400 works particularly well for:

• Classic rock

• Blues

• Hard rock

• Indie

• Alternative

• Rhythm guitar

• Lead guitar

• Vintage-style rock tones

• Studio recording

The dual-humbucker configuration makes it a versatile instrument for both clean and driven sounds.

HOW IT COMPARES

Shaftesbury 3400 vs Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Shaftesbury was designed as an affordable alternative to the Gibson Les Paul Custom.

It shares the broad single-cut shape, dual-humbucker layout, black finish and gold hardware aesthetic, but uses a bolt-on neck and different body/top construction.

Matsumoku vs Later Budget Copies

Matsumoku developed a strong reputation for building comparatively solid and playable Japanese instruments.

The 3400 therefore sits above many of the more basic generic Les Paul copies that appeared later in the decade.

Vintage Japanese vs Modern Entry-Level Guitar

A modern entry-level guitar may offer greater production consistency.

The Shaftesbury, however, offers genuine period construction, vintage Japanese character and considerably more historical interest.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Specification	Details
Product Type	Solid Body Electric Guitar
Brand	Shaftesbury
Model	3400
Country of Manufacture	Japan
Manufacturer	Matsumoku
Body Shape	Les Paul-Style Single Cut
Finish	Black Polyester
Top	Contoured / Arched-Style
Neck Construction	Bolt-On
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fingerboard Binding	White
Inlays	Pearloid Blocks
Scale Length	24.75"
Frets	22
Pickup Configuration	HH
Pickups	Dual Humbuckers
Electronics	Passive
Controls	2 Volume, 2 Tone
Switching	3-Way Toggle
Bridge	Adjustable
Tailpiece	Stopbar-Style
Hardware	Gold-Plated
Weight	9.16 lbs
Case	Not Included
Condition	Good / Pre-Owned

POWER REQUIREMENTS

None.

The Shaftesbury 3400 uses passive electronics and requires no battery or external power supply.

FAIR DEAL MUSIC EXPERT VERDICT ★★★★★

Best suited for: Players and collectors looking for an affordable vintage Japanese Les Paul-style guitar with genuine Matsumoku pedigree.

Customers usually upgrade from: Modern entry-level single-cut guitars, inexpensive Les Paul copies and basic vintage-style electrics.

Most commonly paired with: Valve amplifiers, overdrive, fuzz, boost and classic rock-oriented pedal setups.

Our tip: Treat this as a vintage Japanese guitar in its own right rather than simply a Gibson substitute. The Matsumoku connection, substantial build and early-1970s UK-market history are a large part of its appeal.

Showroom feedback: The 3400 has the reassuring weight and substantial feel many players associate with early Les Paul-style guitars, while the block inlays and aged gold-plated hardware give it plenty of period character.

WHY BUY PRE-OWNED FROM FAIR DEAL MUSIC?

Buying a Pre-Owned Shaftesbury 3400 offers the opportunity to own a genuine Japanese-built vintage guitar with strong early Matsumoku credentials.

This example is in Good condition, weighs 9.16 lbs, and is supplied without a case.

Fair Deal Music has decades of experience buying, selling and part-exchanging vintage, unusual and Pre-Owned guitars.

WHY BUY FROM FAIR DEAL MUSIC?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Fair Deal Music combines a large Birmingham showroom with nationwide ecommerce and knowledgeable musician-led advice.

Customers benefit from:

• Family-run independent retailer established in 1987

• Birmingham's largest independent music store

• 6,000+ Trustpilot reviews

• Knowledgeable musician-led advice

• Experience with vintage Japanese guitars

• Large Birmingham showroom

• Secure online ordering

• Fast UK delivery

• Friendly customer support

• Part-exchange and trade-in service

TRADE IN. TRADE UP. SAVE MORE.

Your current guitar or other musical equipment could help towards the cost of this Shaftesbury 3400.

Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges guitars, basses, amplifiers, effects, keyboards and a wide range of musical equipment.

Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation.

PART EXCHANGE / TRADE-IN

If you already own a guitar or other musical equipment you are considering replacing, Fair Deal Music can assess it for part exchange.

Trading in can remove the inconvenience of selling privately while allowing the value of your existing equipment to go directly towards your next instrument.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is this Shaftesbury 3400 used?

Yes. This is a Pre-Owned Shaftesbury 3400 in Good condition.

Where was the Shaftesbury 3400 made?

It was made in Japan.

Who manufactured it?

The original 3400 was manufactured by Matsumoku for UK distributor Rose-Morris.

Is it a Les Paul copy?

It is a Les Paul Custom-inspired single-cut guitar, particularly influenced by the Black Beauty aesthetic.

What finish does it have?

The documented 3400 specification uses a Black polyester finish.

Is the neck set or bolt-on?

It uses a bolt-on neck.

What fingerboard does it have?

Rosewood.

What is the scale length?

It uses a 24.75" scale length.

How many frets does it have?

22.  

What pickups does the original 3400 use?

Period examples are documented with dual Maxon humbuckers.

Are the pickups active?

No. They are passive.

What controls does it have?

Two Volume controls, two Tone controls and a 3-way pickup selector.

What colour is the hardware?

Gold-plated.

Is wear to the gold plating normal?

Yes. Wear to gold plating is common on vintage instruments and is frequently seen on surviving Shaftesbury 3400 examples.

Does it require a battery?

No.

How much does it weigh?

This individual guitar weighs 9.16 lbs.

What condition is it in?

It is in Good condition.

Does it come with a case?

No. No case is included.

Is it suitable for classic rock?

Yes. Its dual-humbucker layout and Les Paul-style construction make it particularly well suited to classic rock and blues.

Is it collectible?

Yes. Early Matsumoku-built Shaftesbury instruments have increasing interest among collectors of vintage Japanese guitars.

Can I request a video demo?

Yes. A video demo is particularly useful for hearing the fitted humbuckers and assessing the condition of a vintage guitar like this.

Can I part-exchange another guitar against it?

Yes. Fair Deal Music considers guitars and a wide range of other musical equipment for part exchange.