If you look at Japanese guitar parts, you will run into the Gotoh name again and again. One Gotoh is known for high-precision tuners. The other is known for OEM pickups. Many players assume they are the same company, but they are actually two completely separate Japanese companies.
| Gotoh (tuners) | Gotoh Pickups | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Gotoh Gut Co., Ltd. (G-GOTOH) | Gotoh Co., Ltd. (GOTOH PICKUPS) |
| Founded | 1960 | 1966 |
| Based in | Isesaki, Gunma | Matsumoto, Nagano |
| Known for | Tuners, bridges and other hardware | Pickups, mainly OEM for Japanese brands |
| Pickups? | Made pickups for a few years, then withdrew in 1993 | Its core business today |
Source: company profiles on the official G-GOTOH and GOTOH PICKUPS websites.
Prefer to watch? This article is based on my own short below.
Gotoh Gut: The Tuner Company
The tuner company was founded in 1960 and is known for its stable, reliable craftsmanship. According to its official company profile, its roots go back to 1950, when founder Masao Goto started making violin strings, which is where the “Gut” in the company name comes from. It started making tuners in 1960 and moved into bridges and tailpieces in the 1980s.
Its customer list on the official site reads like a who’s who of Japanese guitar making, including Fujigen, Tokai, Yamaha, ESP and Fernandes.
Gotoh Pickups: The OEM Pickup Company
The pickup company was founded in 1966 and has focused on OEM production for many Japanese brands. Its official company profile lists customers such as Dyna Gakki, Fujigen and Tokai.
This Gotoh is still active today, and its made-in-Japan pickups are easy to find online, both as replacement pickups and on guitars from Japanese makers.
When Both Gotohs Made Pickups
Here is where it gets confusing. For a few years, the tuner Gotoh also produced its own pickups. According to the official G-GOTOH timeline, it started making pickups for electric guitar and bass in 1988 and withdrew from pickup production in 1993. So for about five years, two different Gotoh pickups existed at the same time.
Information on the tuner-Gotoh pickups is scarce, and they are difficult to search for because of the name overlap: almost every search for “Gotoh pickups” leads to the pickup company. Catalogs from the period show regular pickups as well as sealed pickups.
What is still unclear is how they were used. Were they sold only as replacement pickups, or were they fitted to certain guitars as original equipment? I have not been able to confirm either way yet.
Final Thoughts
Two Japanese companies, the same name, and for a few years, the same product. If you are buying Gotoh parts, it helps to know which Gotoh you are actually dealing with, and the tuner-Gotoh pickups are one of those small mysteries of Japanese guitar history that still need more research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Gotoh tuners and Gotoh pickups made by the same company?
No. Gotoh tuners are made by Gotoh Gut, founded in 1960 in Gunma. Gotoh pickups are made by Gotoh Co., Ltd., a separate company founded in 1966 in Nagano.
Did the tuner company Gotoh ever make pickups?
Yes. According to its official timeline, Gotoh Gut made electric guitar and bass pickups from 1988 and withdrew from pickup production in 1993.
Are Gotoh pickups made in Japan?
Yes. Gotoh Pickups is a Japanese company that makes its pickups in Japan and supplies many Japanese guitar brands.
Which guitar brands use Gotoh pickups?
The company lists Japanese makers such as Dyna Gakki, Fujigen and Tokai among its customers.
