'Japan handmade top brand' - I came across this phrase 3 times out of 5 articles describing this guitar while browsing through the Japanese blogs. For those who are less familiar with the brand, Navigator is ESP's sub brand for non-metal players. In its lineup, Grassroots sits on the bottom, Edwards stays around the mid range, and Navigator apparently goes on top.

As for this particular model, this is one of their 335 type semi-hollow bodies. Navigator 335 series appears in the ESP catalogues only from 1975 to 1984. The guitar I put up here is their 1975-1982 production. The guitars manufactured around this period are distingushable by the narrow dots on 12 frets. Navigators from the rest of years have dots distant each other, one on 6th string and one on 1st string. As a matter of fact, It is very rare to find this particular production and you wouldn't want to miss this chance. According to the Japanese sites, this model was played by Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton in their Japan tour in 1980's.

To speak of the quality, action and intonation are all good, and sturdiness on binding and fret dressing is excellent. Lacquer finish stays intact for 30 years. Quality woods and mahogany center block produce the warm and matured sound.

The model of this guitar is SA-120. ESP advises there is difference of the tuning pegs between SA-120 and SA-150, where SA-120 has brass-made ones while SA-150 tuning pegs were made from bovine bone. FYI, details about SA-150 is at http://www.sharpenedflat.com/vintage-guitar/Navigator-SA-150-0016