Memphis Guitars were guitars produced during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Overview
Memphis Guitars were affordable guitars that were imported from Asia and distributed in the United States by C. Bruno and Sons from 1969, until November 1989. The product line included Fender and Gibson-styled instruments as well as some original designs. In the early years they were manufactured by Matsumoku Industrial Numerous 'copies' of American-made or designed guitars were built. The 'Les Paul-Styled Guitar' was the most popularly produced guitar by Memphis.
Second in order of collectibility would be the 1970s Memphis Les Pauls, by which the Memphis brand found its audience. A large number of Memphis guitars, manufactured in Japan, actually do NOT carry the Memphis waterslide decal. They are easily recognized, however, as they possess a "zero fret" just under the nut. It serves no real purpose, (possibly there to reassure the string displacement and height). Not having an actual "label" on the headstocks of many of the guitars being built in the Korean Plant, Memphis provided the buyer with the option of "labeling" the guitar with any brand he or she chose.
Memphis also designed and manufactured guitar effects pedals, including delays, reverbs, overdrive, and the Memphis Fuzz. One of the most common is the Memphis Phaser, simply named "Roto Phase" - a simple pedal with input, output, and one knob that controlled the speed.