The first page in the 1970 Rose-Morris catalog shows two Gibson-inspired Shaftesbury models: the full-body electric acoustic 3264, based on the the Gibson Barney Kessel Custom, and the 3400, based on the Gibson Les Paul.
The 3264 was a very detailed copy of the Gibson. It had the same dimensions, a set neck, and a lovely cherry sunburst finish. It was made in Japan, most likely by Matsumoku, who also produced a very similar guitar for Greco.
A medium slim, 'cello style bodied instrument with contoured top and back. Finished overall in red sunburst polyester with white purfled edges. Neck incorporates adjustable truss rod. Rosewood fingerboard with Pearloid position markers and you white bound edges. Individual, all-metal covered machine heads. Two pickup units with separate polepieces. Two volume and tone controls plus pick up selector switch. Metal bridge unit with individual string adjustment saddles, mounted on rosewood base with height adjustment thumbscrews. Polished, black plastic finger plate. The all-metal, covered machine heads and other metal fittings are gold plated. Complete with coiled lead (fitted with two jack plugs) and shaped, plush-lined and fitted carrying case.
Model 3400 was also a very well-built guitar, produced in Japan by Matsumoku, but not to the standard of its Gibson equivalent. Although it had gold-plated hardware, an inlaid Shaftesbury logo, and block neck inlays, it had a bolt-on rather than set neck, and a 'bent' rather than carved top. This guitar was also provided to other distributors worldwide in the period 1969-1972 (approximately), sometimes with minor changes: Jedson 4444 (J. E. Dallas) and Eros (Rosetti) in the UK, Univox (Merson), Aria 5522, and many more. Note, there were a lot of Japanese producers building similar guitars at this point, and as the 1970s wore on, some less-good Les Paul copies were sold with the same branding. Not all Les Paul copies are the same!
Solid body with contoured top, finished overall in black polyester with white purfled edges. Detachable neck incorporating adjustable truss rod. Rosewood fingerboard with Pearloid position markers and white bound edges. Individual, all-metal covered machine heads. Two pickup units with separate polepieces. Two volume and tone controls plus pick up selector switch. All–metal bridge with individual string adjustment saddles. Polished black plastic finger plate. The all-metal covered machine heads and other metal fittings are gold plated.
In mid 1970, model 3264 had a UK list-price of £89 19s (unchanged since it's launch in late '68/early '69), whilst the 3400 list-price was £69 10s.
£250