Buegeleisen and Jacobson, a NY-based full-line instrument distributor, began importing Japanese guitars in the 1960s, appropriating the names of two of America’s most popular cigarette brands – Winston and Kent. Among the companies contracted to build these guitars were Guyatone, Teisco and, in the case of the Kent 742, probably Kawai.

This Kent 742 from the late 1960s took it’s inspiration from the pointed horns of Gibson’s SG solidbody models. Cosmetically it had all the trimmings – eight-ply binding (one layer more than Gibson’s fanciest) around the body, bound fingerboard and peghead, and figured maple top contrasting with a tortoiseshell pickguard.

Functionality, it was typical Japanese overkill, with four pickups – each with it’s own on/off control and it’s own tone and volume control. A Gibson-style tune-o-matic bridge provided good intonation, and a vibrato unit (this one may have been lifted from a Gibson) completed the appearance, at least, of a high-performance package.

Buegeleisen and Jacobson abandoned the Kent line by the end of the 1960s, and the company eventually became a part of Kaman Music (Ovation’s parent company).