...and my guitar herd expands yet again.....

[Fausto]

Picked this up for cheap on CL recently. My google-fu indicates it's a late-60's 335 copy from the Matsumoku factory. These were also marketed as Aria 5102's and later as Epiphone Rivieras (and several other names for that matter). It needs some love, so I'm planning to do a full dismantle/refinish/reassemble on it at some point. It was cheap enough that if I inadvertently ruin it, I'm not going to cry (much).

Plays pretty well (the neck is incredibly thin, which is a bit strange at first) and has a nice fuzzy warm tone (pickup output is low, to put it mildly).

 

[CraKaJaX]

Dammit -- no pic(s) because of work. Sounds like a nice grab though. I've played the Aria 5102 and loved the tone I got out of it through my blues junior. The fat switch gave it a nice warm, crunchy tone. (Think Clapton, Cream).

I recently scored a CL gem -- 2007 Martin D28 for $1000. Case included. I'll have to post some pictures when I get home tonight. But damn, you can play that guitar to nearly anything. I guess John and Paul didn't have a matching set for no reason...

 

[Fausto]

Dammit -- no pic(s) because of work. Sounds like a nice grab though. I've played the Aria 5102 and loved the tone I got out of it through my blues junior. The fat switch gave it a nice warm, crunchy tone. (Think Clapton, Cream).

I recently scored a CL gem -- 2007 Martin D28 for $1000. Case included. I'll have to post some pictures when I get home tonight. But damn, you can play that guitar to nearly anything. I guess John and Paul didn't have a matching set for no reason...

Cot Damn. That is a screaming deal. My dad has a circa 1984 D-28 that I covet.

 

[Platypus]

damn, nice

 

[slightlyhuman]

give us some mp3 action... curious how it sounds.

nice find!

 

[OinkBoink]

Looks pretty. Put up a vid.

 

[Fausto]

Looks pretty. Put up a vid.

I've got it stashed up at my folks' place right now, but here's a vid with sound from an Aria 5102t (same guitar, different brand).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWivAcGfyPQ

 

[CraKaJaX]

At home now.. looks great! Are you going to tweak it at all? New pups? Onboard pre? New pots?

 

[TechBoyJK]

Going to swap the pickups? If it plays great and the only downside is the pickups, why not put some goodies in there and liven it up a bit?

 

[Fausto]

Going to swap the pickups? If it plays great and the only downside is the pickups, why not put some goodies in there and liven it up a bit?

I am actually planning a total dismantle and refinish. Dunno about the pickups at this point, but I want it to sound like a 335 so I'll probably go with something along those lines.

As I said, I may end up ruining this thing, but it was cheap and it will be fun to do some dabbling in luthier-ing.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Cot Damn. That is a screaming deal. My dad has a circa 1984 D-28 that I covet.

Covet? You mean steal? Tsk tsk. Steal from your father huh? Frausto!