The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Anyone who has compared 1980´s Matsumoku made (for example Aria Pro II LC models) Les Paul Custom copies to those two other japanese manufacturers?

Please tell what makes them different or are they ALL very, very good copies?

It seem to be more difficult finding Aria Pro II LC's than Greco's and Burny's, am I right? or if I am, why is it?

In all honesty that is more of an era,a mindset,than by whom from many respects.

I´ve basicaly tried them all and IMO it comes down WAY more to model number than what it within reason says on the head of the guitar.
To compare apples to apples i have tried the Leopard and LS700 both.
The Leopard from some respects is more bells&whistles while the 700 takes home the pie on player feel and attention to detail.
Mark tho,that is merely my OPINION.

Many of the highly regarded copies come out at the same level if you ask me as long as were not talking the mega bux ones.
More the "in the middle" offerings.

The LS700 though..IMO is right up there,and i´ve tried MANY a Greco,Edwards,Tokai,Orvilles and Burnys that do NOT match up from a player and tone POW.
Built with attitude and excellence are words worn by now,but IMO that is very much the case with both the 600s and 700s i´ve encountered.
That a midrange Greco would be the better instrument....*clears throat'..buuuuuuuuuuullshiiiiiiiiiiit....excuse me..

Then again...that attention to detail,and that "no frills look" carries on with many a Uncle Mat guitar as far as i´m concerned.
In essence they simply deliver more than they look..
Then again...opions are like...well...peoples behinds...so don´t take my word on player feel and tone.Get out there and try a few out.
If you live close by...as you know you´re always welcome to try mine out.There after all is a bunch of them on the wall here by now.

In my opinion, the Aria Pro II guitars of this era (except lc-1000/1200) are more based in the Gibson Norlin time with pancake bodies and three piece maple necks as they started 1975 at Gibson. Grecos from 1980 onwards have mahagony necks and no pancake bodies. Before 1980 most Grecos had a three piece maple neck too. A Burny from 1980 is very are and i do not know the specs, but they have a higher standing in the mij community as Arias.

It depends too what kinda Custom you are looking for ? A 5os Gibson Custom has an all mahagony body and ebony fretboard. I do know that some Burny had the same specs and rarely some Tokais. I do not know if there any Grecos with those specs, as far as i know no Aria came with an all mahagony body/top, but they offered some with an ebony fretboard. By the way i had a LC-750 from 1978 and the guitar had an arched plywood top, very disappointing.

My Aria Pro II LS-800 is as good as my 73 Gibson, but completely different to a Greco EGF-1200 or Tokai Love Rock LS-120.

I bought around 50 MIJ Les Pauls and i had good ones and bad ones. You have to try and find your personal favorite.