The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Can anyone shed any light on what year the pictured Aria Pro ii Les Paul is? Serial number starts with a D, open book headstock and plays and sounds like a dream. Thanks in advance for any info!


https://s.amsu.ng/rJlGzFkroe2N

Hi and welcome.
A letter on a Matsumoku model normally would indicate the month of manufacture, in this case likely April.

Without the full number though it's really impossible to know what year it was made. Even then sometimes it's only an educated guess.
If the guitar was made in the 80's the next two digits should be the year. For example: D82xxxx would be April 1982

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Hi, thanks. Full serial number D66014 possibly 066014 but pretty sure it's a D. I've owned and played many Les Pauls and this sucker is right up there.

Before seeing your second post, (admiring the pic ) I was going to say '78 - '80.
After seeing your second post, I have a feeling that is a 0 and its an '80.
Just my guess without actually seeing it myself. If you'd like to send it to me, I could make a much better inspection. . .

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Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Lol! Yes. Based on my knowledge of Elecra's I'd say 80 or 76. The only thing that chases me off 1980 is the open book headstock. Did they do them as late as 1980? I thought Gibson had scared everyone off that by 1977?

Well I'm pretty sure I've solved it. The D is just a sloppy zero. The serial number in my opinion is 066014, the second zero is sloppy too. Aria Pro ii did indeed have open book Gibson headstocks in 1980, possibly as late as 1981. Many companies started changing headstocks in 1976/77, I'm shocked Aria Pro ii stalled for 5 more years. Soooo, my guitar is most likely a 1980 model. While I'm sad it's not a 1970s guitar for nostalgia, I'm pretty stoked it's almost certainly a Matsomoku guitar.

Ahh, no doubt its an Uncle Mat.

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Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Neal knows this about me...I'm a Gibson guy who loved Electras. This Aria Pro ii is my favorite Les Paul Guitar of all time! I've owned 1969. 1974, 1981 Gibsons, at least 10 Electras, and a few assorted LP copies. This Aria Pro ii is the finest Les Paul I've owned and one of the finest I've ever played! And I have played several 50.60's Gibsons! I'll never let this AP2 go!

Neal knows this about me...I'm a Gibson guy who loved Electras. This Aria Pro ii is my favorite Les Paul Guitar of all time! I've owned 1969. 1974, 1981 Gibsons, at least 10 Electras, and a few assorted LP copies. This Aria Pro ii is the finest Les Paul I've owned and one of the finest I've ever played! And I have played several 50.60's Gibsons! I'll never let this AP2 go!