The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Q&A, discussion, and information for the labels covered by The Guitar Gallery (Specifically and exclusively guitars made by Matsumoku up to 1987)
It is currently Thu 28 Mar 2024 11:42 PM

All times are UTC - 5 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic
 [ 3 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Fri 17 Jul 2020 07:53 PM 
Offline
Prospective Member

Joined: Fri 17 Jul 2020 07:11 PM
Posts: 1
Hey Friends,
I've got a noob question here for you. I am routinely given guitars by people, in which I will often clean them up/fix them, and then give them to students that I am teaching first year guitar. Over the years I have given out many epiphones, corts, silvertone, and Aria Pro ii guitars (mostly Strat models). I have never really thought about keeping any of the Aria Pro ii guitars, as I have more expensive guitars in my collection...but today I pulled a guitar out of a closet (where its lived in a gig bag since it was gifted to me last year), and I'm curious about this guitar. Everything I've found on the web (which is not much at all), seems to say that this is sort of a "beginners" model in the Aria Pro ii line, but I'm also reading that it was possibly manufactured in Japan/assembled in Korea. If this is the case, I also own many Japanese guitars, and I'm a huge fan of those.

All of that to ask this noob question. I know nothing of Aria Pro ii guitars, but I have a "Mad Axe" by Aria Pro ii guitar. (Model ST-01-3X). It's black on black with a maple neck. (two single coil, humbucker in the bridge, single volume and tone pots with a five way switch). The guitar has some age and a few large chips on it, but overall in really solid condition. It needs a little love and new jack, but could be a good player.

I'm not sure on the year and serial. It seems that other models have the serial stamped into the neck plate. There is a newer blank neck plate on this one, which leads me to believe it may have been replaced???? My overall question is, can anyone identify this guitar? I can't seem to find anything in the forums about it, and not sure if a serial number might be stamped under the pups or inside the pick guard somewhere. Just curious to know any information about this guy, and if it would be worth installing a new jack and giving to a student, or if I should clean it up and give it a home with me? I appreciate your time guys, and look forward to any info you can help me with.

https://imgur.com/gallery/a2tbJpF


Last edited by Darkfright on Fri 17 Jul 2020 08:07 PM, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Sat 18 Jul 2020 07:02 PM 
Offline
Virtuoso
User avatar

Joined: Sat 25 Mar 2006 09:25 PM
Posts: 3190
Location: Grand Absurdity, TX
Welcome!
I don't know the year this was made but I'm certain it is post Mat. It is very much an entry level guitar.
I'd be very surprised if there is anything Japanese about it. The plate is probably original and never been removed. You can look for a serial number but if you have to search for it, it probably doesn't matter.

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: Mon 20 Jul 2020 01:27 PM 
Offline
Virtuoso
User avatar

Joined: Wed 02 May 2018 04:46 PM
Posts: 148
Location: Germany
I've seen a couple of "Mad Axe" Aria's here and they had Sxxxxx serial numbers, indicating Samick (Korea) built. A lot of the early Samick built Aria's had the number on a sticker on the backside of the head or stamped there.

_________________
Comparing spammers to a pile of organic waste, is an insult to the organic waste.

Uncle Mats ES-500, RS Wildcat, RSB Deluxe, FS-750, Magna MA 30 (non-Mat), TA-61 non-Mat), a Westone limited run/proto Thunder and an OAKLAND (Westone) XI100.

Pete


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 16 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group