The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Jorg digs it!!

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Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Thanks. Me too.

Can you shed any light re. year of manufacture? And does everything look original? It does to me, but I'm no expert (and who knows if "a danger to society with a soldering iron" has been at the insides).

And you got that for $74? I think you stole my luck. Give it back!

With a single pickup and one volume and one tone it's likely it is still original. Looking at the pots should tell you.

Towards the end Matsumoku was probably using whatever parts they had stockpiled. SLM sent some of the Japanese Westone parts to Korea to be finished there when production ended in Japan.

It could very well be an 87, that's when they shut their doors for good.

Beginner's luck, no doubt. I'm sure service will return to normal shortly.

Oh I see. Interesting. And when did they open them? Or rather, when did Aria add the Pro II suffix?



Thanks. I've now looked at them. And they are not identical. So at the very least they tell me that one (or more) of them isn't original. Can you guys tell which by looking? EDIT: I'm guessing the one with the rounded central knob is a modern replacement, as I seem to recall that the pots on my CS 350 – which I know are not original – look like that. Not entirely sure though, as I don't have it here.

I guess that puts everything else somewhat in doubt too. Although it's entirely possible that only a single pot has been changed and nothing else.

I should have said potentiometer, not knobs. You'll have to open the control cavity. Even if they aren't original if they work that's all that matters. It's not like it's a 58 burst LP so a non-original pot or knob is not going to de-value it any at all.

Aria Pro II began with the introduction of the Masterpiece, PE-1000 and PE-1500 in 77. The CS series came later on. Pretty sure yours is an 87.

Ahhh, I see! In fact I wondered what was so significant about the volume and tone control knobs haha

That sounds like invasive surgery to me. Will leave it to whoever I get to set this thing up to take a look under the hood – if necessary.

Thanks for all the info. '87 does indeed seem most likely.

On a different note, I take it that the PE 60 is the holy grail, or at least apex, of APII guitars then?

Nope, just one I foolishly sold some time ago and regret it.

Ah, bummer. I'll be on the lookout for one then

Allowing for subjective personal preferences, is there a particular APII Matsumoku model that's considered exceptionally good?