The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

There is an Aria Diamond 6714 12-string for sale locally and I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of the value and whether these are decent guitars. The guy is willing to take $100 for it, it looks like it has a few scratches and it needs new strings. I'm not too worried about the cosmetics, if I get it I'll be using it mostly for slide.
Pictures below:



Thanks for the help,
Tim

$100 is a more than fare price for it. They are pretty decent guitars. Having the trapeze tail piece is a plus as belly bulge can be a real problem on these.

You'd think you'd see more of that approach, right? I wonder if there are inherent problems with that technique, it seems smart at first glance. I'd think you'd still need a pretty tall bridge, and a correlating neck pitch to get good downforce over the bridge.

je

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...doing bad things to good Vantages since 1985...

1981 AV-320
1981 AV-320
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1982 AV-320
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1982 VSH-445
1983 AV-330
1995 VST 33 CE TBK

Yeah, it would certainly avoid the headaches I'm currently having with mine: http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=9662&start=30#p63352
I haven't really investigated the mechanics/physics involved using a trapeze tailpiece but it's an interesting question. Many electric-acoustics use this system (like my Gibson ES330 for example) but of course there, we're relying more on electro-magnetics than physical vibration transmission. Hmmm...

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Thanks for the advice, picked it up this evening. Has some scratches and nicks and the soundboard appears warped around the top of the soundhole where the neck has pressed on it but otherwise looks good. Have to go tomorrow and get some strings so I can find out what it sounds like!

From what I read when I was looking at another guitar with a trapeze tail piece, I believe the main downfalls are that you don't get the same volume with a trapeze as you do with a traditional bridge and that it can make the action a little high. As for the bridge height, the height on this one is adjustable with a knob on either side.

Seems logical. Let us know how it all sets up once you've gotten it playing.

Good luck- nice grab.

je

_________________
...doing bad things to good Vantages since 1985...

1981 AV-320
1981 AV-320
1981 AV-325
1982 AV-320
1982 VS-695-12
1982 VSH-445
1983 AV-330
1995 VST 33 CE TBK

Great price !!!!

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MAA Member since June 29th 2009, taking one baby step at a time..... and failing miserably!