The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Hi Guys

I have had this guitar for a long while now and I don't know what to make of it, any and all advice would be great.

I suspect it is an Aria Pro II from the 80's and maybe modified.

It is called "Geneve" as I have not been able to source the maker, but I do have some clues below.

Firstly the spec:

The guitar is a through body neck design using mutiple woods such as maple, birds eye, oak, and others. Appears to be handmade and retrofitted according to a specialist, and has unusual features...

Brass nut and bridge, with micro tuners.

Wide, almost acoustic like neck, maybe gibson les paul like?

Made in the early 80's approx, similar to Ibanez of the time. Valued at at least €700 by the quality of the instrument by a local specialist who has suggested I try to find out more about the maker.

According to the french man from whom I bought it, it was made in the 80's by a german luthier training in Canada.

The Humbuckers are "Shadows"

Elixer Strings.

Knobs are for tone control and volume.

The switchs are for a 3 way switch, coil taps, and a "polorizer/phaser" This makes for a very wide range of tones, often complimented on, I believe one of the humbuckers is currently functioning as a singlecoil and a few years ago I had asked a electrical guitar repair tech to take a look but due to the guitar he advised me that it should be left as it is.

Hardcase is included.

It has been suggested that it could be a Duvoisin Guitar, I do not believe this is the case.

I believe it is a master volume and two tone pots.

There are no identification markings that I can find, I had once been told that the name "Koll" was inscribed somewhere but I could not find it without starting to take pieces off thus please take it that there is no identification. There is no serial number.

The inside cavities have been left alone though I remember that the backing plates should be screwed onto (levelling plates/plastic pieces) that are glued to the inner wood.

I believe the fingerboard is stained ebony but will confirm this as well, there is a little loss of stain around where the thumb is sometimes used on the 6th string, or this may be a natural occurrence as I believe there is an Indian ebony that displays this colouration? There is light inlay work along the fingerboard. 24 frets. Neck is from 1st fret is 20mm deep and 45 across approx. Width of the nut is 44mm approx and at 12th is 53mm approx.

http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/33 ... 1169262576

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=2083664

http://www.grapevineblues.com/gear.htm

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7100013

http://imageevent.com/chingo123/novembe ... 00bass3786

The guitar may be the following

Aria Pro II RS-850 or similar

Please see the following brochure link from the 80s and a review from harmony central

http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariapro ... 2.jpg.html
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/revi ... S-850/10/1

Will you please check out the photos enclosed thanks.

btw, won't include any links but the guitar has been put on ebay and a fellow ebayer directed me to Matsumoku!

Hmm, it looks very RS-ish. My RS600 has the same neck measurements you describe but the neck laminations are different. I've seen at least one like yours but cannot find pics just yet. No offense but I don't believe the neck was retrofitted. Also, the head looks like it was refinished.
Still lookin. . .

I'm with Jorg on this one...plus, you don't exactly "retro-fit" a through-neck.

no no no, I didn't mean the neck was retrofitted! lol I meant the different pieces on the guitar!

I kinda had a feeling thats what you meant.
There are a few things that puzzle me.
-This style of RS guitar (1st run) has a separate bridge and tailpiece that are recessed into the body. Yours looks to be a combo using one set of studs mounted on top. It looks to be factory?
-I've never seen the pickup selector switch load from the back.
-The head is shaped a bit differently from my RS and pics of others I've seen.
Working top to bottom/front to back:
-The point on top, just behind the nut looks very small to non existent.
-The "hook" on the end is smaller with the bottom route coming very close to the tuners.
-The bottom point looks to be beyond the A tuner. This point is generally closer to the nut falling short of the A tuner.
-The tuners themselves look to be closer to the nut. (This may explain previous point)
-Serial number is usually on the back side of the "hook".

Not that any of this is good or bad, just different enough to question RS model.

How does she play?