Aria Pro II Stage Caster - new to Matsumoku

[BillT]

Hi All,

New to the group and Japanese Guitars. However, have been given a Stage Caster and I'm fairly sure it's a Matsumoku. Would appreciate anything that could confirm the year of the guitar and honestly, what I should do with it to make it sound as it should.

Have played it and seems ok, but volume crackles and know it definitely needs a proper clean.

~Serial number is: C780839

Think the neck is maple and the body is ash, but only from what I've pieced together in the Forum.

Any help/advice appreciated as want to resurrect this guitar.

Thanks,

Bill

[Crusty]

Sweet! Fender but Better!

Looks like its had a few iterations in its lifetime. Pickups may not be original but the strat copy pickups of this era were nothing to write home about.

For its age it looks to be in fairly good condition. Looks like the "meat and taters" of the guitar is there so there is a lot to work with.

[BillT]

Hi Crusty,

Thanks for the compliment! I'm excited about getting stuck into the refurb.

Not sure what the tuning knobs are from (praying they aren't stock) but will put on some witches hats once the pickups have been dealt with.

So, is it a 1978? I'm thinking that's right, but not sure.

The pics have been dropped in quality to allow on the thread, but the guitar has definitely been used. All the hallmarks of a player as the action is low, but the frets look pretty good.

[Crusty]

78 sounds about right.

Those vol/tone knobs are definitely not stock.

Image sizes have been upgraded from what they once were. There is really no need for 14MB raw camera images as disk space costs money where hosting is concerned. I am monitoring image space usage and if it looks like I can upgrade the maximum requirements I will. Understand this site has been in existence for going on 25 years so I have to plan for the future.

I have an RS Bobcat IV which is the H. Noble version of the Strat and love it. I'm pretty sure once you iron out the wrinkles this one will be a keeper. They sure don't come up very often.

[Jorg]

Wow!!
I dig it!