soundcreation

I had two death caps on my Gibson Falcon. Took them both out and grounded it myself. WRG can correct me if I'm wrong but I think he was saying, and what I understood when I did mine...is that basically "death caps" are simply not up to the standards of today. A more primitive form of "safety" if you will. I wanted them out and a properly grounded three prong plug. So I did it. I'm not willing to take any chances on obsolete engineering. It's one "vintage correct" feature I don't really understand why anyone would want.

Well that's the thing with Aria's. They weren't the best Japan was making. Yeah they had some mid/higher end PE models like Fretts' there, and a few other rare exceptions. But for the most part they occupied a lower rung than companies like Greco, Tokai, and Burny. Most of Aria's models were low to mid range overall. The best deals in my opinion...are those mid range (which was pretty much the top of THEIR line) fender and gibson copies that weren't available in the US. For example my strat... This thing cost me about 170 bucks (before shipping from japan...less than 250 to my door). It's a 79. It has one of the nicest maple necks I've ever felt. Matsumoku was still a "done by hand" factory back in those days. The body is 2 piece alder. 2 piece. What fender gives you a 2 piece body? Certainly not mexican. Factory USA? Maybe..if you're lucky. Where it doesn't measure up to better MIJ brands is in it's pickups and electronics, and it's finish. Their poly finish sucks and it's too thick. And ALL my Aria's are like that. But when people talk about "modding platforms"...I can't think of anything even remotely close to the kind of basic quality the neck and body are on these old Aria's. Thing is though...the "fender copies" that made it to N. America were different than these ones. The Aria Les Paul copies in Japan are also a nice 'bang for the buck' level guitar.

I have a few of the older ones. A bass, a strat and a TS model. That one you were looking at is newer. You can read and learn about the history of the company here... http://www.matsumoku.org/guitars.html That site covers the made in Japan era at the matsumoku factory up until the mid 80's I think. The one you were looking at is a "modern" Aria. It's a little hard to find much information about the modern company. But that one is Korean made. They still make some of the very high end models in Japan but those run into the 2000 dollar range. The old PE model came in price ranges all up and down the spectrum and the new ones seem to be similar. So it's best to do your homework and learn how to spot the differences between old and new and also low and high end.

I think its gruesome and ultimately disrespectful to the dead artist. Its not them its a tape with some kind of high tech puppet. Are we so devoid of decent artist we have to virtually grave rob to get entertainment? they're dead....I'm pretty sure they won't give a {censored}...

you know what? whenever I see some stupid mother {censored}er talking about how rap is {censored}...I'm just going to post some amazing rap...

Don't you mean ignant? I can't pull that off....

Ahhh spoken like a true scholar. I think my point about rap contributing to people's stupidity has been firmly made. Enjoy your IQ. {censored} you. ignorant mother {censored}er....

I thought it was pretty {censored}ing cool. It probably freaked a few people out too. It looked very realistic on the clips I saw. If Dre wants to drop a couple hundred grand (apparently) to do it then more power to him. As for the people saying rap IS {censored} and has NO talent eat a dick up..... you ignorant mother {censored}ers.

I don't believe in faith.....it's just an excuse to not analyze situations logically. Including asshole band members.

Aside from some people turning me on to a few bands I didn't know about before.....nope...not at all. I find, on average, people here are pretty closed minded about music.

I own this... http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRATE-V1512-electric-Guitar-combo-TUBE-amp-w-Tone-Tubby-Speaker-/110519416453?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19bb787685 (with the stock celestian speaker not the tone tubby.) I've played AC15's and think the crate is a much nicer amp. made in the US as well.

I'm really glad to see the guys out doing it. They don't have to change the world again for me. This could be the beginning to a somewhat happy ending for them. I hope that they have become wiser and can make the most of their privileged position, maybe even a second or third 'reunion' tour before they really retire and become a Las Vegas act. Why root against them? They did change the world. Personally, I'm very thankful they showed up on the last half of disco days. Van Halen could not be ignored. Without even targeting disco they thrashed it without mercy. If they can coast on momentum from that, good for them. If you don't like it, don't buy the product. No point in campaigning against them, at least IMHO. good post...... but don't forget...even van halen was "dancing the night away".....

Get an SG. Keep the humbuckers and they're usually lighter than most alder or ash bolt on bodied guitars like strats.

I think that for the reason gibson does chambering (so they can use cheaper heavier cuts of mahogany) it's a good thing. If they were to make solid LP's with the mahogany that they use they'd all be 13 pounds and sound like {censored}. So in that sense it has made modern factory USA Les Pauls much more consistent than the 70's/80's. But having said that...I personally think they aren't the same as a proper solid LP. Better or worse is an opinion, and in mine they aren't as nice. But to each his own.

I prefer my gator to my SKB but they are all pretty good.

Thanks! Will do. I'm over there a lot...you probably won't find much. Most of the guys over there are like me...into the mid year late 70's right through til the 90's. Still though...I'd bet they'd love to have a look at that one...being so unique...and you never know maybe some people have a few of the really old ones...though I can't recall seeing any. And it's a pretty good group over there. Generally pretty solid information. But as Zenbu said...you found the model name, wood type and original price. That's pretty much all I hope for with most of mine.

Thank you for your response! Do you know of anywhere I can track down old Greco parts? I'm in search of a bridge, tuners, and knobs for my Grec...might have to substitute, but I figured I'd look for the real deal for a while.. that might be near impossible...but what you could do is sign up for Rinkya.com...(a third party bidding service for people outside japan) and keep an eye open on yahoo auctions japan for parts that come up. It's how I buy nearly all my MIJ stuff.

That's one of the nicest old greco's I've seen. Cool. Sorry don't have any info though....as I'm more into the later grecos from the late 70's early 80's.

I'd probably ask him how he feels about the backlash he receives from the traditional classic rock purists when he does collaborations with various hip hop stars.

Well shucks...that's one interesting guieeetar.

I helped a friend with getting a tele and at around 700 bucks the Highway one was the nicest we could find. Played very well...felt very good , sounded good. All in all i thought all the highway one's we played were very nice guitars. Now I'm not making them out to be more than what they are...they're not even close to a custom shop...but they weren't very far from the regular USA models in my opinion. I've also played a couple studios and thought they were very nice as well. Again I wouldn't call them great but for the price, I think they are worth it. Don't know why you think there is bad reviews on them. They both get lots of love on these boards

i dig vic firth, personally. +1....try playing slide with a 5B....great stuff...

I was recently watching the 2007 crossroads festival DVD. Wide range of talents there. Some guys like Derek trucks, jeff beck, and sonny landreth are totally transcendant players. On the flip side - Robbie Robertson and Jimmie Vaughan could barely put a bend in tune. And frankly, Clapton sounded fantastic, but a ton of that was due to the huge and super tight best of the best band playing behind him. From a playing standpoint, I could have traded solos with him and not be ashamed. For most player though, it's the influence they had on music, not guitar playing, that made them so popular. And there's certainly technique in the subtleties - many would argue he is not a "technical" player because he doesn't play fast, but you try emulating that vibrato technique and tone! All the ripping YouTube players in their bedrooms are evidence to this - taste, phrasing, tone, and SONGS make you a hero. Yeah this makes sense. I'll take your word on your abilities as I have never heard you but I'd bet there are a lot of guys here that could easily trade solos with clapton. Now most people here would probably say when watching "oh clapton blew metallica_00 away." But I'd bet if clapton had played your solo and you played his people here would still say "clapton blew metallica_00 away" simply because he is clapton. Fame is only a small way to judge a player. Most famous guys are there because of a combination of timing, luck, knowing people, having a good attitude, creativity and talent. Each of these categories being totally flexible for every different famous player....some more talent...some more luck...etc..

Better at what? The question is too general and virtually unanswerable. As someone earlier mention they might be better at a couple things than someone famous but weaker at other aspects. Most probably wouldn't want to admit it even if they were. Much of this has to do with the fact that because something is famous, that fame some how makes it more respectable. Not every famous guitarist is there because he was the best player. I think that should be obvious. Look at someone like Mick Mars. I'd bet there were dozens of guys in LA at the time that would have schooled that guy especially given how competitive that scene was. But he was THEIR guy, for whatever reason. There is A LOT more involved in fame than being talented. And yeah I agree with most that you don't have to be able to do something better than someone else to know how they measure up. I know talent when I hear it.

Nine times out of ten plain wins for me. especially plain tops that have some strange lines in them...not flame but the more vertical lines they can sometimes get. But every now and again I'll see a flame that is subtle and classy that really connects with me. Quilts almost never.