NVGD, Finished sorting it. Pic heavy.

robgilmo

So moving on swiftly from arse biscuits I thought a new thread for this would be good, So here is what I have found out , Its an Aria 1723TD, it appeared only in the 1972 catalogue. The serial number however points to it being a 71. 

The body is 5 parts on the back capped with what seems to be 4 on the front, it could well be 3 , its hard to see as the grain is so well matched. Both the back and front are of equal thickness.

3 Way switch for three pickups, tone controls for neck and middle, 1 volume.
Tone pots are 500k but the volume is 1M.

Pickups are not stamped but probably Maxon.

Trem block is a big lump of a thing, doesnt feel cast, about 1/2 a kilo in weight.

Neck is all one piece, its a bit like my Baja neck, rounded C, not too chunky but not slim either. It feels rounded on the edges of the fretboard, very cumfy, I think 7.5 radius, really tiny little frets, the nut will need doing. It feels weird to me, ive never played a 7.5 before so that's probably what it is. Tuners are really nice, really really nice, 


The finish has darkened to a lovely honey colour over the years, parts of it are darker than others but in a good way, a few bumps here and there. Plastics are weird, pick guard looks beige but almost green, in photos though it looks white.

I put my last set of new D'Addarios on it and the e string unwound itself from the ball, so its got 5 strings on it, but it doesnt sound too bad, needs the pickup height adjusted cos its all a bit all over the place sound wise, intonation still needs doing and the action may need a lift, but so far so good.


https://i.imgur.com/4qiCRIR.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/x1aiwzJ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/melJGUR.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ol7vE3C.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/QjPxDpe.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yzlJoNp.jpg

robgilmo

This is the electrical bits.
https://i.imgur.com/jZNYqax.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xZOQItQ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6bDFeSd.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/uAuJ9fC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/f5c9TOU.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fb2RHZz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xOt3fsZ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/3a0tP8r.jpg

robgilmo

No date stamps on it anywhere.
https://i.imgur.com/RnvmO4K.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1T0zWuJ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Uhn46IN.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/FCW6jeQ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LrTHrn4.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fVTp02R.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/0HiuDHJ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Pfb43uK.jpg

robgilmo

This is the 72 catalogue I was given on Facebook.
https://i.imgur.com/V1oU5MK.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/R2kzdm3.jpg



Oh, and the screws holding the scratch plate on were made of chocolate , so I need new screws!

HarrySeven

That’s very nice!

thermionic

Interesting pot values for a Strat...

robgilmo

Ive adjusted the pickup height and it sounds lovely, real nice clarity even with the tone rolled back. The 7.25 threw me off a bit, never played one before, but that neck plays itself, its like playing a feather duster! That weighs almost 10lbs. Is that how routing usually looks on an Ash body? Its as if they put as much effort into finishing the routed bits as they did the rest of it.

robgilmo

Right then guys, lived with this for a good while now, love it to bits, but it doesn't sound like a start, but it isn't a strat anyway, but it looks like one, so, can it be made to sound like one? I have a 5 way switch that actually fitted in it that I got from another forum member (thank you) so my guess is the pickups? Would putting Fender pickups in it give it more of a strat quack sound?

Or do I just need to buy a strat? Cant be doing with playing Sweet home Alabama on a none stratty strat.

McToot

Get some Oil City Stone Tones and chuck em in. It will sound like a Strat with the right pickups and maybe some different pots...

Henrytwang

A pickup swap and a general electronics overhaul and It’ll Be sounding like the real thing in no time.

Henrytwang

robgilmo said:

Ive adjusted the pickup height and it sounds lovely, real nice clarity even with the tone rolled back. The 7.25 threw me off a bit, never played one before, but that neck plays itself, its like playing a feather duster! That weighs almost 10lbs. Is that how routing usually looks on an Ash body? Its as if they put as much effort into finishing the routed bits as they did the rest of it.

10lbs, wow that’s heavier than my 1979 Fender Stratocaster .

Neil

Henrytwang said:

robgilmo said:

Ive adjusted the pickup height and it sounds lovely, real nice clarity even with the tone rolled back. The 7.25 threw me off a bit, never played one before, but that neck plays itself, its like playing a feather duster! That weighs almost 10lbs. Is that how routing usually looks on an Ash body? Its as if they put as much effort into finishing the routed bits as they did the rest of it.

10lbs, wow that’s heavier than my 1979 Fender Stratocaster .

That's heavier than my Les Paul.   

robgilmo

It is a big lump, but it is from the 70's I guess. Im not sure how far I want to go with this, its got a new bone nut fitted and the sound is getting there but Im hankering (gassing) for an Epi Korina Explorer or Gold Top Lp and its a strict one in one out situation. Or I guess I could case it and put it under the bed!


Will fender pick ups fit a 70's Japanese guitar? Id ideally like to use the original covers if I could.

tony99

robgilmo said:

It is a big lump, but it is from the 70's I guess. Im not sure how far I want to go with this, its got a new bone nut fitted and the sound is getting there but Im hankering (gassing) for an Epi Korina Explorer or Gold Top Lp and its a strict one in one out situation. Or I guess I could case it and put it under the bed!


Will fender pick ups fit a 70's Japanese guitar? Id ideally like to use the original covers if I could.

I still curse the day I had to take my absolutely stonking epi explorer korina into cash converters

one ton I got, one poxy ton

robgilmo

Id have given you at least one ton and some more extra tonnage for one. Proper gassing for one as a modding base.

tony99

robgilmo said:

Id have given you at least one ton and some more extra tonnage for one. Proper gassing for one as a modding base.

They're surprisingly ergonomic and comfy to play

sweepy

Swap the Bridge out for a Wilkinson with steel block, those old cast Mazak bridges were less than useless tbh

p90fool

robgilmo said:

It is a big lump, but it is from the 70's I guess. Im not sure how far I want to go with this, its got a new bone nut fitted and the sound is getting there but Im hankering (gassing) for an Epi Korina Explorer or Gold Top Lp and its a strict one in one out situation. Or I guess I could case it and put it under the bed!


Will fender pick ups fit a 70's Japanese guitar? Id ideally like to use the original covers if I could.

My only experience of Strat pickup covers NOT fitting were on an 80s Aria, so there's a fair chance they won't tbh.

robgilmo

So bridge, saddles and pups. I guess some second hand standard fender pickups would cost next to nothing as people tend to swap them out all the time, a bridge and saddles shouldn't cost too much, I just need to make sure all the mounting holes are correct. Would I have any issues with those pot values?