NGD: A Lovely Thing (Vintage Aria Content)

HarrySeven

Just picked this up...

http://i.imgur.com/mB6fU3J.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/dVKyBHd.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/pNJ7HUm.jpg

Funkfingers

I've never seen one with triple P90s. 

If the hardware plating is chrome, I know where you could obtain a Kahler Pro stud mount vibrato.

ICBM

I'd be very surprised if the P90s are original. Every one I've seen in person or in photos has had two humbuckers - if these are original it would almost certainly be some sort of special order I think, or a trade show guitar or something.

What do the mini-switches do?

Funkfingers

ICBM said:

two humbuckers ... What do the mini-switches do?

DPDT would be coil split per humbucker. 

DP3T would be series/split/parallel à la Ibanez Tri-Sound.

With three regular P90s, the only useful options would be phase reversal or series interconnections. 

If the P90s are coils tapped, two of them could vary their output levels.

In the second photograph, the lower mini switch appears to be perpendicular to the hex nut and washer. This suggests that it is parked in the middle position and, hence, is a three-way.

Assuming that the neck and bridge pickups run via the toggle selector switch, it would make sense if the the mini switches govern the centre pickup.

blueskunk

That's cool as fuck. 

ICBM

Funkfingers said:

ICBM said:

two humbuckers ... What do the mini-switches do?

DPDT would be coil split per humbucker. 

DP3T would be series/split/parallel à la Ibanez Tri-Sound.

In the second photograph, the lower mini switch appears to be perpendicular to the hex nut and washer. This suggests that it is parked in the middle position and, hence, is a three-way.

I think it's just pushed towards the neck.

On the originals with humbuckers, I think they were a coil split for both pickups, and a phase switch - although I might be wrong, it's a long time since I've played one.

guitars4you

I'm the same as you on this @ICBM - I've never seen one before - maybe a custom order, prototype or sample with a view to release etc, but new for me - funningly enough I've just done a google search and this is the only one I've found

Does it look like factory routing for p/ups, or any suspect changes - ditto wiring - update accordingly for my own interest etc

Funkfingers

blueskunk said:

That's cool as fuck.

The most impressive aspect is the workmanship.*

Either the top has been refinished to a very high standard or the P90 cavities have been created without leaving any trace of the original humbucker mounting surround screws. 

The four screw holes nearest the fingerboard and bridge would have been assimilated into the P90 cavities. The four innermost screws would be expected to fall outside the "footprint" of the P90s. 


* If the guitar left the factory with three P90s, high quality workmanship is only to be expected.

HarrySeven

I'm pretty sure that it originally looked like this:





However, I absolutely love the 3 x P90's.

The work looks to have been carried out to a very high standard indeed.

Philly_Q

Are they normal P-90 covers?  Maybe it's just the pictures but they look almost humbucker-sized.

ICBM

Philly_Q said:

Are they normal P-90 covers?  Maybe it's just the pictures but they look almost humbucker-sized.

I thought that as well, which makes me think it may be factory original. Probably the only way to be sure is to take one out, if there’s no clear evidence of routing visible from the outside.

meltedbuzzbox

Looks awesome but vintage?
Are we just slapping that word on anything now?

HarrySeven

meltedbuzzbox said:

Looks awesome but vintage?
Are we just slapping that word on anything now?

Off the top of my head, I’m guessing this model is around ‘79-‘80, so it’s around 37-38 years old.

Come up with a better term and I’ll happily apply it...

ICBM

It's almost twice as old as a '52 Les Paul or '54 Strat would have been in the early 70s when 'vintage' started to be used to describe old guitars.

merlin

Here's my red one...



Selling it btw.... if anyone is interested....

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/82332/aria-pro-ii-pe60-made-in-japan-still-for-sale#latest

HarrySeven

merlin said:

Here's my red one...



Selling it btw.... if anyone is interested....

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/82332/aria-pro-ii-pe60-made-in-japan-still-for-sale#latest

Totally lush!

DulcetJones

I like that!

TTony

I'm pretty sure that I've seen one of those, with 3 x P90s, before.

Can't remember where or when though.

Liked it then, like it now.  Nice catch H7.  Let me know when it's up for the chop

guitars4you

ICBM said:

Philly_Q said:

Are they normal P-90 covers?  Maybe it's just the pictures but they look almost humbucker-sized.

I thought that as well, which makes me think it may be factory original. Probably the only way to be sure is to take one out, if there’s no clear evidence of routing visible from the outside.

my thoughts as well - yet if it possesses some magical mojo that makes it desirable, then who are we to question it - won't be the first or last guitar to be customised to suit

Moominpapa

"Come up with a better term and I’ll happily apply it..."

'Old' ?

usedtobe

That’s bloody lovely!