-
As shown on the label it's made in Japan by Aria (supposedly in 1978). It's a 25.5" scale length and the lower bout is 15.5". It weights 7.5 lbs. The silly term screws off in a few seconds using a couple thumb wheels. It's here in Canada and the price seems about right ($800 CDN plus shipping).
-
11-28-2016 02:06 PM
-
I once played a Goya Super 400 knock-off and that was a mighty fine guitar. The owner told me that once he could compare it side by side with an original Gibson when he was at a studio and it compared favourably.
-
I like it...Ditch the stupid whammy bar and metal bridge, and you might really have something there...wonder if the pickup is any good?
-
my initial thought is what is all that stuff doing laying on the top.
my second thought is it's a cool guitar, I have an Aria PE180 w/the Goya inlay.
my third thought is the guard is offgassing and needs to go....
-
lololololol- the strap. you should buy it just for that.
what a bizarre trem- never seen one like that before. and with a space control sort of bridge, too. that's just weird. surely, you'd want to get a proper bigsby on that, post haste.
sort of hoping you get it just so we can get a good look at it and hear what it can do. i'm not well versed in that sort of thing. all i can offer is that i think the finish is wonderful. i also suspect that with your very specific tastes, and with several other instruments already, you may just be a little itchy. perhaps needlessly. but this is a one of a kind thing, so you have to do what you must.
-
Actually, I don't have several other instruments. I have three and one of them I'm on the fence about keeping. That's why I'm looking ... in case I decide to sell the one I'm uncertain about. BTW, the same seller now tells me that he also has a 1980 Ibanez JP20.
Originally Posted by feet
lololololol- the strap. you should buy it just for that.
what a bizarre trem- never seen one like that before. and with a space control sort of bridge, too. that's just weird. surely, you'd want to get a proper bigsby on that, post haste.
sort of hoping you get it just so we can get a good look at it and hear what it can do. i'm not well versed in that sort of thing. all i can offer is that i think the finish is wonderful. i also suspect that with your very specific tastes, and with several other instruments already, you may just be a little itchy. perhaps needlessly. but this is a one of a kind thing, so you have to do what you must.
-
I've owned an Ibanez and an Electra, both cherry bursts. They're heavy, not very loud acoustically and sort of mid rangey. And a JP20 is a much nicer guitar. Hmmm.
-
Yeah jp20 , now you're talkin Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
-
There are hundreds of laminate hollowbody guitars out there. I'd only be interested in something like that if I actually wanted the vibrato arm and roller bridge and that pickup. If you were going to change the pickup, bridge and tremolo arm, I don't think it would sound much different than anything else out there.
-
Jim,
I'll take that if you are going to pass on it. I have the exact same guitar only branded as a Crestwood.
I have had two of them, one identical to this one, and another one branded as a Ventura -- they are different guitars.
The Ventura (the same as the Ibanez model and different from this Goya) has a 24.75" scale and a smaller nut width. The Crestwood also has a much fatter neck with a volute, where the Ibanez has a thinner neck and no volute. They are also braced slightly differently with the Crestwood having heavier bracing. I greatly prefer the Crestwood version to the Ibanez/Ventura for feel, but could pretty much coax the same sounds out of both.
The hardware on both guitars was identical with the pickup being an original Super 70 which sounds beautiful to me.
These guitars are starting to fetch in the $1200+ range and they are every bit the super high-quality 70's MIJ lawsuit guitars that their L-5 and 175-looking brothers are.
It's a great guitar... and has far more acoustic tone than it should for a laminated box.
Best!
-ChrisLast edited by h1pst3r88; 11-29-2016 at 09:15 AM.
-
It's on the Canadian Guitar Forum but I believe if you're not a paid member you can't get on their for sale board. Send me your e-mail address and I'll connect you directly to the seller. Originally Posted by h1pst3r88
-
From the specs and the pictures, this Goya HR appears the best of any non-Gibsons I've heard about.
Headstock is very attractive, that inlay, logo, and binding all fit well, I even like the keystone tuner knobs, especially as they are NOT gold! Nickel hardware fits this build best, that tailpiece is a keeper.
The bridge base looks very stout, I'd keep that base and replace the upper metal monstrosity with a nice carved compensated rosewood piece. Of course all of these "positives" don't reveal what it actually sounds or plays like, but appearance does count for something, and there's enough here to be optimistic about its potential.
I don't necessarily agree with icr on the idea that the guitar is valuable only if you wanted it "as is" with the funky trem and such. I'm prone to tinker, have experience with making changes to bring instruments more aligned with what I'm after, and see it as a natural thing make a purchase decision knowing what modifications might be in order.
Interesting to hear h1pst3r88 remark on his Crestwood. That brand was very common in our local stores when I was a youngster, Crestwood was Harry Bernstein's brand, he owned La Playa (Detroit musical small goods distributor) and specialized in Latin percussion instruments initially. I actually worked for Harry for a short period, and saw nothing then that changed my opinion of the "cheap" guitars that had always been around as affordable store fodder. Never saw any archtops, just cheap Les Paul knockoffs and "Folk" acoustics mostly.
Hearing about a Crestwood HR for the first time here, AND to hear that it has merit above better known brands for its "feel" is pretty cool. I've gotten accustomed to having complete reversals in preconceptions on global sourcing over decades -- what was true before is often not today. I remember when "import" guitars from Asia were primarily cheaper price points, and none were yet coming from China. One brand I recall had identical model lines built in both Japan and Korea, had both on the same price sheet with Korean built versions at 50% less across the whole line, deservedly so at the time (1970's again.) Tonight I've played my carved Cremona and am very pleased with it, and it's clear that the origin stigma is long ago passed.
John
-
oh, i may have misremembered some things, then. or it could be my black friday/cyber monday guilt poking though. Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
i don't have much else to contribute- maybe the ibanez would be easier to sell if it doesn't work out.
-
I change guitars fairly often but what actually works for me never really seems to change much: three guitars and two amps has been my basic setup for many years. Originally Posted by feet
-
Jim, those JP-20s are lovely, lovely guitars. Nothing remotely 2nd rate about them if you are actually considering it.
-
Right at this very moment there is so much emotional chaos in my life that I'm having difficulty rationally considering anything. Originally Posted by jim777
-
I hope all is well Jim, I'll keep a good thought for you
-
Thanks. I'm actually ok but my very old mother passed away last week with very little advance warning and there's been a tremendous amount of upheaval as a result. It's starting to calm down now but there was a very difficult week at the end of a very difficult two years. We're now starting to look at our future in ways that haven't been able to contemplate for a long while with a sudden absence of responsibility and obligation. It makes life suddenly look very different. Originally Posted by jim777
I hope all is well Jim, I'll keep a good thought for you
-
Very sorry to hear Jim. My deepest condolences to you and your family! Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
-
Understood; I was there this time last year myself unfortunately. Our thoughts are with you and your family Jim. Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
-
Thanks guys. She was very old and had a good run. She also meant a lot of responsibility for us after my father dies two years ago. Their decline was one of the major reasons that we moved to back Canada a few years ago and it turned out to be the right move at the right time.
Reply With Quote
Chunking, does it work for Jazz improv?
Today, 10:59 AM in Guitar Technique