The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #1

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    Hi
    Would you consider this purchase?
    The bridge seems out of line but correcting it suggests to me that the tailpiece would then be on the skew.
    Also the bridge appears quite low and the action may be too high.
    A pic showing the heel looks good.
    The seller apparently has emigrated and left his family to sort the sale so he can't answer my questions on this but does say the neck is 'good' and the guitar 'plays well'.Japanese 175 type - is there something off?-jap-175-2-jpg
    Thanks.Japanese 175 type - is there something off?-jap-175-jpg

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  3. #2

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    Measuring from the photo from above, both the tailpiece and the bridge are way off the centerline. Some of this may be due to the lense's properties but likely not all, as the F-holes appear to be the same size and same distance from the rims on each side. There's a small wedge between neck and pickguard, suggesting the neck is not perfectly aligned laterally and therefore requiring an off-center tailpiece. The PU's are where they belong, hence not straight under the strings. The low bridge - high action combination often means a sunken top. I's a looker but I'd stay away, unless the price is VERY attractive. Which brand is this? A similar-looking Shiro is hanging in the nearby guitar store and I could give it a look, if it helps. Shiro Arai founded the Aria brand. The '70s and '80s "Shiro" Gibson clones were made at his famous Matsumoku factory.
    Last edited by Gitterbug; 11-17-2020 at 04:26 AM.

  4. #3

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    It's an old Aria 2302 - not the oldest, I've got one a bit older, 1970 or so, with different inlays and a 3-way switch down low, like a L5.

    Anyway, the top shouldn't collapse. Or it's better to say that the top cannot really collapse, because it's got a soundpost under the bridge (not directly under, a centimeter further down the body).

  5. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gitterbug
    Measuring from the photo from above, both the tailpiece and the bridge are way off the centerline. Some of this may be due to the lense's properties but likely not all, as the F-holes appear to be the same size and same distance from the rims on each side. There's a small wedge between neck and pickguard, suggesting the neck is not perfectly aligned laterally and therefore requiring an off-center tailpiece. The PU's are where they belong, hence not straight under the strings. The low bridge - high action combination often means a sunken top. I's a looker but I'd stay away, unless the price is VERY attractive. Which brand is this? A similar-looking Shiro is hanging in the nearby guitar store and I could give it a look, if it helps. Shiro Arai founded the Aria brand. The '70s and '80s "Shiro" Gibson clones were made at his famous Matsumoku factory.
    Gitterbug's analysis looks about right to me. The ideal solution will probably be a neck reset, possibly shaving/shimming parts of the neck joint and socket to achieve proper alignment......

  6. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Gitterbug
    Measuring from the photo from above, both the tailpiece and the bridge are way off the centerline. Some of this may be due to the lense's properties but likely not all, as the F-holes appear to be the same size and same distance from the rims on each side. There's a small wedge between neck and pickguard, suggesting the neck is not perfectly aligned laterally and therefore requiring an off-center tailpiece. The PU's are where they belong, hence not straight under the strings. The low bridge - high action combination often means a sunken top. I's a looker but I'd stay away, unless the price is VERY attractive. Which brand is this? A similar-looking Shiro is hanging in the nearby guitar store and I could give it a look, if it helps. Shiro Arai founded the Aria brand. The '70s and '80s "Shiro" Gibson clones were made at his famous Matsumoku factory.
    Thanks GB.
    The logo is Sakura.
    The seller says it has a soundpost like many of the Japanese copies. So I doubt the top has sunk. Might take a punt. The neck joint looks good. May be possible if necessary to shift the tailpiece a tad.
    Cheers

  7. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Rocket Roll
    It's an old Aria 2302 - not the oldest, I've got one a bit older, 1970 or so, with different inlays and a 3-way switch down low, like a L5.

    Anyway, the top shouldn't collapse. Or it's better to say that the top cannot really collapse, because it's got a soundpost under the bridge (not directly under, a centimeter further down the body).
    Thanks RR.
    YES, the seller says it has a sound post. Cheers

  8. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Ray175
    Gitterbug's analysis looks about right to me. The ideal solution will probably be a neck reset, possibly shaving/shimming parts of the neck joint and socket to achieve proper alignment......
    Thanks Ray.
    It's a shame the seller can't be more helpful but he sounds 'genuine'.

  9. #8

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    Be advised, that's not an original bridge, they came with TuneOMatics which had nylon saddles. I don't want to say the wooden ones sound worse, just - check what the seller had installed, it might not be a good fit and therefore rides too low.

    BTW, if it has original Maxon humbuckers - man, those things are to die for. Especially on those old, percussive monsters. They generally cost more than the whole guitar in the right market. Makes sense, they're airy and slightly microphonic. Literally the best PAF clones I've ever heard.

  10. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Rocket Roll
    Be advised, that's not an original bridge, they came with TuneOMatics which had nylon saddles. I don't want to say the wooden ones sound worse, just - check what the seller had installed, it might not be a good fit and therefore rides too low.

    BTW, if it has original Maxon humbuckers - man, those things are to die for. Especially on those old, percussive monsters. They generally cost more than the whole guitar in the right market. Makes sense, they're airy and slightly microphonic. Literally the best PAF clones I've ever heard.
    Thanks again.
    I did wonder about the pickups.
    I forgot to ask the seller if it had thunk!!!

  11. #10

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    I'd hold off on the neck reset that will cost more than the guitar is worth.
    The trailpiece can easily be bent back in position to be in line with a small risk of breakage. But this is a commonly available part. The saddle is the wrong one and is way too thick, making the strings too high. Just look at the pickups, cranked all the way up.

  12. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by icr
    I'd hold off on the neck reset that will cost more than the guitar is worth.
    The trailpiece can easily be bent back in position to be in line with a small risk of breakage. But this is a commonly available part. The saddle is the wrong one and is way too thick, making the strings too high. Just look at the pickups, cranked all the way up.
    Thanks.
    I'm all in favour of straight forward fixes I can do myself!

  13. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by icr
    I'd hold off on the neck reset that will cost more than the guitar is worth.
    The trailpiece can easily be bent back in position to be in line with a small risk of breakage. But this is a commonly available part. The saddle is the wrong one and is way too thick, making the strings too high. Just look at the pickups, cranked all the way up.
    I don't know about that. Look at the angle of the pickguard and at the gap between the end of the neck and the neck pickup. It looks like the neck itself is pointing down slightly. Best case is that the neck is OK, but the guitar still needs minor work on the TP and bridge. Worst case, it's unplayable and unfixable without a neck reset. There are plenty of other fish in the sea, and I'd wait for another.

    To the OP, thanks for posting -- this geometry goes on the list of things to look at in ads.

    John

  14. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gitterbug
    Measuring from the photo from above, both the tailpiece and the bridge are way off the centerline. Some of this may be due to the lense's properties but likely not all, as the F-holes appear to be the same size and same distance from the rims on each side. There's a small wedge between neck and pickguard, suggesting the neck is not perfectly aligned laterally and therefore requiring an off-center tailpiece.
    I disagree. Looking at the string position on the fingerboard, the bridge has just been knocked bass-ward and has pulled the tailpiece- which is not rigidly attached to the body- with it. Moving it back over to center the strings on the fingerboard should realign everything properly.

    Now, the high action/low bridge combination is more of a concern, potentially suggesting the need for a neck reset or perhaps a severe forward bow of the neck (broken truss rod? Years of neglect?). The angles of the photos are not good to evaluate this. Optimistic possibility as mentioned above is that the bridge top is just too tall compared to the original TOM bridge top. That's an easy fix! I'd either shave down the existing bridge top by 1/8" or so or go with a GraphTech String Saver TOM (if the post spacing matches).

  15. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by John A.
    I don't know about that. Look at the angle of the pickguard and at the gap between the end of the neck and the neck pickup. It looks like the neck itself is pointing down slightly. Best case is that the neck is OK, but the guitar still needs minor work on the TP and bridge. Worst case, it's unplayable and unfixable without a neck reset. There are plenty of other fish in the sea, and I'd wait for another.

    To the OP, thanks for posting -- this geometry goes on the list of things to look at in ads.

    John
    To me it looks like the tailpiece is attached too far towards the bass side, presumably at the factory? IDK. This would cause a 'bass ward' pull on the bridge by the strings. I can't really make a judgement on the relief/neck set but there looks to be a reasonable angle at the heel.
    Quote from the description 'The guitar plays well, its got a lovely neck' - that's either right or wrong and not really subjective.
    Quote from one of his messages 'To the best of my knowledge its as advertised and in fine playing condition'.
    He is selling quite a few guitars
    Thanks

  16. #15

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    In these days of skype, zoom, e-mail and mobile phones I find it "surprising" that the owner who has emigrated cannot be contacted to answer basic questions. If the OP doesn't have the opportunity to play and inspect the instrument, and the owner is "unavailable" then, personally, I would pass on buying this instrument

  17. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by Ray175
    In these days of skype, zoom, e-mail and mobile phones I find it "surprising" that the owner who has emigrated cannot be contacted to answer basic questions. If the OP doesn't have the opportunity to play and inspect the instrument, and the owner is "unavailable" then, personally, I would pass on buying this instrument
    Ray, We have been conversing via ebay. He is basically saying the guitar is playable but, as he doesn't have the guitar with him and it's only his (elderly?) parents doing the posting, he personally can't check or take more photos of the neck. Also he suggested, on that basis, that I dont bid on it. So I have 2 choices! Cheers.

  18. #17

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    Seems to come from the same factory as my Condor:



    (Pickguard, bridge, pickups and rubber grommet for the switch are upgrades by me). Btw, it didn’t come with a tunomatic bridge, but with a plactic bridge with a rosewood insert piece for the saddles. The original pickups looked like humbuckers but contained only one coil!

    It has a soundpost and no bracing. It sounds and plays very nice.

    The neck angle of my guitar is rather shallow (shallower than with a real 175) so I had to modify the bridge for that - I cut out spaces for the thumbwheels to sit in the top part so the bridge could be lowered more:


    It’s actually a rather good guitar! Indeed it looks like that the tailpiece of the one you posted is off center. Could be a simple matter of re-installing the tailpiece in de right spot. If that’s the case and the price is low enough it could be a bargain.

  19. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by Little Jay
    Seems to come from the same factory as my Condor:



    (Pickguard, bridge, pickups and rubber grommet for the switch are upgrades by me). Btw, it didn’t come with a tunomatic bridge, but with a plactic bridge with a rosewood insert piece for the saddles. The original pickups looked like humbuckers but contained only one coil!

    It has a soundpost and no bracing. It sounds and plays very nice.

    The neck angle of my guitar is rather shallow (shallower than with a real 175) so I had to modify the bridge for that - I cut out spaces for the thumbwheels to sit in the top part so the bridge could be lowered more:


    It’s actually a rather good guitar! Indeed it looks like that the tailpiece of the one you posted is off center. Could be a simple matter of re-installing the tailpiece in de right spot. If that’s the case and the price is low enough it could be a bargain.
    Thanks LJ
    Yes, I've seen your Condor and read a few of your posts on it. They are very similar. I'm with you on the tailpiece misalignment. The one I'm looking at is a bit more cost - wise than what you paid. And it's an auction. I have a bit of time to consider it.

  20. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by Rocket Roll
    Be advised, that's not an original bridge, they came with TuneOMatics which had nylon saddles. I don't want to say the wooden ones sound worse, just - check what the seller had installed, it might not be a good fit and therefore rides too low.

    BTW, if it has original Maxon humbuckers - man, those things are to die for. Especially on those old, percussive monsters. They generally cost more than the whole guitar in the right market. Makes sense, they're airy and slightly microphonic. Literally the best PAF clones I've ever heard.
    I'm still in contemplation!
    Using an available photo of the whole of the front of the guitar and using a straight edge the tailpiece does look like it's attached off centre. This should be a quick fix.
    I have the view that in terms of the action, and considering the sellers comments:
    "The guitar plays well, its got a lovely neck"
    and
    "To the best of my knowledge its as advertised and in fine playing condition".
    that there shouldn't be any major problems with the neck or adjustments. Naive??
    As regards the pickups, I had an email notification of a new post added to this thread but oddly it isn't coming up, in which the poster suggested they were not the "good" Maxons. So any opinion on that would be welcome.
    TBH I have been drawn by the look of the guitar!!
    The starting price, though, seems a little high.
    Thanks

  21. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by garybaldy
    I'm still in contemplation!

    As regards the pickups, I had an email notification of a new post added to this thread but oddly it isn't coming up, in which the poster suggested they were not the "good" Maxons. So any opinion on that would be welcome.
    TBH I have been drawn by the look of the guitar!!
    The starting price, though, seems a little high.
    Thanks
    Hey Gary, I cancelled that post because I could be wrong about those pickups
    I was looking at a site about Maxon pickups and they say those early large polepiece Maxons are also desirable
    So I'm not sure about the pickups
    My main issue is the height of the pickups, it just looks wrong compared to most 175 copies.
    Like the neck is mounted higher than usual.

  22. #21

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    Gary,

    These types of old bargain bucket ES-175 imports (bargain bucket = Treble and Bass plate around selector switch, not rubber grommet like Ibanez/Greco) are imo, not any better than the Korean ones proceeding them. And with the work you're even contemplating doing; you should run a mile.

    I don't rate the cheaper Maxon pickups and when I was buying Japanese imports, Maxon's were considered the least preferable pickups in the early Ibanez guitars.

    The condor being shown to you is not the same type of Es-175 copy and they're not comparable.
    Last edited by Archie; 11-19-2020 at 08:40 PM.

  23. #22

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    Gotta say I love the Maxon's in my '75 Greco 175, very tasty
    I like them more than the PAF's I had in my '62 SG/LP Custom or '61 ES-350, although those old PAF's vary a lot. They were a bit dull.

    I was the same for decades, any Japanese pickups got upgraded to Duncans etc without ever giving the Maxon's a chance
    I do suspect the Maxon's with the braided cable like in my Greco might be the better of the different types
    Last edited by sasquatch; 11-19-2020 at 11:33 PM.

  24. #23
    Quote Originally Posted by sasquatch
    Hey Gary, I cancelled that post because I could be wrong about those pickups
    I was looking at a site about Maxon pickups and they say those early large polepiece Maxons are also desirable
    So I'm not sure about the pickups
    My main issue is the height of the pickups, it just looks wrong compared to most 175 copies.
    Like the neck is mounted higher than usual.
    Thanks sas

  25. #24
    Quote Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven
    Gary,

    These types of old bargain bucket ES-175 imports (bargain bucket = Treble and Bass plate around selector switch, not rubber grommet like Ibanez/Greco) are imo, not any better than the Korean ones proceeding them. And with the work you're even contemplating doing; you should run a mile.

    I don't rate the cheaper Maxon pickups and when I was buying Japanese imports, Maxon's were considered the least preferable pickups in the early Ibanez guitars.

    The condor being shown to you is not the same type of Es-175 copy and they're not comparable.
    Thanks AH
    Yes, the Condor has a lovely aged look to it in comparison but as in LJ's post they do seem to have some similar attributes.

  26. #25
    Quote Originally Posted by sasquatch
    Gotta say I love the Maxon's in my '75 Greco 175, very tasty
    I like them more than the PAF's I had in my '62 SG/LP Custom or '61 ES-350, although those old PAF's vary a lot. They were a bit dull.

    I was the same for decades, any Japanese pickups got upgraded to Duncans etc without ever giving the Maxon's a chance
    I do suspect the Maxon's with the braided cable like in my Greco might be the better of the different types
    Unfortunately, can't see any braided wire through the f hole!
    I think it's another one I'll give a miss.
    Cheers