The flatpicked guitar reviews database is here to help educate people before they purchase an instrument. Of course, this is not meant to be a substitute for playing the instrument yourself!
161 reviews in the archive.
Where Purchased: Browns Music, Connellsville, PA
Year Purchased: 1967
Price Paid: $50.00 ($US)
Nice sound for a $50 guitar- This is a classical guitar- got as a gift in 1967, but I put an under saddle pickup on it and flatpick it [ like Willy ] Not loud but you can hear it. Under saddle pickup installed later works well into an amp or PA system.
Sound Rating: 7
Good- I has some work done on the intonation and string height in the 1980s- but still fine.
Setup Rating: 7
Made in Japan, Classical looks- headstock looks pieced together from three pieces of wood. Spruce top- Rosewood back and sides-Cedar neck-- it seems solid wood
Appearance Rating: 6
I've been playing this since 1967- only one fixup and one upgrade- plays fine. Amped it sounds fine- nice jazzy sound. It has held up well for 50 years- one of the reasons I've posted this review.
Reliability Rating: 8
Don;t know- never tried- Aria still in business- as importer- who actually makes these things is a wild tale.
Customer Service: 3
Spruce top, rosewood back and sides- mahog.[?] neck- headstock made from pieces but firm- hardware still good and never changed. Finish good and glossy- decal on sound hole and headstock.
Components Rating: 7
ALTHOUGH NOT ACTUALLY A GUITAR FOR FLATPICKING- THIS IS A FINE FLATPICKED INSTRUMENT- TYPICAL CLASSICAL SIZE AND STYLING. FLATPICKED IT SOUNDS JUST FINE. I USE IT MOSTLY AS A JAZZ GUITAR. I LIKE THE CLASSICAL WIDE FINGERBOARD BUT WITH A FLATPICK. THE UNDER SADDLE PICKUP WORKS FINE BUT I REALLY COULD USE A OUTBOARD PREAMP. RIGHT NOW I USE AN OLD EQ BOX AND REVERB UNIT. I PUT CLEAR STICKY PICKGUARDS ON IT [ DON'T WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE 'TRIGGER'] THEY HAVE HELD UP VERY WELL OVER THE YEARS- GOT A NEW GOOD HARD SHELL CASE FOR IT TO- THE CHIPBOARD ONE DIED YEARS AGO. THIS WAS A CHEAP IMPORT BACK THEN [ HAY EVEN IN 1967 $50 WAS A CHEAP GUITAR] BUT IT HAS HELD UP VERY WELL AND I LIKE THE SOUND.
Overall Rating: 7
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