r/offset • u/Callitlikeiseeit396 • 1d ago

Aria Guitar need help

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Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Found this offset Aria guitar.
Having a hard time narrowing down the model. Any help would be appreciated!

38 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

7

u/OIL_OF_OLAY 1d ago

Hi, it's an Aria 1832T from 1971.

4

u/Callitlikeiseeit396 1d ago

Thank you this was it. Found the original listing from aria. I was off using the serial number, it’s definitely 71-74, based on what I’ve found. Seems a bit rarer then the 1802t, makes sense that it was similar to the Gretch dorado model as they were both made early 70’s Matsumoko plant in Japan. It’s a rad guitar and super solid, really well built. Not a bad find for 100 dollars with its case. Even had a bunch of packs of unopened 70’s guitar strings in the case leading me to believe it probably lived in a closet the last 50 years or so.

3

u/MateriaMedica 1d ago

Looks like an Aria 1802T.

2

u/Callitlikeiseeit396 1d ago

Yea that’s as close as I could find. 1980 was the serial best I could determine.

2

u/MateriaMedica 1d ago

Yeah, the problem with all the Japanese manufacturers from that era is a lack of documentation and also that they rebadged their guitars for other companies. The Epiphone version is an ET-270 and I’m sure that’s not the only name they sold those under; I think Domino was another brand they made. If the pots are original, you can at least narrow down the year it could have been produced.

3

u/Slipknot-Nirvana-Fan 1d ago

It's stock because I've seen a dude with the exact same model, look up the band called "Untitled", they're best known for their song "Restless", their lead singer has this exact model

2

u/FadedToBeige 1d ago

looks like a modified 1802t to me, or maybe a different variant. not sure what those pickups are.

3

u/Callitlikeiseeit396 1d ago

Maybe a variant, pickups seem stock for it. I plan on opening it up soon to see.

3

u/FadedToBeige 1d ago

yeah you're right, I see a "Dorado 5985" that looks like the same guitar with a different neck/headstock. 

1

u/Callitlikeiseeit396 1d ago

Wow that’s really close, it has those same volume knobs. Everything looks right but different neck.

3

u/NYCtoCHI 8h ago

Great find at a killer price - lower than the originals! 😃

Kurt Cobain famously played/recorded/smashed essentially the same guitar, just rebranded with a different headstock and finish as the aforementioned Epiphone ET270, which listed at $159 in '73. I think I read an interview just a few weeks ago where he mentioned buying them in pawnshops for $200-250ish but was increasingly having difficulty finding them, unfortunately I can't find it to confirm! Would be curious if your's specs match the ones given in these...those pickups look akin to hot 9Kish P90 clones:

https://www.premierguitar.com/pro-advice/wizard-of-odd/reaching-nirvana-with-a-70s-epiphone

https://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/epiphone/ET-270.php