Aria GL-500 Dreadnought Acoustic Natural 1978
Aria GL-500 acoustic, natural finish, made in Japan around 1978. This is a cool thing. Aria kicked off making guitars in Japan in 1960s, building high quality gear out of the famed Matsumoku factory. There's a lot of Gibson and Martin style dreadnoughts made in Japan in the 1970s and 80s, but this is cool because it references the Guild D-55... there's not many Guild-style offerings from the same era. It's a spruce and rosewood dreadnought, with a slightly linger 652mm scale, and the cool relevant visual details: split block inlays, big headstock, cute tuners, double-bound fretboard, vintage tort guard. It looks awesome, and all the better for a few decades of honest play wear. The tone is very convincing: hefty tight bass, complex and full through the mids and clear and tuneful on top. There's a lot to enjoy here, I really like this one.
Model: Aria GL-500
Made: Japan, 1978 approx
Serial: 8008
Finish: natural, gloss poly
Body: laminate spruce top, laminate rosewood back and sides, square shoulder dreadnought shape
Neck: mahogany/maple 3-ply, rosewood fretboard, 25.66" scale, 44mm nut,
Weight: 2.295kg
Mods: none
Pickup: none
Accessories: none; no case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has minor dents on the end and back, scuffs on the edges and scuffs and some clouding on the front. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and some rub wear on the back. The back has minor dimples, scuffs and clouding around the whole body. The sides have minor dimples, scuffs and clouding around the whole body, as well as some filled dents on the top shoulder and bottom bout. The front has dimples along the back and bottom edge and elbow area and some play wear on the guard and shoulders.
Overall: very good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is reasonably low, neck is straight, intonation is good. Wearing fresh 12/54 Moonshiners phosphor bronze strings.
Fret life: 7/10, minor wear only