I need help identifying this one... opinions welcome!

[beattytg]

Hi All:
I picked an older MIJ yesterday off a local online classified ad Does anyone have an idea of what it might be. There is no name on the headstock but there is a number embossed on the 20th fret, it is 52539. There is also a number on the neck plate 1010016 as well as "Steel Reinforced Neck" Made in Japan. My first guess was a conrad... only because the pickups look similar to other conrads I saw online. However your guess is as good as mine. Any ideas are welcome.

[VintAxe]

Hey beattytg.

Your guitar is essentially an Aria 1532T with a different headstock shape. It was built by Matsumoku around 1968-71. I'm not sure if it is an earlier version of the 1532T or a different model sold under another brand name.

Here is a 1971 1532T for comparison:

[beattytg]

You are dead on! Thanks for that... I had found a couple similar but that one is dead on. It has a cool funky sound that I can see why some people collect. I wonder why there is no label on it anywhere yet it appears to be an exact Aria?