This butterscotch entry-level beauty is the sweet-spot of MIJ teles for many as it retains the slightly more substantial neck profile of the early 70s Harayama models whereas TE-5 and 600s, and the TL series Grecos were getting skinnier and skinnier. This entry level model retained the early style pick-ups which is ideal at the neck - these short fat Tele pick-ups are the secret sauce for blues solos. The bridge units were always a little weedy in comparison - very brittle and icy. Usually I replace these bridge units by putting a suitable modern version into a Gotoh semi-cutaway bridge, and get the best of both worlds, but add a chunk of cost. Not everyone has that budget, so this one has a rewound bridge pick-up meaning we can retain the bridge plate, just add rewinding cost, but most importantly, rewind it to an inductance that delivers a traditional Tele output.
 
Take a listen to the demo to hear how plucky and eager this one is. It can sit alongside a refined gentrified modern MIA Tele and be there for when things need to get a bit nuts, or more fun. This one kind of makes you venture out the comfort zone a little.
 
Arias, even the entry level models, were strung through the back, not top loaded like the early Grecos. This feels like an "old pal" Tele, sounds better than a regular Tele when a modern just isn't raucous enough.
 
We could use this as a basis to extend further into modernization - a set of Gibson (yes really) frets would be a great idea; and a set of modern SD-91 tuners would cure all the little foibles that mark this out as an entry level Backaroo; but before we do any of that and increase the price, just make sure these characteristics don't give it the "mojo" you'll adore. All of that stuff can be done later.