Starting with a fine solid 1978 Matsumoku built Aria Stagecaster, we have transformed the specification. Now this guitar has a Gotoh GE-101TS in Gold with the lovely stainless block, a set of aged gold SD-91 tuners, a matching gold jack plate and strap buttons gave me the general look - we were pleased with it. The scratchplate completes the look.
 
Even though Maxon SP-II pick-ups are great sounding units, these models were still constrained with the 3 way switch. Rather than convert the middle to RWRP, I went several stages further to make this guitar sound even better than it looks, and add some stealthy versatility to make this into a proper studio and stage tool. As well as winding excellent pick-ups to replace traditional ones, we also wind them to suit a concept, or a specific guitar.
 
The concept here is to have a set of traditional vintage sounds - optimised to boutique mega-bucks standards; and add some really very powerful and rich sounds usually available to HSH super-strats. But not making life difficult with a plethora of mini-switches - just a simple push pull on the lower tone knob to toggle between vintage and modern. This is a set of Tony's finest Alnico V single coils, a perfect neck unit, a secret sauce middle and a perfectly hot bridge.
 
With the tone knob pushed down, the 5-way gives you a standard array of tones - vintage output from the neck and middle, and a overwound bridge unit to get some proper power. The lower tone knob is available to tame that bridge unit if you need, the middle tone knob acting on the neck and middle units.
 
Pulling up the lower tone knob - easy as it is a rubberized surface - and the real power kicks in. The neck unit converts to a series neck and bridge configuration. These are wound and are constructed from magnets that do not turn this power to compressed mud - the clarity remains, just a lot more in the mid range - from a chime to a howl. Neck and middle together converts from a traditional quack to a powerful cluck. A vintage output middle joins the series connected neck and bridge. The increase in midrange is precisely where you need it. Position 3 converts from a vintage output middle to a hot output middle - great for searing slide guitar. This middle pick-up is where the magic happens - there are 2 outputs that either serve in their own right, or have the desired effect when coupling with their neighbours. Middle and bridge converts from vintage quack to a less scooped growl as the full winding of the middle becomes available to match the hot bridge perfectly. The bridge is just the bridge - it needs nothing more than the tone control or a backed off volume control.
 
Lots of words - language is very rarely sufficient to accurately describe the tones that this guitar will provide - please give the demo video a listen - ears need to hear what I am trying to describe.
 
The new guitar feel is accentuated by a fresh set of frets - all you lucky folks with a 59 Les Paul will recognise the 44500 Jumbo frets - ideal for these Matsumoku necks. Luxury from start to finish here.