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NGD: 1977Aria Pro II LC-550 (Les Paul Custom)

cliffenstein

New member
Joined
Oct 28, 2017
Messages
4
Some years ago I owned an LC-500 and loved it. I sold all my gear at one point and have sorely missed it ever since. I honestly never thought I'd have a chance to get another one. Then I happened upon an LC-550, which is the exact same guitar but with gold hardware instead of chrome. The Wilkes Barre, PA Music-Go-Round had it for sale for just $400. Being that I knew what it was, I grabbed it quick...real quick.

I brought it home and changed a bunch of stock parts to mirror Ronnie Younkins' from Kix 1971 LPC (his guitar has been my favorite Les Paul since I was a kid).

1. Replaced all gold hardware with chrome (down to the screws).
2. Replaced the stock Aria Pro Alnico V pickups with an old Gibson 490R/498T set.
3. Put on strap locks.
4. Replaced the plastic input jack plate with a nickel one.
5. Replaced pickup rings and toggle surround (black to cream).
6. Replaced the knobs (black speed knobs to gold top hat with silver inserts).

I then dropped it off with Doug at DWard Guitars to get the rosewood fretboard ebonized (dye it black and then seal in the color with oil), cut the nut so that 11's don't bind, and a setup.

This guitar is flat out awesome. It was made in 1977 (with the "made for export" headstock design) to almost exact 1974 LPC specs (differences are lack of open book cut in the headstock, double arrowhead inlay instead of split diamond, wide binding at the cutaway instead of thin binding, and maple neck instead of mahogany).

.8" at the 1st fret
.96" at the 12th fret
1 11/16" bone nut
Maple neck
Mahogany pancake body w/solid Maple cap
Long tenon
ABR-1 bridge

Weight: 9 lbs

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ii-V-I

New member
Joined
Dec 27, 2017
Messages
2
Nice guitar. I'm curious if the maple neck has a major impact on the sound. Does it sound like a Les Paul? Honestly, based on my experiences with lower budget modern Gibsons, the idea of a sturdy maple neck seems like a pretty good idea in terms of tuning stability and so forth. I'm asking because i'm in the market for a LP-style guitar, and can't afford a real, vintage one. The idea of these affordable old 70s Japanese ones really appeals to me.

I just joined the forum. This is my first post here, actually, not including my intro. So I should also say hello! ;)
 

cliffenstein

New member
Joined
Oct 28, 2017
Messages
4
Nice guitar. I'm curious if the maple neck has a major impact on the sound. Does it sound like a Les Paul? Honestly, based on my experiences with lower budget modern Gibsons, the idea of a sturdy maple neck seems like a pretty good idea in terms of tuning stability and so forth. I'm asking because i'm in the market for a LP-style guitar, and can't afford a real, vintage one. The idea of these affordable old 70s Japanese ones really appeals to me.

I just joined the forum. This is my first post here, actually, not including my intro. So I should also say hello! ;)

Hello and welcome aboard!

An awful lot of Gibson Les Pauls in the 70’s had maple necks and they all sound like Les Pauls. My Aria Pro II has the exact proper dimensions, woods and even neck carve as the 70’s LPC’s. I put an early 90’s set of Gibson pickups in it, too. It DEFINITELY sounds, feels and PLAYS every bit like a “real” Les Paul. I couldn’t possibly be more pleased!
 
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