ARIA AW-75 QN Made in Japan  1970s

 

This is a a high quality Martin D18 clone, all solid wood, mahogany neck, back and sides and fine grained spruce top. Serial number is 106241, but there is little information on decyphering the date from this number.

 

In use this is a loud guitar and like good quality guitars if you play hard it responds well without the harshness which comes in with cheaper instruments. The set up is good and allows playing all the way up the neck.

 

Originality is good.  It would seem that the original machines have been replaced by good quality machine heads which hold tuning exceptionally well. The condition is not perfect.  The headstock in particular has some damage to the finish as shown in the photographs.  The front and back have some light damage to the otherwise perfect original finish.  There are no cracks or loose struts making this a very playable instrument.  There is an unfilled screw hole on the upper bout rim where I suspect a strap button had been located, now replaced by a modern one on the heel.

 

A​ll in all this is a Martin quality instrument for much less money