ShortScale.org

I don’t know how Amazon’s algorithms for recommending things work, but it sure is good about finding things it knows I don't need but won't resist. Like this.

I can’t believe you can buy this brand new for that price ($164 US). It could use some fret dressing (edges are rough) and a good setup, but it’s cool as hell in a way that only random copies like this can be.

It’s made in Vietnam, which amazes me, considering that 1) Vietnam is known for GIs bringing back “serviceman” copy guitars after the war (even though most weren’t built there), and 2) I had no idea Vietnam would be mass producing guitars sold on Amazon.

Other things worth noting, mostly for my own record before I start dissecting and modding it…

- It’s a 24 3/4” scale, or closer to 25” depending where you measure
- Unlike in the ad, the neck isn’t glossy, it’s satin. It does have a scarf joint though
- Pickguard is different than pictured too. It’s a light, mint green, which isn’t unwelcome
- No characters (Vietnamese?) on the truss rod cover, thankfully
- Headstock logo is more of a cream color than pure white
- Some paint missing around the holes for the neck bolts. Might try to make a neck plate
- Pickup rings look purely cosmetic. The P90s mount into the body, not the rings
- No idea what the fingerboard wood is. It almost looks artificial
- Bigsby knockoff seems like it doesn’t suck! Also, fully adjustable roller bridge!
- That serial number. How many did they actually make?!

I plan to make some cosmetic changes (tuners, knobs, maybe pickup covers or pickups themselves), and possibly cover the headstock with something else, because...well, IYV. How do you even pronounce that? But this thing will be really fun.

Looks pretty cool. I wonder if the tariff situation has anything to do with more of these sorts of things coming in from Vietnam?

Dillon, all your pics say "content not viewable in your region", probably Imgur. Can you repost as attachments?

Congrats. And it's probably better than the real thing playability wise

NickS wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 7:31 am Dillon, all your pics say "content not viewable in your region", probably Imgur. Can you repost as attachments?

Ah yes, I forgot about that. Fixed. I don't normally use the uploader as that means full size photos. But I also forgot that it resizes to fit the screen.

Started looking at it. Electronics are about what I'd expect, although the pots say "Made in"...something illegible, since the wires are (poorly) soldered over the text. Presumably a Viatnamese province or city.

Seems like any P90-sized pickup would fit. Oddly, the underside of the faux pickup rings are covered in foil. I'd love to see some Mosrite-style pickups in here---I even have a pair---but at the moment I feel like that's more work than it's worth. It'd mean expanding the route. I might try a set of these, in keeping with "super cheap guitar" theme. (Edit: Reading the description, those aren't truly "noiseless", so nevermind.) Also decided I'll change just the tuner buttons instead of the tuners themselves. They seem to work fine.

Something of interest...you don't often see bolt-on necks that are set into the body under the neck pickup.

Huh, super interesting build decisions in this thing.
Those chromed P90s would look kinda sick, too bad they're not noiseless.

Fuuuuu

I've been playing an Aria DM-1 as my "main" thing for a few years now, pure love this body shape:
(not mine, nor my godawful cushions)


I won't fuck with a Bigsby, but it's good to know there's another cheapo brand doing similar things, I'd bet there's a lot of overlap with the Harley Benton model, in terms of manufacture.

Even though they're 100% just there for aesthetics (since the P90s screw into the body), I do love those big pickup rings for that goofy 70s vibe; that's one of the things I don't like about the Aria. Just looks a bit less barren and that. I could probably be talked into hacking-up the wood at the end of my fretobard like on yours to fit 'em in haha, I'm such a poser

Real Mosrites also had the neck heel that extended under the pickup. Mosrite necks had a heel that was almost twice as thick of that of a typical Fender neck. At the same time the neck pocket in the body was so deep, it left a very thin piece of wood at the bottom

sunshiner wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2026 5:06 pm Real Mosrites also had the neck heel that extended under the pickup. Mosrite necks had a heel that was almost twice as thick of that of a typical Fender neck. At the same time the neck pocket in the body was so deep, it left a very thin piece of wood at the bottom

So if anything, I'd be a heroic conservationist if I did it...

That Aria is beautiful