Argus DJ-23 Solid Carve L5 Jazz Archtop Hidesato Shiino ( Vestax Angelico ) 1980 3,0kg

This is an example of Japan's absolute best, non mass production guitars. Supervised and built by Hidesato Shiino, Argus DJ are one of the rarest high class, real archtops you can own. You are familiar with mr. Shiino's more recent work as master grade builds at D'Angelico / Vestax (which is his current company).The sound is very loud and with nice full bass response that you expect from solid spruce. It is a full fledged acoustic guitar comparable to regular flattops in volume. Right from the very first sound you know this is a very special, alive instrument.if you're still not sure what this is - Andy Summers sure does know (left-upper row):
BODY SPECS:

• Solid carve spruce top.
• The back appears to be mahogany. The guitar has a unique double back construction. If you look into an F-hole, you will see flat second bottom.
• Top is X-braced.
• Guitar weighs 3,0kg (with pickup)

NECK / PLAYABLE SPECS:

• Mahogany with ebony fingerboard
• 9,5" radius
• 24,75" scale
• Original tall jumbo, stainless steel frets. They will last a lifetime.
• Fret edge binding
• Compound natural pearl+abalone inlays
• Bone nut, original
• 44mm nut width
• 38mm E-E nut spacing
• 52mm E-E bridge spacing (let me know if you prefer different one)
• 21mm super thin neck with a C profile.

HARDWARE:

• The solid brass tailpiece is a unique design that allows to individually setting up string break angle. There is also a screw that tilts the whole tailpiece. The inert vibration that you feel from it while playing is extremely satisfying.
• Original bone and ebony bridge, fine sanded to adapt it to the top geometry.
• Original 15:1 tuners. They work wonderful.

I've tried to capture all finish defects in the photos. There are two cracks in the top, which is almost inevitable with solid spruce. None of them are a concern. There is no top sagging, or neck deformation.There is a crack in the neck lacquer under the volute. From low E to about half of the neck. This is not a break or repair. Neck and headstock are absolutely healthy.The guitar had electronics, with a humbucker attached to the neck, and controls / input jack on the pickguard. Unfortunately, the celluloid plastic of the pickguard has deteriorated from age, destroying original pots. I will supply the original pickup, and wire a modern pickguard for you. Currently set up with 12-50 Thomastik Plektrum bronze strings. Highly recommend Thomastik strings (having tried a lot of strings with this particular guitar), but will put any brand and type. I do not recommend using any heavier gauge than 12s with such a thin mahogany neck.Original vintage hard case it came with.
SHIPPING:
I am willing to negotiate pricing if you are willing to use a more cost-effective payment method - the huge sum lost on paypal fees can be your spare change.Strictly EU shipping with the exception of UK. There is a close friend commuting between EU and UK, who can hand deliver this ultra valuable instrument to London.Within EU, I will consider using DPD or DHL, depending on the destination. I've put DHL rates for EU, but everything depends on where we're delivering and which company we choose.
Romania and Greece travel with Econt as the safest option possible.You are more than welcome to personally pick it up from me in Varna, Bulgaria!If you have interesting instruments for partial trade-in, don't hesitate to offer.