Now, there may be a good chance I’m starting to develop a bit of a problem when it comes to looking for “fixer uppers”. The problem isn’t so much in the looking, but the buying that swiftly follows.

Things are legit starting to look like an episode of hoarders in my workshop space. 

Today I bought myself this -

My very first DAION

Now you might be thinking well, that just looks like a pretty stock standard Stratocaster replica and you would be right, and also wrong. The first thing I noticed apart from the fact that I should probably not buy it, is that the body is slightly different from a Strat, it seems a little smaller and the ‘horns’ seem a little longer? Maybe I’m trippin’ balls, hey I have been up since 3am making pastry for the Queen. Not really for the Queen, but maybe she might like some…

So not only did the body look a little off kilter but it had my most hated bridge in the history of all bridges, even worse than the one over the River Kwai, a Floyd Rose Tremelo. Why do I hate them? I just do. 

Everything on this headstock is thankfully busted to all hell so I have no need to even pretend like I’m going to fix that string locking system up. I do however really like the headstock shape. 

The neck actually feels really great in my opinion, it has aged nicely, the frets are hardly worn (though they might be in the wrong place), and it’s just got a nice vintage feel about it, as good I would say as the “Classic Vibe” series that Squire have been producing for a few years, which I think are well beyond value for money. 

The moment that brought me the most joy was looking at this tremolo block and seeing how far gone it was! It literally crumbled when I pulled it out. I was never going to use it but it was something I’d not seen before, I was surprised at how poor a condition it was in, when the rest of the guitar seemed not too bad.

So that was todays Pawn Shop purchase a DAION dating from sometime in the late 80’s I’m guessing, made in Korea with leftover parts from the Japanese factory that was making them previously. There are no identifying marks on the guitar anywhere, not even a model name under the logo, annnnnnnd it’s made of plywood so it is pretty much a sure thing it’s one of the Korean makes, and I’m pretty alright with that.  

What to do with it? Well I really do like it for some strange reason, so i will be keeping you updated when things start to happen, I think it needs some kooky electronics in there, maybe a fernandez sustainer? Who knows!!!