Aria (guitar company)
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Aria is a Japanese manufacturer of acoustic and electric guitars and basses.
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[edit] History
The company was formed in Japan in 1953 by Shiro Arai as Arai and Company. They began retailing acoustic guitars in 1960, although the company didn't actually start manufacturing their own until 1964. Aria arranged for Matsumoku, the musical instrument maker, to build the guitars for them under contract. Arai and Matsumoku started building acoustic guitars in 1964, and then electric guitars in 1966, using Arai, Aria, Aria Diamond, and Diamond brand names. The Aria brand name was changed to Aria Pro II in late 1975, though this has been used mostly, but not exclusively, for electric guitars. All guitars were made in Japan until 1988, when production of less expensive models was switched to Korea. In the mid-1990s a few models were made in the United States.[citation needed]
[edit] Guitars
Aria Pro II did some copies of famous American guitars like the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul though it also did it own style of guitars. In the 70s and early 80s the company came into its own in the United States with a series of high end professional instruments. The company had many professional endorsements such as Herb Ellis, Mike Biggs, Neal Schon, Rod Stewart Band, Jerry Reed, and many more.[citation needed] The guitars were distributed at this point by Tillman Distributors in Charlotte NC. With the input from various artists and from the founders of Tillman Distributors, Joe Tillman, Dean Tillman and Jerry Tillman, the Aria Pro II guitars made a real mark in the industry during that time.[citation needed] Many of the models are still sought after by collectors and players alike.[citation needed] Many consider Aria guitars to be very value orientated, with very good pricing. Aria, it seems, has a full line up of guitars, ranging from the beginner STG 004 all the way through to professional players
[edit] Models
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LP-650 (Les Paul Copy) |
1976-77 |
