Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

Gearjoneser

Gearjoneser

Gear Ho
There was a period in the early/mid 80's when Aria guitars were all over the place in the US. When I started playing guitar then, it wasn't uncommon to see them. I don't know the details of their history, but are they more popular in Europe and Japan? I know SD has an affiliation with them, and I think they co sponsored the UK User Group Day.

What's the scoop? How come Americans rarely talk about Aria? I don't remember the last time I saw one in a store, in a thread on here, or a band endorsing them in magazines.

www.ariaguitars.com
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

Gearjoneser said:
There was a period in the early/mid 80's when Aria guitars were all over the place in the US. When I started playing guitar then, it wasn't uncommon to see them. I don't know the details of their history, but are they more popular in Europe and Japan? I know SD has an affiliation with them, and I think they co sponsored the UK User Group Day.

What's the scoop? How come Americans rarely talk about Aria? I don't remember the last time I saw one in a store, in a thread on here, or a band endorsing them in magazines.

www.ariaguitars.com
Click to expand...

Actually in asia they're seen as low end guitars due to large numbers of low end arias here.
but personally i find that the old aria from the late 80s and before are actually pretty darn good guitars.
my friend just got an Aria 1970+ ES335 and its a beauty, it even sounds really good with the stock pups. One of the rare few Arias that are seen today.

by the way, Aria is a USA company right?
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

They're Japanese, and they've always been seen as entry level guitars, even though some of their top models look pretty nice. I'm not jonesing for Aria's today, but I just saw a Latin band on TV and noticed an old Aria bass. It got me wondering why I never see any in stores.

Their two top models come with Custom 5/59 and Joe Barden pickups.
peinspire_nok_160.jpg

pe_extreme_160_0.jpg
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

Most middle and topend Aria's that I have tried and owned have been great guitars!
One of my buddies has one with two humbuckers and a OFR....it is about the single most mean sounding MOFO ever:D
Totally brown and all that!
 
Last edited:
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

Funny thing,
I played an early 80`s black aria es-335 copy yesterday and it was
damn good. The neck played as butter and it resonated really well :)
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

How much do the higher end models run? I did a quick search from their webiste looking for retailers, but could only find distributors. I'm off to do an eBay search.
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

yeah i think they are good guitars but getting rare to find those nowadays. plus their website is horrible so maybe no one bothers
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

I can only speak for myself but I got a late 80's Aria Pro 2 really cheap a few years ago and later found out it is a PLYWOOD body. I only bought it off my nephew to help him out but it's pretty dead acoustically and I assume the pup's suck but I LOVE the feel of the neck so maybe some day I'll try to do something with it. Change pups or just use the neck. Plus it's ugly.
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

I think one of my friends has an Aria, but it is a very low end axe. I've never seen any high end models before.
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

My first butcher job was done on a Aria Pro. Is that the same company I assume? It was a Strat that i took apart and repainted with a can of red spray paint. All I can remember is all the runs in the paint and the fact that I sprayed over all of the screw holes.
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

This last Saturday, a friend and I were in a small music shop thats both a Seymour Duncan dealer and an Aria dealer. They had a dozen or so different Aria acoustics on stands. We played several and they seemed like nice guitars. Nice build quality and good tone.
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

I played a lot of gigs with my Aria. I got it back in '82 for 400 bones. A couple years later I had the Kahler put on. In the mid 90s I replaced the pickups with a Screamin Demon & Pearly Gates. It's a cool guitar but it doesn't get a whole lot of attention these days given the rest of my six string harem. :(

Aria_sm.jpg
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

Pretty much about the last I really remember hearing of them was in the late 80's when Cliff Burton had a signature Aria Pro II Bass.
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

i have an Aria Pro II ZZ Bladerunner, and i really like it a lot. It's a mid-'80s model, as far as i can tell. Came with a stock Kahler Flyer trem, and has great sustain. Has a really thick, bassy sound for an alder guitar, but i think the pickups have something to do with that. Unfortunately, they're microphonic as hell. Too bad, as they sound good, and look really cool too (thick blade poles, like a DiMarzio X2N). One of these days i might replace them, unless i end up selling the guitar first.
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

Ive seen a couple of Arias, at pawnshops.

i never bothered to try one, because well...they seem so old and dirty and most looked like they were about to fall apart.

i wouldnt know personally, but I have heard some shine like diamonds.
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

I always wanted an Aria ProII . The explorer shape , half black/half white. Man, that was cool. Was stunned to see Prince's Male guitarist using one in Purple rain I think, but he looked tough with a Japanese bandana on.. Gawd Im old... wahh
 
Re: Why is Aria so unpopular in the US?

Aria was getting pretty strong for a while in the 80's and for some reason they seemed to get off track, don't know why?

That LP style axe they made/make was always a very good guitar IMO in fact I think Neal Schon had an endorsement with them and that particular model.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
NGD: US PRS
Replies
11
Views
515
ExplorersRock
ExplorersRock
Phantasmagoria
Another NAD. The one I've been waiting for
2 3 4
Replies
66
Views
2K
Phantasmagoria
Phantasmagoria
cliffenstein
NGD: 1977 made for export Aria Pro II LC-550TB (Les Paul Custom)
Replies
17
Views
715
cliffenstein
cliffenstein
S
Why the heck is my STHR-1B Tele hot rail so dark and flubby?
Replies
13
Views
516
spleenharvester
S
Seraphial
NGDs x4
Replies
6
Views
654
Mincer
Mincer
Back
Top