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Bruce G - Posted - 01/21/2013: 08:24:57

I acquired an ARIA acoustic guitar today. The owner thought it was probably 20 years old but was not sure. I think it is probably a basic model even though it has binding used. I have looked on the ARIA site with no luck how to read the serial number. Not sure if the 66 means 1966 or not as one other site suggested. Any assistance would be appreciated

Model: AW-20N

S/N 66078326

GalenB - Posted - 01/21/2013: 16:22:56

Hey Bruce, I used to have an LW20 I picked up in the late 80s when I was in the Air Force in Germany. I bought it used from a guy who had bought it new in '85. I took that thing all over the world with me. The LW had a laminated top, and as such was built like a tank, but it played really well and didn't sound bad and I never had to worry about stability or cracking. I traded it off a couple years ago to a co-worker and it still looks like new, short of some fret wear.

The only infomation I have ever found is here: matsumoku.org/models/a-ap2_aco..acou.html

This catalog dates from the 80s. On this same site there is a price list from mid 70s and none of the AW/SW/LW series are listed. I think they came out early 80s and were made for most of the 80s. They are 10 times the instruments they put out these days. The solid wood models like the AW and SW I remember as being really pretty nice.

Hope this helps.

Pocsag decoding.
P.S. I sent my coworker an email to get th serial number off the LW20 - I think based on my earlier searching its a production sequence number and maybe this will give you a ball park.

Edited by - GalenB on 01/21/2013 16:30:42

GalenB - Posted - 01/21/2013: 18:29:59

Probably no help, but my friend just sent me a shot of the back brace stamp and it is 612036 for this mid 80s Aria. So my earlier post that the guy I bought it from might be wrong; he must have bought it new in '86 or near the first of the year.
This may not help either scribd.com/doc/75948875/Electr..er-Dating since your 8 digit number doesn't fit the format - it couldn't be a '66 since they didn't use serial numbers before the mid 70s. I would bet its after '87, and I have read before they started moving manufacturing to Korea. That usually throws the whole serial number thing out.

Bruce G - Posted - 01/22/2013: 11:28:12

Hey Galen,

Thanks for responding. I have looked on a number of sites with no luck. They all claim to tell you what the S/N means but they don't. It's not a big deal. I was just curious. The guitar looked old and smelled old so before I clean it up and put new strings on, I was just trying to date it.

Bruce

Aria is a Japanese manufacturer of acoustic and electric guitars and basses.

• 3Gallery

History[edit]

Aria was formed in Japan in 1956 by Shiro Arai as 'Arai & Co., Inc'.^[1][2]

They began retailing acoustic guitars in 1960, although the company did not 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, Diamond, and much less frequently, Arita brand names. The Aria brandname was changed to Aria Pro II in late 1975, though this has been used mostly (but not exclusively) for electric guitars and basses. All guitars were made in Japan until 1988, when production of less expensive models (Magna MAB/MAC and Integra IGB series) was switched to Korea. In the mid-1990s a few models (including the Fender Stratocaster-inspired Fullerton series guitars and the Steve Bailey 6-string fretless signature bass) were made in the United States.^{[citation needed]}

Guitar designer and audio engineer, Ronnie Parker^[3] started his career with Aria in 1985 when they were located in the City of Industry, California.

Guitars[edit]

Aria Pro II did some copies of famous American guitars such as the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul though it also did its 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 professional endorsements from Michael Schenker, Yngwie Malmsteen, Neal Schon, John Taylor, Henrik Flyman, Loose Wayne and SS of Dark Frost and many more. Cliff Burton of Metallica used an Aria SB Black N Gold I as well as an SB-1000 bass but was never an official endorser. He has a posthumous 'Signature Model' called the SB-CB produced in Korea. Aria makes guitars ranging from beginner to professional models. Some of their professional models were known as Firebrands because of the Firebranded Aria logo on the reverse of the headstock. The Firebrand guitars were produced in very small runs. They were then given to either named artists who promoted Aria Guitars or to the very top dealers as gifts. Firebranded Guitars were produced to a much greater standard than production runs.

Aria has also built amps, such as the 10W Birdy.

Gallery[edit]

Aria Pro II[edit]

• PE-R100

• PE

• Autodesk revit 2015 xforce keygen. TA-30

• Cardinal

• Cardinal CSB-300 Bass

• Tri Sound TS-600

• RS

• RS

• John Taylor model Bass

• SB-R80 Bass

• SB CB Cliff Burton Bass

• RSB Bass

• MA-40

• Urchin Deluxe V

• Space Dime

• LS-700 (Les Paul type)

• Britz by Aria Pro II (Les Paul type) [bottom]

• (ES-335 type)

• (Stratocaster type)

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abHistory of ARIA Pro II, 'The company [Aria Co., Inc] was established in 1956 by Mr.Shiro Arai.
2. ^ ^abThe History of Aria, 'On August 2nd, 1956, ARAI & CO., INC was founded.'
3. ^Fjestad, Zachary. 'RJP Technologies'. Blue Book of Guitar Values. Blue Book Publications, Inc. Luthier/designer Ronnie Parker was the CEO of RJP Technologies. .. RJP Technologies has designed instruments for several large manufacturers including Washburn and Daisy Rock. ..

Bibliography[edit]

• 'History of ARIA Pro II (Arai Co., Ltd)'. Music-Trade.co.jp. Yokohama: Dai-Showa Corporation.
• 'The History of Aria'. Aria Guitars [Arai & Co., Inc].
• 'About Aria' (in Japanese). Nagoya: Arai & Co., Inc.
• 'About Aria UK'. Guildford: Aria UK Limited.

Further reading[edit]

• アリアの響 [Aria's sounds]. Japan Vintage. Vol.5. Tokyo: Shinko Music Entertainment. 2004. ISBN978-4-401-61885-9.
• アリアプロIIの壱 [Aria Pro II part 1]. Japan Vintage Collection. Vol.6. Tokyo: Shinko Music Entertainment. 2006. ISBN978-4-401-63044-8.

External links[edit]

• Shiro Arai Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2006)