Necessity is the mother of invention. In the story of Aria Guitars necessity is very much central to the company’s humble beginnings in Nagoya, Japan, in 1956.

It started when Shiro Arai, the founder of Aria Guitars struggled to find outlets in his native country where he could buy nylon strings for his classical guitar. Frustrated by the scarcity, he came up with the idea of importing classical guitar strings from Augustine, a manufacturer in New York City, also Jose Ramirez guitars from Madrid in Spain. As word spread among Japanese guitarists and demand for Augustine strings grew, Arai set up Arai & Co. Inc. to cope with the flourishing sales.

Shiro Arai

Arai & Co., Inc.

Catalogue 1956

“It all started with the classical guitar, when I heard my friend played a piece by Bach” says Shiro Arai

With the arrival of rock ’n’ roll, Arai also began importing electric and steel string acoustic guitars from overseas.
During the early Sixties, the company expanded into production of its own guitars, beginning with acoustic and hollowbody models in 1960, followed by the introduction of solidbody electrics in 1963, issued under the brand names of Aria (an anagram of Arai).

Soon the company began exporting guitars to various countries, including the United States. As demand grew, Aria contracted Matsumoku Industrial, a woodworking company based in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture.

60s Catalogue

PE-1500

In the 70s, while Japan was enjoying an enormous acoustic guitar song boom as it was happening in the USA and some European countries, Aria guitars started to develop original new design electric guitars.

In 1975 “Aria Pro II” brand was launched. It was dedicated to electric guitar productions in order to bespeak a clear distinction with other acoustic and classical guitars which was being produced under the name of “Aria” brand, and it was named with all heart of that “PRO” for maintaining a professionalism, and “II” for being one step ahead.

In 1976, its first original model, the PE-1500 was released.

The PE-1500 was a well-received success. Further models followed, starting with the PE-800 in 1978 and the PE-600, PE-500 and PE-400 in respective order over the next few years. Each new model offered improvements, such as the materials used, functionality and decorative aspects such as bindings.

Aria Pro II PE guitars were soon seen with guitarists like Neal Schon of Journey, Andy Summers of the Police (notably in the Police’s 1978 performance of “Can’t Stand Losing You” and “Next to You” on England’s The Old Grey Whistle Test TV show) and Gerry Cott of the Boomtown Rats. Henrik Flyman, guitarist with Scandinavian metal band Evil Masquerade, is a life-long dedicated Aria Pro II PE player who has kept the model relevant in the new millennium.

“I got my PE-1500 back when guitars were supposed to be brightly colored and oddly shaped,” Flyman says.

Andy Summers & Gerry Cott

PE-1000U “Limited in 1978”

Japanese Urushi lacquered

Shortly after the first Aria Pro II guitar model hit the market, the Aria Pro II SB (Super Bass) made its debut in the late Seventies.
The flagship SB-1000 quickly became a mainstay for players such as Cliff Burton (Metallica), John Taylor (Duran Duran) and Cronos (Venom). During the Eighties, Michael Anthony (Van Halen), Jack Bruce and Rudy Sarzo (Whitesnake) were often seen playing an Aria SB bass on stage.

Catalogue 1978

Cliff Burton w/SB-1000

Rudy Sarzo w/ SB-RSZ

Jack Bruce w/ SB-1000

Between 1978 and 1982, the company produced the Aria Pro II Rev-Sound series models (RS-850, RS-750, RS-600 and others), which featured neck-thru-body construction with laminated multilayer maple and walnut necks and active electronics.

RS-1000Z

PE-175

American jazz great Herb Ellis’s model PE-175, an archtop electric guitar was released in 1979 and it was remained in production until the late Eighties.

George Lynch briefly played the similar Aria Pro II RS Knight Warrior in 1984 and was photographed with the guitar on the back cover of Dokken’s Tooth and Nail.

“I never had an endorsement offered to me before,” Lynch says. “I was extremely excited about getting a guitar and being promoted through a guitar company. Aria offered me one electric and one acoustic guitar, so I picked what I thought was the most upscale and coolest looking guitar in a  catalogue, along with whatever acoustic guitar they offered me. I used the Knight Warrior to play exactly one note which was a dive bomb at the end of some solo on ‘Tooth and Nail.’

The Aria acoustic, on the other hand, was used for all the acoustic work on that same record, including ‘Alone Again.’ To be honest, my interaction with the Aria Pro II was very limited and only for a short period of time while recording the album at Cherokee studios.”

Catalogue 1985

Adoration of hard rock / heavy metal inspired designs expanded with the introduction of the V-shaped Aria Pro II XX,  off-set shaped Aria Pro II ZZ and Aria Pro II Urchin series, also IGB (Integra) bass series whilst not abandoning its routes the semi-acoustic guitar models, FA and TA were also introduced.

Billy Gould w/ IGB-550

In the early 90s the MA series was launched to reinforce the PE and SB line-ups. MA series bodies are constructed with innovative crystal shaped carved top which current MAC series inherits.

Continuing its remarkable progress, Aria released the very unique concept of the SWB (electric upright bass) series to the world in 1992. The SWB range offers compact modern design and features the Fishman custom bridge Piezo pickup and active tone circuit.

Because the American instrumental guitar group the Ventures remained hugely popular in Japan ever since the entire band first toured there in 1964 (Bob Bogle and Don Wilson previously played in Japan in 1962, but as a duo) and kicked off a boom in guitar sales, Aria joined forces with the group in 1991 to offer the first Ventures signature model instruments made exclusively for the Japanese market. In 1999 Aria released a new upgraded version, and in 2001, 2002 and 2003 Aria introduced Ventures signature models.

The Ventures

VCM-2001 & VCMB-2001

In 2013, Cliff Burton signature bass was first-ever produced with the authorization of the Cliff Burton family and Metallica. The bass was a replica of “SB-Black ‘n Gold I”, and it was successfully lanced at NAMM 2013 in the presence of Mr. Ray Burton the father of Cliff Burton. The current Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo often plays SB bass when performing the band’s Cliff Burton-era material.

Ray Burton at NAMM 2013

Cliff Burton

SB-BLACK N’ GOLD I

Robert Trujillo

In 2020, Aria launched the completely new J series of guitar, baritone and bass models featuring a distinctive offset single cutaway body design. Due to popular demand vintage style DM-206 guitar and DMB-206 bass were also added to the collection along with RETRO-1532 in 2021.

Recently, the new series “Hot Rod Collection” was introduced. The series includes 714-MK2 which is based upon the popular American-made Aria Pro II Fullerton guitars from 1990s. These guitars emphasize the U.S. connection through models named after American cities or neighborhoods and their respective phone area codes, such as the “714 Fullerton,” “615 Nashville” and “212 Bowery.”

Made in Japan, the Platinum Collection revives the SB-1000 bass and several PE models including the beloved PE-1500, plus the TA-Tonic thinline semi-hollow electric guitars.

As Aria enters its sixth decade, its passion and dedication to guitar making remain as strong as ever. It also means a wealth of experience and acquired expertise. The core value remains the same today to constantly strive to achieve a higher level of excellence, quality and value for musicians.

Part of this article was quoted from HISTORY OF ARIA GUITARS By Joe Matera
(originally published in Guitar World magazine, July 2023 issue)