Aria Pro II ES-500 VS

Bought this ES-750 (335 imitation) in 1980. On advice of my guitar teacher at the old Charlie Byrd's Music Shop in D.C., I ordered this direct from the factory in Japan. The guitar still looks beautiful, with a tobacco sunburst finish. In 1984, I went to vintage guitar store in Durham N.C. (Go Blue Devils) and had them put on an old Bigsby vibrato bar, more for looks than performance. Simple controls, of course, but other than replacing the jack input a year ago (20 years ain't bad), no problems with features.

Pickups have a terrifically fat sound. Gibson snobs are shocked when they hear who great this axe still sounds. It really did sound better than the Les Paul I wanted at the time. Resale value would have been better, of course, but this guitar was really a find. The sound has stood the test of time.

I did replace the nut about 10 years ago, it was just worn down. I also replaed the tuning pegs with Grovers, although I can't remember why. I had the neck adjusted maybe three times over the last 15 years, and the frets are pretty worn, but that's to be expected.

This thing has seen a lot of action in 20 years. Even though I play mostly bass in performance now (I discovered in college that guitar players are a dime a dozen, but good bassists and drummers are much more in demand), I've played this thing in all types of situations. It has always sounded and played great, and it is in terrific condition.

Never needed them.

In 20 years, I've played a lot of guitars. I could never give this one up, probably for sentimental reasons more than anything else. My main amp for years has been an old Fender Deluxe for that great Fender tone, and I've also owned several others, including a Vox AC-30. I just bought a little Hughes and Kettner Edition Tube for a heavier gain sound, and we'll see how it goes, but this guitar really has a strong and solid sound. This was a top of the line Aria, and it really showed.

Im not sure about the model name or number cause I can't find it anywhere on the guitar but since the description in the previous review matches, I'm posting this review here. Tis guitar is a ES-335 type of model (different headstock, and the body might be a little smaller and I'm not sure if the cutaways are exactly the same) and the pick up conf./tone&volume controles/toggle switch/bridge/tuners/everything else... is the same as the gibson. I don't really know what wood the body, neck and fretboard is made of but can probably read about that stuff in a next/previous review. I'm just borrowing this guitar from a friend but I've had it for a long time and I'm very familiar w/ it, as the guy who owns the guitar is in my band. He traded in this boss digital delay/pitch shifter pedal for it and payed about $100 on top of that but I don't know what it cost/costed new. I'm not even sure he got it new or used but for a 2nd hand guitar it sure looks great. I've seen this guitar go for $180, used and thats to my opinion thats really cheap for this thing. The body's dark red and for some unknown reason my friend got rid of the pick guard. for some weird reason it looks cooler now (the stickers might have something to do w/ it too), more punk less blues (no screw holes showing or nothing!)

It sounds incredibly good thru my old vibrolux reverb. This guitar has this one setting that gets you this punchy bluesy clean jazz tone that'll make you melt. If you crank yr amp or use something like a tube screamer you're in tone heaven. The switch and tone control allow you to go from a mellow deep jazz tone to a sparkly bright pop/rock tone. The first time I played this guitar I never played anything but Fender guitars and I was really surprised it was so versitle, I would play raw rock shit and punk riffs w/ it. Maybe if I could compare it to a real ES-335 I could find some flaws (ok maybe the pick ups need a little more power), but then for it's price...

The action's really low and it seems thats the best set-up for this thing. String tension's really loose and adds a nice jangly twang to the sound (just a little bit, especially the E/A/G strings)plus it's a dream to play, especially cause of the smooth, thin neck. Sometimes when I'm playing really close to the neck, the bridge p.u. gets in the way but thats really not worth screwing up the otherwise great set-up. The electronics and hardware seem very solid and don't look/feel solid.

rock solid, durable, reliable,...

no idea

I've been playing almost ten years now and I'm still not very good compared to the average blues or jazz player or 20 notes/second metal dude but I know what I like in a guitar. I currenly have a fender vibrolux reverb and a fender twin reverb (seventees silver face) and I'm using this guitar and also a '74 fender tele deluxe. I've owned/played/borrowed a ton of cheap strat copies and a variaty of accoustics. I understand that most guitar snobs (like me before I dicovered this guitar) would'nt even look at a cheap Korean copy like this one and they'd probably think I'm a dumbass rooky cause I'm reviewing this guitar like it's a Gibson. But I'd bet any of them would fail a blindfold test (old little fender tube amp, really good guitarist, the Aria pro2). This is one of the best kept secrets for guitarists on a budget that want to play any kind of music (ok not metal) and don't insist on getting another strat copy or overprised fender or gibson (or epiphone for that matter). Fastneck and fretboard, huge variaty of sounds, great tone, solid finish and hardware, easy and fun to play, nice pick ups and electronics and a classic look.

Purchased in 1979. Semi-acoustic, symmetric model with two violin-f holes. 22 frets, two pickups. Controls: pickup select switch, 2 volume and 2 tone potmeters, and a multitone dial with six settings! Passive electronics. Symmetric tuning setup (2x3). Price in 1979: about $ 350.== Maybe intended by Aria as a Gibson ES-335 imitation, but color is wood (not reddish), slightly darkening towards the edges.

Allows for very clean but also thrashy playing. The height of the strings allows for much more methods of damping with the right hand than say, a Telecaster. Little risk of strings hitting the pickup. Usually played with 0.011 series, 3rd not wound. Tuning: very sensitive instrument. Bending the neck will have marked effect (be careful while moving on stage). Really sensitive girl.

Finish was OK. But it is not a high-end model.

You can depend on it. Still looks fantastic after 21 years. No mechanical problems whatsoever. Heavy use, almost daily.

no experience

Use it together with Ibanez Renometer (an equalizer: slightly overdone with all the tone control already on the instrument) and a Fender Princeton Chorus (which is OK but has terribly mellow fuzz, that's why I need the equalizer to overdrive the high range). I would not use it on stage (feedback) but it is very good as a studio instrument. Sensitive as a violin. For blues but also for funky stuff. It took me some time to get used to it, but solid-body guitars now all play and sound dull in my eyes (ears&hands).