Aria Pro II LBE-CST Libra

This guitar falls neatly in the super-strat catagory that was all the rage in the late 80's. Mine's actually the standard model... HSS pick-up format with mini-toggle switching for full veratility.THe neck pick-up is a high output Schaller unit...not sure if it was stansrd fit or put on later as the guitar was bought second hand. A Floyd Rose licensed trem unit keeps tuning incredibly stable... which was the main reason I bought the guitar back in 1990. It has a solid ash body with a translucent grey/blue finish. A rosewood fretboard with a gradual scallop from the 15th fret finishes this beast off.

This guitar was my main guitar for ages. It plays better than an Ibanez saber I bought and consequently sold... It can rock with the best, but can lighten up for some tight clean funk. I play through a Mesa Boogie Nomad 100, with a bad horsie 2 wah, digitech whammy and line 6 DL4 digital delay unit... Only in thae last year has this guitar been superceded... the main guitar now being a PRS CE22.

As soon as I got the guitar I had a full set-up and fret dress done by Andy Crockett in Kent. I doubt you will find a better set-up. The action is ideal for legato passges and sweep picking... the whole thing is just awesome. The trem allows full divebombing to a tone and a half pitch raise... with properly stretched in strings this guitar will not slip out of tune.(Another reson the Ibanez was sent on it's way!) OK... not the way the guitar came new...probably... but properly set up it is a gem...

I gig 3-4 times a week... the guitar has had its fair share of knocks and dings... My view is that it's a work horse and a few cosmetic blemishes won't hurt it because I will never sell it. All my guitars have strap locks fitted... you don't want guitars nose diving at that critical solo moment!! I always have a spare guitar with me... not because of reliability probs, but better if you break a string!

never had the pleasure

This guitar has seen a lot of work over the last 14 years. Apart from the full set-up etc. in 1990 it has not needed any work doing to it. The tuning stability is remarkable, given the abuse the trem gets from time to time.
My PRS is now the main guitar I use, but the Aria comes out for all the tracks that require more severe trem activity. The Aria doesn't quite have the tone of the PRS, but then again it didn't cost #2000!
For the money, I know for sure that I could not find another guitar like the Aria today.

This is a Japanese made guitar from 1988. 22 frets, three pickup (HSH) with three switches...on/off for single coil and a three way switch for each humbucker for off/tapped/on switching. Master volume and 2 tone pots (one for each humbucker). The switching and controls allows a vast amount of tonal choices. Not sure of the pickup type as I replaced them with higher output duncans. Its a curly maple top with an orangey sunburst...extremely good looking. Smallish strat type body, locking aria trem unit that works really well.
The switching and controls earn this guitar a high rating

This guitar was bought for looks initially, but after changing the pickups and really getting used to it I would say its versitility suits me well. I play mostly heavy rock, but with a few quieter moments thrown in. Being able to switch from tapped neck pickup to full on bridge pickup means I don't have to rely on pedals so much. The two tone pots mean you can get Les Paul type separation between the pickups too. The guitar is used through Marshall stack amps and sustain is no problem. The guitar is light weight too, so it makes a pleasant change from my Les Paul.

Action was low, and I've managed to get it even lower without too much effort. The neck is a bit on the small side for me, and again thsi is probably due to my other guitars (Les P and a Jackson PC1 which was a HUGE neck). The pickups were okay for sound, but were low output. The top is glorious, and there were no problems with manaufacturing flaws. The set up may have been down to Aria, or more likely the shop it came from.

This guitar has been gigged on and off since 1988 and is still going strong, although it is about 5 year overdue for a re-fret. The finish is still as it was, with the expected gigging nicks and scratches. The strap fits into the internal type srap locks, which were factory fitted and are still fine. I would happily gig it with no back up.

Aria have previously sent me free trem blocks when I have lost them, so I rate them as helpful. Warranty was 1 year I think, but that expired in 1989.

Been playing 18 years, gigging for 13. Other guitars Les Paul Custom, Aria Pro II Cat, Ibanez JS1000, Jackson PC1, Yamaha Electro Acoustic. If it was stolen, I doubt I could get a replacement, I have only ever seen one other of these. I love the way it looks and the fact that when I bought it, my mate wished he had bought it himself. Its also a "wolf in sheeps clothing" as it looks "pretty" but will wail and scream if you want it too. It also doesn't do your back in after a 2 hour gig (or 4 hour rehearsal)