Product: Aria Pro II Neo-X
Price Paid: GBP 300
Submitted
10/04/2008
at
12:31pm
by
John Barrett
Features
:
10
Bought this guitar new after many years of virtual non playing and have owned it for 6 years. Fell in love with the quilted top which appears to be solid wood throughout.
Neck is really thin and has withstood the test of 6 years playing. Very fast action with gotoh tuners which hold tune well except when whammy bar used.
Pickups have been good giving a wide variety of tones - none of which really resemble the strat after which it has been modeled. Although in saying that it is a uniquely shaped double cutaway.
Exremely light body makes it easy to handle and play. Switchable hot rail pickups and really good quality tremelo
Sound
:
8
I play mainly Chicago blues and with good sustain and a variety of tones it is quite unique through both my 100 watt Vox and 15 watt Marshall.
Good rich sound with good treble but not the bell like tones of a telecaster. Switchable pickups are OK but never exactly like either a single coil or ordinary humbucker.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Great set up and action from shop straight from box.
Finish has remained good over the 6 years. Only problem I've had was the jack socket worked loose but was quickly fixed.
Finsh for this price of guitar was excellent and it stills plays as well as it did new
Reliability/Durability
:
9
I've gigged it a couple of times and everything has been fine. Finish is as good as new.
Strap does have a tendency to fall from buttons but no more than with most guitars.
It is dependable other than the jack socket and also the jack connections are a bit tender.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
No need for any.
Overall Rating
:
10
Been playing since about 1965. Have owned a range of guitars and now build my own. However I have played virtually all types and this is a far better guitar than much more expensive brands.
Product: Aria Pro II Neo-X
Price Paid: 250 (POUNDS UK)
Submitted
02/09/2002
at
04:51am
by
Dave Evans
Email: david dot evans<at>virgin dot net
Features
:
8
As far as I know, made in Korea 2001. 24 medium frets, 3 x "rails" type tappable SC sized humbuckers, with just 1 x volume and tone controls. Maple neck, rosewood fingerboard - and although the double cutaway's bodywood is indiscernable (it also looks like a single piece to me), it's very, very pretty. Gotohs are the order of the day, and like the trem, wang bar, controls, are in a kind of matt aluminium finish. This guitar is extremely light !
Sound
:
9
Used with a Zoom 707 and a Marshal G30RCD (with the dirt channel "engaged") this guitar can deliver a wide range of tones. Not a good imitator of the Strat though, it can deliver mellow, clean, and pure filth in equal measure. It has a certain "uniqueness" to it .. almost a tone of its own.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
For a cheap guitar, this instrument reeks of quality. Set up out of the box, it was almost perfect for me. It'll take minutes to achieve, as it's a well made guitar to begin with. Only complaint (and this is only because it needs bedding in), is that the wang bar is a little stiff. The neck is absolutely fabulous - unique almost in an instrument of this price range.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
I can't wait to gig this guitar ! It looks totally beautiful, and the build quality would indicate that it'll no doubt sere me well for many years to come.
Customer Support
:
8
Haven't required any. However ..... I have tried finding other reviews / pictures / info on this guitar and come up with just the review above on the whole Internet !!!! Aria themselves had no info on any of their websites. I think me and the guy above have inadvertantly bought ourselves "instant collectors items" ! Aria however have a good reputation in this area, so I'll vote because of that and the quality of their websites.
Overall Rating
:
9
I've been playing on and off for 30 years. I've owned many instruments - lots which were considerably more expensive than this one. If I lost it or it was stolen, I'd buy another one ... if I could find one, as it seems to be a fairly rare guitar. First impressions are its looks - it is visually stunning. Then the neck - it is supremely playable. Sound-wise, it can hold its own against anything else in my "armoury", and it has a tone all of its own, which is another sign of the sheer quality of this "budget" instrument. If you see one .... buy it. You'll be missing out if you don't.
Product: Aria Pro II Neo-X
Price Paid: 300 (Pounds England)
Submitted
05/19/2001
at
07:27am
by
Clive
Features
:
8
five way selector pick up switch, three single coil but amzing pick ups, the finish is real nice, maple neck
Sound
:
9
Nice sound very warm, the 5 way selector and pick up taps allow a real good range from heavey to blues, you name it it does it. had to adjust the pick up height when i first got her, but then thats just set up.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Action as wee all know is all about good set up but out of the box it was nice, low fast and easy ( just like me ladys )
The finish is superb looks like a lot more than the #300 it cost me
Reliability/Durability
:
7
Early days yet, so difficult one, but i will be keepin it around for a lonnnnng time, looks like it will last
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Just tried them out sent an email asking for info on it including the setup etc. so watch this space !!!!!!!!!
Overall Rating
:
10
been playin on and off for 15 years, but very on now days, got to maximise my investment, use it for blues rock metal, beating the girlfriend with (joke)and errr anoying the neibours.
nuff said. go out and buy one insted of drooling over mine
Clive.