Product: Aria Pro II PW45
Price Paid: US $100.00 used
Submitted
09/27/2001
at
12:16pm
by
"Mojo" Jerry Farese
Features
:
10
My Aria Pro II, PW-45 dreadnought was made in Japan, (probably late 70's). It has 20 frets, solid spruce top, bound maple neck, maple fretboard w/black dot position markers, triple bound Gibson-style headstock, flame maple back & sides, bound herringbone pattern front, soundhole & back seam & has a rather deep "U-shaped" neck.
Sound
:
10
This guitar sounds GREAT! Lots of bright, shimmering high end, tons of mid-range tone & a full, solid bass response. I've noticed that if you hit a note and hold it, it will sustain with rich, almost bell-like harmonic overtones. The guitar was purchased used & needs some neck & fret work, (which I hope to have done soon), but I still Play it ALL THE TIME & I love it! I feel that it is truly professional quality instrament, along the same lines as a Gibson acoustic.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
The action is fairly fast, however the neck has a slight "dip" where it joins the body & probably needs re-setting. The natural finish is beautiful, with a herringbone bound bookmatched solid spruce top, bound flame maple sides & bound/bookmatched flame maple back with a herringbone strip down the center.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
I have played a few solo acoustic gigs on this guitar using a Dean Markley, Promag Plus single-coil pickup, running through a Peavey Classic 50 Amplifier, and it works fairly well, however due to the "dip" at the neck/body joint, it does not play well up the neck. I am going to have the neck/frets repaired, and feel that this guitar will be one that I keep for the rest of my life. Other that small nicks & dings it is a beautifully unique, incredible sounding guitar.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
N/A
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been playing guitar for about 30 years, starting around 3 or 4 years old, and I have owned at least 50 guitars in that time, at least 10 or so being acoustics, & this one is without a doubt the best sounding, most unique looking acoustic I have ever owned. The natural finish, flame maple back & sides, herringbone binding and maple fretboard really make this guitar stand out among ALL other acoustics, and the sound is Pro-Quality ALL THE WAY!!!