Product: Aria Pro II RS Bobcat
Price Paid: US $360 used
Submitted
10/12/2003
at
09:44pm
by
Aric
Email: keystone045 at hotmail<dot>com
Features
:
10
My Pro II was made in Japan in 1984, in the original color code SR. The rosewood fingerboard features only 22 frets but, I haven't missed the last two notes at all. My three single coils are controlled with a 5-way selector and a volume and a tone control. I added a second jack (an RCA) and a switch for my heavily modified Boss distortion pedal, so I could mount my distortion pedal to my amp. For now it's all passive but I'm looking at putting in single coil actives all through it, possibly even a Lace sensor. The fore mentioned rosewood fingerboard is topping a very thin maple neck piece with a locking head stock piece and tuners stamped with the Aria logo. The tremolo is a locking micro tuner piece very like a Floyd Rose. This guitar stays in tune and there have been times I've gone two years of never changing strings, and I do chord bends and full bends all the time due to my blues style playing. I bought it used 16 years ago and have never regretted it. Even the hardboard case has survived years of riding in the back of pickups and bounced around in several moves and one marriage.
Sound
:
10
This guitar has followed my progression from Christian pop through metal to death metal to industrial and because of tendon problems it now sings to a blues tune and accompanies me in a variety band that does country, classic rock and blues. Currently I am running it through a Digitech RP-10 (about 14 years old!) and a Peavey Bandit 112, a few years ago I revamped the ground after it developed a ground loop buzz, it hasn't made a peep since. I'd be lost without this guitar!
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Having adjusted everything I don't remember how well it was when I bought it. But in 16 years there have been no knob replacements or rewires even in the front mount output jack!
Reliability/Durability
:
10
16 years of live performance and it still has a very shiny gloss to it! The only problems in the finish stem from being in storage in freezing temperatures for several months, it developed several cracks in the finish but even though the fret wire is starting to show some wear but not buzzing yet and there is no fingerboard spots yet! I'm going to do our next gig with a back up only because it's a four hour show and I might break a string!
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never needed it.
Overall Rating
:
10
I think you get the idea! I love this guitar and no you can't have it. If you find one tell me and I'll buy it especially if you find one of the rare lefty's!
