Aria 6812

My features rating is all about looks, although it does sound great. I've have had my 6812 since 1980 or so. I inherited it (absconded may be a better term) from my ex-mother-in-law who thought she wanted to learn how to play guitar, but gave up after a couple of lessons.

I took all my early lessons on this guitar as it was my first. It's a small and narrow bodied folk style based on a martin model i think , but absolutely beautiful in the attention to detail. What I thought was a mahogany fret board is in actuality rosewood, which I've just learned from the only other posting about this model. A nice added touch is the bridge, which is also wood, rosewood I would now assume. Beautiful cream piping front and back on the body and all the way up the front of the neck. The sound hole is intricately decorated with an almost Santa Fe style pattern inside a rope boundary. Unfortunatey, I must agree with the earlier commentary that the machine heads (shiny all-chrome) are sub-par and very loose and tend to easily fall out of tune. It does play soft, easy on the fingers which cooincides with it's easy sound.

The Aria logo is embossed below the gloss finish on the headstock, as well as the stylized insignia (it doesn't look much like an "A", more like a couple of chevrons) into the laminated black laquer pick guard, which is not a common sight and gives this guitar an upscale look. Large mother of pearl (but now I've found out it's "brother of pearl") fret markers really help make it stand out.

It came with what I can only conclude is the original case, a basic brown hard shell done in fake alligator. Very retro now.

It may not have been an expensive guitar, but it looks like one. It still turns heads wherever I take it, and I haven't met a musician or instructor who has seen one before that they recall. Everyone wants to try it out immediately.

As my first guitar I kind of came to expect all guitars to sound like it. Not so. It has a deep, rich resonating sound for a small guitar, and the chords come out very soft and mellow. It suits my limited talents which is mostly chording to accompany my equally limted singing talent. It's perfect for writing songs because even the mistakes don't sound too harsh, which is key to other people in the house who know too well the torture of listening to a composition in progress. You can strum with some vigour but not drown out your own voice.

On the downside, it isn't necessarily strong for leads or carrying the melody. As mentioned earlier, it tends to fall out of tune a little sooner than more pricey guitars, particularly on the top two strings. I own a jumbo-body Takimine for instance that seems to stay in tune no matter how hard or long you swipe at it.

Exceptional action for an acoustic. I've probably destroyed some it's potential over the years. I've had it since I was 18, been camping and left overnight close to campfires, in ice-fishing huts, left outside in the rain, in the car summers and winters, dropped, chipped, banged around. After 20 years or so the bridge began to lift and despite a couple of repair attempts, it seemed hopeless

Two years ago it was so bad I took it to a well-known local musician/ music-store owner and guitar repairman from a reference I received after telling someone my tale of woe. After he had gone through the usual admiration he said it would take some major work to bring it
back. He kept it for about two months, locked away in a back room with a hydrator installed in it to make it pliable enough to work on.

I don't know what he did but it's back and plays and sounds as great as ever. Probably cost more than the guitar is worth, but it's irreplaceable to me. the finish still looks great and it feels tight. With this action, it's very easy on the fingers to play with minimal buzz.

It has lasted in spite of the irresponsibility of my youth. My fourteen year old son plays it sometimes now, although he is a true disciple of the Ibanez generation. It's 30 years old and will be around for a long time to come. it's neat to see my son playing a guitar that is more than twice as old as he is.

I've often wondered about upgrading the hardware, but since it's been around with me as long as it has I doubt it's a good idea from what I've seen on the Antiques Roadshow.

No serial number on the aged, peeling sticker inside the body. There's a place for the "serial number:" but nothing beside it. There's a place for the model number. It says 6812

I could nver replace it with the provenance I have. To me it's priceless. I've been playing it for over 25 years and If my misspent youth doesn't catch up with my health I'll play it for another 25 years or more.

I didn't buy it, but I'm glad I took it. I have several guitars in the house, all prominently displayed like fine furniture, but this is still the one that gets all the looks and all the questions, many of which I can't answer because there is so little information available on this model. Today is the first time I really sought out the information on the internet. It was great to find something.

I have two of my closest guitar playing friends vying for it in my will. It will go to my son.

Standard Martin 00 or 000 body style. Solid spruce top on rosewood 3ply laminate back anbd sides. Rosewood bridge with pins. BOLT ON, yes, a bolt on mahogany neck, joined at the 14th fret, with 20 frets total. "Brother" of pearl square inlays. Decal rosette around the soundhole, and "Aria" in script in a gold silkscreen logo, and a stylized "A" on the tortoise shell pickguard.. Standard crappy cheap covered tuners. Or, and a gloss finish.

I do a jazz/pop/rock style, and this thing is perfect! It fits a fingerstyle, strumms beautifully, and has a warmth that my friend, who has 4 different Martin's from the late forties and fifties, drools over.It is not a super loud guitar, it's a very subtle thing, but it is a great sounding instrument!!!A cutaway would be the perfect addition to a wish list for this guitar. (And yes a Martin thinline pickup and preamp too. Are you reading this Santa? I've been good.)

This was somewhat of a rescue from certain death. It was in an abandoned trailer, due to destroyed the next day. My friend pulled it out, and asked me if I wanted it. My answer? "It's a guitar. of course." When I saw it, I wasn't impressed until I saw it was an Aria. To me, and a select circle of friends, Aria can do no wrong, and this thing proves it.
Yes, it had problem. Loose internal braces, a couple of deep dings, finish cracks galore, no nut or saddle, basic stuff. It came together as if it want to come back to life! The action rivals some electrics.

Live, I don't think it's meant for amplification. A small gathering, or small club? No problem. Studio? It's heaven!!!!! Everything is solid, and I'd trust it in a minute! ven the tuners, which are budget from 1977, hold their tune, and don't affect the tonality what-so-ever.

Believe it or not, the archieve section was actually helpfull. Kudos to them!
http://www.ariausa.com/archives/

I've been playing for over twenty, twenty five years. (I'm 43) I have a small, mostly unusual stable of guitars right now, and rate this asd possible the finest sounding accoustic I've ever played!
I also have a 1987 unknown model Aria Pro electric, a 1984 BC RICO Wave (Modified with Kramer Quad rail pickups.) An 1984 Roland G707, a 1972-74 Penco Paul goldtop copy, a 1967 Telestar strat kinda thing. Basswise, I've a 1980 Kramer DMZ6000B Bass, and a 1956/62 Dan Electro Long Horn. My other accoustic is a 1977(?) Alvarez Regent 5212. I LOVE MY ARIA!!!!! Woe upon those who would touch it! I would do my best to hunt another down, Nodoubt about it.