Aria A560

I've had this Guitar about half my life, I bought it new in about 1972 (not sure of exact year) from my teacher at the time, Uliano Marchio. He told me I'd probably never need another classical guitar, and he was right. Country of origin was Japan.It has 19 frets with no significant wear over the years. The top is solid 2 piece Cedar (judging by the colour) and has taken a bit of a beating over the years (cats, children, school kids and my own stupidity)but has not split. The sides appear to be Mahogany, and have perspiration damage (I've lived most of my life in Durban, a hot sub-tropical climate). The neck is 3 piece. with two dark wood skunk stripes. The binding around the body and head is lovely, alternating strips of wood in dark and light colours. The fingerboard appears to be rosewood. I'm currently on the second case, as my third daughter liked lying in it whilst I was playing. This case is all but finished too. I have to use a strap to keep it together. The guitar, however is fine. I have used it in Windhoek (desert), Cape Town (Mediteranean) Johannesburg (Savannah)and Durban without problems. I replaced the nut and saddle with Tusq- the best mod ever for any factory-made guitar. The inside is neat and well finished. Unfortunately the serial number has faded away. I reckon any well-used guitar that has had no work done on it for 35 years could be called reliable.

Professionally I play Electric, and classical guitar is my hobby, but I have studied up to teacher level. This guitar is the best factory model I???ve ever played. It doesn???t go loud enough to be called concert level, but hey, even the Godly David Russell mikes up, so I don???t consider that a big disadvantage. The tone suits my style, as I prefer a sweeter tonality than some modern players. It sounds lovely on Romantic pieces, but is a little too warm in Spanish music- although it sounds fine across the repertoire. I find it sounds lovely for Villa Lobos. Since I added the compensating Tusq saddle, the intonation is as good as you can expect from a nylon string. I prefer high tension strings, as I am heavy handed, and the tone is ugly with lighter strings when pushed hard.

I felt that the nut was too high, so had it lowered. I wasn't happy until I put in the Tusq (what are you waiting for. It's cheaper than upgrading your guitar, and nearly as good- replace your nut and bridge saddle and you won't believe the difference- no matter which factory guitar you own). The action is pretty much what you need for a classical- high enough not to buzz, yet low enough not to cause injury- remember to warm up. The bookmatching front and rear is good, though on the front the bottom is slightly darker than the top. There was a slight flaw at the 5th fret on the top side of the fingerboard which my teacher swore I'd put there myself as a marker (it's infra-dig to have markers on a classical). I didn't, promise- though I do mark the 7th fret with tippex, sorry. The tuning pegs are still holding up well, though the 2nd and 3rd go out quicker than the others.

I've never felt the need to replace or back up this guitar. Admittedly I don't concertise, but never the less, this guitar has had a rough ride, with all my traveling back in the days when I toured. Apart from the many dings, scratches and water damage, this guitar has held up better than I could have expected. It cost me when I bought it 450 South African Rand. I've no Idea how to convert that into a meaningful number, but it certainly didn't break the bank.

No opinion as nothing has ever gone wrong (touch wood). I doubt I'd get much help 35 years on.

I've been playing since my 14th birthday (1959). I started classical in about '71 with a horrible Hagstrom. I have a red 45th annivesary Am Stan strat with Kinman pickups, a +- 1980 Washburn HB35 (the 1st year they made them- those models were great), and a Casio midi guitar. I have an old Laney VC50 amp. I also have a line6 Pod Pro and toneport. If this guitar were lost, I would absolutely try to get another one, of a similar vintage. There's not really anything to hate about this guitar, except of course how difficult it is to play classical well- I'd have the same problem with a Ramirez. When all is said and done, this is a factory guitar, and obviously a good hand-made guitar would be more desirable if I was playing in public. This instrument has given me many hours of joy, and any frustrations that I've had have been with my own shortcomings, not the guitar.

Standard model classical guitar. Cedar top/mago sides?. The neck is a laminate[ 3 pieces] the top seems solid [not a laminate] I got this as a gift in 1970. My brother plays classical guitar and got this for me as a x-mas present to take to college as a cheap, who-cares, guitar. I still have it. It is in ex/Vgood condition. I have installed a bridge pickup and end piece plug in 1982[ for that Willy Nelson period we all went through] and I've added stick on pickguards [clear plastic] because I frequently play with a pick {AGGG!! for you classical guys/but Willy does!!!} other than that its all original.

It has a soft sound. Not much volume but: Clear, rich, not very bright... but soft. One of the reasons i added the electric pickup is to hear it in a croud. It sounds best with low-tension strings. { ive tried high-tension/good pro-grade strings and it sounds worse and adds tension to the neck}So i keep it strung with low-tensions{now GHS} Really good classical sound. Good with a pick too!

Action: GREAT, that was the major selling point. True up the neck even 30 years later. Great intonation. This would be a GREAT practice guitar for the player who needs quiet or wants to keep the good one for concert. There is a flaw in the head wood. And it shows. it dosent hurt the sound or playability. This was a factory mistake and it was repaired before it went out, but you can still see it. This is a BUDGET instrument- so fit and finish is budget. Very HIGH Gloss finish -is VERY glossy and i think it adds to the volume problem [ dampens it]. Keys were replaced in 1982 when i added the pickup [ I just wanted a better set- it made no differnece in the sound or playability] the cheap set with the white plastic buttons played fine and I still have them in a drawer. The Bridge is very good. [Not much to a classical bridge to fiddle with] The inner construction and bracing seems very good. Its solid. VERY strong for a classically braced guitar.

30 years of abuse and use. still plays very well. Looks good. Still solid. NO PROBLEMS. 100% dependible. Thats its strong point. No hastles! Fit and finish still 99%, ive put some dents into it and some pick ware [ thats why i added the pickguards] but cedar chips a bit with abuse. This is an slighly ugly [ well it is!] but solid playing guitar. With the added pickup its really fun to play through an acoustic amp with effects.

??? never needed any. The store I bought it from went out of business right after x-mas in 1970.[ they were closing out everything- i got this for $50.00 with a chipboard case] Never had problem i had to fix.
How much warranty do you want with 50 buck guitar?

i LOVE THIS INSTRUMENT. Is quiet but solid. I play my brother's hand made Oskar Teller [ WOW what an instrument] and it plays almost as well[ no volume :esp. concert volume] but clear, exact, nice sound. It needed the pickup for use out/ but in and on the porch ITS QUITE A LITTLE GUITAR.

I belive it was made in 10/73 thats what is marked in the top the of the neck
The guitar was made in japan
18 frets
solid top
for a classical guitar its sounds and plays great

There are no buzzs on the neck It has a very clean sound this instrument is old and has a very full tone

The guitar plays great the problem that i have is the top is split. I have three split in the top.

I mostly play this guitar at home as a matter of fact its my guitar of chose for practice i never take it out, those splits scare me I would hate to loose this one.

I got this guitar from a frind from my chruch she found it in the attic. She said her dad played it when she was a kid, I know nothing about it. I've had it for four years and play it every day

1971 Model, made in Japan
12 fret classical
Solid Cedar with rosewood back and sides
Ebony fretboard
Gloss finish

I play a lot of fingerstyle and it plays great--lots of volume and very mellow.

Excellent action for a classical. Fit and finish great. Only one flaw on back and I may have done that by leaving junk in the case over the years.

Cedar tops are soft and I have put one small ding in the front. It has stood up to live play just fine. I have had it all over the country for 30 years

The company tries, but unfortunately the records from Japan to US in the early 70's are not good. Getting info for this model is very hard and it is not listed in Blue Book or Vintage Blue Book. Can anyone tell me what it is worth in excellent condition?

I have been playing for 35 years. I also have an Alvarez classical, Martin 000XM, Taylor 414. It plays great for a classical and the sound is awsome. I have not played a classical in a store that played or sounded better at any price. But the neck on a classical will never be a Taylor, or even the Martin. Still, there is certain music that just sounds better on a classical. If I had to choose between grabbing the Taylor and this well aged Aria Classical to save from a fire, I would grab the Taylor, but feel guilty about leaving my old friend behind. It is out of production so I could not replace it.