Aria AC80

This is a Spanish built classical guitar of standard dimensions. It is built entirely of Solid timbers, Spruce top, Indian Rosewood back & sides, Ebony fingerboard. The patterns and colour of the grain are quite beautiful as one might expect from such materials. The finish is a very durable laquer.

The guitar is very bright. My preffered strings for the instrument are "Augustine Reds". They are less bright than the Saverez that the instrument came with. This makes the tone a little less shrill.

I have owned the instrument for 3 years and it continues to open up, occasionally surprising with previously unheard resonance.

It has quite even balance between Bass & Trebles and volumes maintain well into the high range. The harmonics are clear and bright.

The action suited me straight from the shop. The neck is fine as one would expect of a concert guitar.

As mentioned previously, the finish is very durable. I've given it the odd accidental knock and I've been pleasantly surprised to find little or no damage.

Really no idea. I can't imagine ever needing support since I pretty sure the instrument will well and truly outlast me.

I've been playing Classical (on & off) for about 30 years. I'm a backyard player and have never performed live. I own this guitar, an old Yamaha that I played for most of that time until about 3 years ago when I bought this Guitar, and a Yamaha SLG-100N which I bought about a year ago.

I fell in love with this Guitar in the store and couldn't bare to leave without it. I still love it and my playing has increased greatly and improved by owning it. It's such a pleasure to own and play such a beautiful instrument.

If it were lost or stolen I would curtainly try another of the same, but we all move on, and perhaps I would find another instrument I liked even more. They are all individual after all.

This is a standard classical guitar - wide fretboard, slotted head, no pickguard, etc. No electronics. All solid woods - cedar top, rosewood sides and back, cedar neck w/ ebony spine, ebony fretboard, rosewood bridge. Mitered satinwood inlays on front, side, and back edges. Some minor appearance flaws, but nothing that affects sound, or is even noticable from more than a couple of feet away. Evidence of hand-assembly, though not by a Master - probably a team.

Built in Spain, but for a Japanese manufacturer. Serial numbered, but no date. A decent TKL hard-shell case was included.

Suprisingly loud (if you want it to be) for its size. Responds well to standard classical techniques for changes of voice and timbre. Cedar top gave it a mellow sound right out of the box, most noticeable in the bass, and trebles remain well-defined, if not exactly "bright".

Have only had it a few months, but sound has improved over time, becoming fuller and easier to produce nuances of tone. Or maybe I'm getting better? Either way, you'd have to spen a -lot- more to getter better sound.

Action as delivered was good - no buzzing or other problems. Bookmatching, as well as matching rosewood sides to top, is better than many I've seen in this price range - a beautiful instrument. Good gloss finish with no flaws (dust, fisheyes, runs, etc.)

Saddle was a little off center - no foul, easily fixed (not glued). Banding slightly discolored on top edge, and a couple of the inlay miters were poorly cut. Tuners look a little cheap, and barrels are a loose fit in the headstock. E-strings (both) contact the edge of the tuner slot between nut and tuner. All minor, but disappointing.

Have had no problems, but have only owned for a few months. As with all good classical guitars, especially those with solid woods, some care is necessary as is avoiding extremes of temperature and humidity. But the AC80 doesn't appear to be any more or less durable than most. Finish looks thick enough to last, but not so thick that it affects the sound. Ask me again in 10-20 years.

Have had no cause to contact the manufacturer or distributor, but retailer (House of Musical Traditions in Takoma Park, MD) was very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. I have no doubt that they would stand behind anything they sell. Lifetime warranty, with the usual long list of exceptions/limitations.

About me: Started playing 35 years ago (60's folk strumming), but put it down in the late 70's. Recently restarted, and learning classical/fingerstyle. Other guitar is an old indestructible Yamaha FG335 steel-string acoustic.

Chose the AC80 for its beauty, solid woods, cedar top, and immediate appreciation of overall sound quality. Compared it to others in the $600-$1000 range (real price), and it blew them all away. Would buy it again in a heartbeat.

I am in love with this guitar. Solid woods (read other reviews). Beautiful finish. Deep and rich wood grains. Smells great!! Nice tuning machines. Professionally set-up and SKB hardshell case icluded. Shipping/Ins. was $14 and change. A great classical guitar made in Spain.

Great deep tones. Incredible sustaintment of sound. Very clear notes. Will never be able to find another guitar with such quality sound for the money.

The actions are more than adequate. The guitar came professionally set-up. The moment I opened the box and got it out of its case I started playing it. It arrived perfectly tuned. Not a scratch on this baby...is in mint condition.

Well, since I've had it for a very short period of time, I should not comment. Now, I've had guitars of much inferior quality and workmanship and they had lasted me over 20 years. Only normal wear. So, I think it would be accuarate to assume that this one will last. I'll give it a 9 for now.

No experience yet....no comment yet.

One thing I will say, those guys at the Guitar Shop in Knoxville were great and shipped it so fast that I got it in 2 days. Very helfull over the phone.

I've been playing for about 28 years and I would buy this guitar again in a heart beat. I'm even willing to pay more if necessary. I think I just got lucky at the auction; it was a great deal. What I love the most about this Aria is the way it feels. It was made for me. Is definately worth over $1,000.

Aria is a Japanese company but this is particular guitar is made in Spain. The guitar is a classical with 650mm scale. All solid wood construction Rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, solid spruce top and ebony fingerboard. It's a typical looking classical guitar.

Superior to many other classicals in this price range extremely rich and deep bass with moderate silky sounding trebles good volume and overall tone

Action is something rockers who play electric guitar concern themselves over.. Here goes: the "action" is great, typically classical. The neck contour, however, is flat which provides for painless, long-term playing.
The purfling around the top edge leaves a little bit to be desired. It looks somewhat hastily laid. Same goes for the glue-job on the back braces. Smelled like a forest when it came to my door. Not all solid classical exude "the smell".
On closer inspection it stands up to the machine production line construction of several other brands, it has some very minor flaws. Internal construction is excellent, aside fron the glue over-runs!! overall finish is above average, indeed quite nice, tuners are golden.

I have had this guitar for around 3 months, nothing has gone wrong yet. I was concerned with was the solid timber back and sides, in acoustic guitars solid timber comes with a large $ cost, most have plywood with solid tops. I keep thinking that a guitar at this price with solid timber...is the timber good quality...is it well seasoned...will it warp? I believe that the solid timber gives the edge in the sound quality...it has a lifetime warranty so who knows? If i need a backup i would buy another AC80

No reason to call, So I dunno how good Cust Srvc is..
LIFETIME warranty, though

This guitar list for 1000 dollars (US) I picked it up for 600. I am still laughing all the way to the bank. It sounds great for $1000. It sounds INCREDIBLE for $600. The aroma alone is worth the price. I will readily by another if anything happened to mine. If you like this Aria, you should also get a decent beater guitar (I resepect this guitar too much). I am looking for a Cremona/Mavus or Aria AK-920. I tried some flamenco, promptly putting a rasqueado gouge in it, get a liner if flamenco is your thing!

No year given and no signature provided. Just a serial number. Although these are handmade guitars, they appear to be constructed by a team as opposed to an individual.
Solid Spruce top, solid East Indian Rosewood back and sides, Spanish Cedar neck with Ebony strip, Ebony fingerboard.
Average (Ping) tuning machines.

The Spruce top will take many years to mature. In spite of that, the guitar is remarkably balanced string-to-string. It is also quite loud for being a brand, new guitar.

The action is alright. If anything, it needs to be raised slightly on the treble side. The 11th fret, D#, needs to be played ponticello in order to prevent it from buzzing. The neck contour, however, is flat which provides for painless, long-term playing.
The purfling around the top edge leaves a little bit to be desired. It looks hastily laid. Same goes for the glue-job on the back braces.
The guitar arrived to me with a small chip on the headstock.

Undetermined at this time.

This is a temp-instrument while another, handmade model is being built for me by David Daily.

standard classical guitar, non electric, this guitar is made in Spain and is of solid construction. top is solid spruce, back and sides are solid rosewood.Buy a good hard case for this is a fine guitar

well... this is the only thing that is important in any classical guitar. All other things aside, I purchased this guitar for its tonal quality, I played this against 6 others brands of equal price and quality, for a classical at this price i dont know how they did it, it has a beutifull deep, rich and clear sound with good volume akin to much more expencive instuments.....Well done Aria

This was the only guitar the store had to bring in, the others i tried were on display, when the salesman pulled it from the box it looked fantastic, its white spuce top with rich dark rosewood sides, it looked to good to be true...now for the sound test....i was hooked. On close inspection it did not quite stand up to the machine production line construction of the other brands, it has some very minor flaws.Internal construction is exellent, overall finish is exellent indeed beutifull,tuners are not very good ( the only thing i have changed ), Ebony neck reinforcing is not quite on centre. this guitar seems to have some hand made components..... a + in my opinion. The detailing is very nice...very elegant.

I have had this guitar for over 12 months, nothing has gone wrong yet. The only thing i was concerned with was the solid timber back and sides, in acoustic guitars solid timber comes with a large $ cost, most have plywood with solid tops. I keep thinking that a guitar at this price with solid timber...is the timber good quality...is it well seasoned...will it warp!!!!!. only time will tell, i woud say that the solid timber gives the edge in the sound quality...it has a lifetime warranty so who knows? If i need a backup i would buy another AC80

Aria have been around a long time, the guitar has a lifetime warranty????? Nothing has gone wrong yet, apart from a loose screw on the original tunners, this guitar has been played about 200 hours since i bought it.

I started playing when i was 13.....over 20 years ago. I own a yamaha classical " not bad ", Suzuki steel string acoustic "exellent", Epiphone Les paul electric "not bad ", Samic Les paul electric " bad ", Marshall VS265 sterio amp "exellent" But..the guitar i pick up first is the AC80, the finish, the tone, the smell? it still has a rich timber smell.... it smells great! I still dont know how they did it for the price. I would have expected to pay a lot more for this guitar. but remember its not a Smallman or a Simon Marty its a AU$1100 guitar ...an exellent AU$1100 guitar

Aria is a Japanese company but this is particular guitar is made in Spain. The guitar is a classical with 650mm sscle string length. All solid wood construction Rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, solid spruce top and eboney fretboard It's a typical looking classical guitar what more can I say.

Superior to many other classicals in this price range extremely rich and deep bass with moderate silky sounding trebles good volume and overall tone

Only problem was nut wich I easily raised to prevent a nasty sting buzz on e and a strings other than tahat action is very good. Finish is buetiful though not very durable

hardware is all gold plated seems to be very durable and should stand up well in live performances but of course extra care is needed with all classicals they are very sensitive at times

never dealt with them they claim to have a lifetime warranty with 101 restrictions on it so probably hard to cash in on but if you take good care of this instrument it should last

had it for a year still looks new great sound only problem was with the nut it was easily fixed though superb in its price range