Aria Pro II - PE 1000
Hi ya.
Does anyone know anything about this guitar?
It's starting to do my head in!
http://www.matsumoku.org/models/aria...e_1000-up.html
I know that I wish I'd never sold mine!Originally Posted by Steve70s
I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that.
Do you wanna buy one?
I haz one.
It was way back in 1977 or 78 that Aria used this very instrument as the launch model for its new sales. They were 'hand finished' and only 4 each month came into the UK for a whole year (no other aria guitars were then available). The press and punters gave them a big thumbs up for high quality and performance. There were two models, one with the Aria PUs and also DiMarzios as factory fitted (that might have been the PE1500, cream PU coils I think). They were hands down better than the contemporary F & G brands of the day. Andy Summers used one to record Roxanne and Gerry Cott of the Boomtown Rats had one which he modified (i think with a coil tap) and painted blue. Aria latter bought out the Gerry Cott model too. The guitar is substantial in weight but a long way less than the Les Pauls etc. of the era.
I remember reading a review at the time in International Musician where the reviewer said (para phrased) " The guitar is designed by H. Noble, now I don't know who H. Noble is, but he certainly knows about guitar design."
I was speaking with a well known luthier last year and mentioned I had one, his eyes lit up and he listed many of the guitars attributes (I was impressed at his recall). They do not command big money despite all the above, however they are (IMHO) very versatile guitars and I had one to cover all styles for several years before adding a strat to get that commercial sound.
I bought mine new and had to order it in, the shop rang me the morning it was due in and I went in at lunchtime to find the box still sealed. (The distributor used to be called Gigsville IIRC). I opened the box, took the case out and opened it. The guitar played perfectly in tune and I've hardly had to touch the setup ever since. Even the shop staff were impressed.
Despite being rare as hens teeth and very stable, they are not highly collectable. I've only ever seen one other with a touring band and know of one more that was with another local/pro guitarist that gigged it extensivly for many years. Mine shows significant corrosion on the alloy one piece bridge (sweaty palms over many gigs), and I had to bend the jack socket tip connector to get firm contact a few years ago. It aquired buckle rash in its early years too.Other than that, it's a very good gigging guitar and the most stable tuning guitar I've ever owned in 35 years of gigging.
In case you can't tell, I'm a big fan and it will be my guitar till my dying day. There are plenty of online resources for technical specs and a number of reviews over on harmony central etc. If you have any other questions, ask away.
HTH
Great in-depth answer - cheers mate!
Paid around £200 for mine in 92 but it's gathering dust on a wardrobe these days.
The bridge corrosion and buckle damage sound very familiar although nothing too serious - however a pint glass did take a slight chunk out of the body between the pick-ups a few years ago!
Very playable guitar - just needs some TLC!
Cheers again!
I wouldn't take much persuading.
I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that.
Big tease!
Trouble is, I have no idea what it is worth although I would like to get hold of a Tele in the future so it's tempting...
My first electric was a PE 1000 and it was a great guitar, the pickups are dimarzio super distortions and it weighs a ton, i wish i hadnt sold it.
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Yeah - the weight issue is starting to bug me now - so much so that I tend to play my squier strat bullet-thing a lot more!
I wanna buy a pe-1000 or pe-1500... do you have one that to would like to sell?
hello: I'm a musician and also a big fan of Aria Pro II, If your pe-1000 or pe-1500 is not being played so much, you can contact me and we could discuss a reasonable price for both of us. I will give her a great home with other little sisters...a CS350 and also an Aria Pro II 70's replica of a Les Paul custom. Nice to belong to this comunity. Hope to hear from you everardofranco@hotmail.com
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