My early 80's Aria Pro II catalogs arrived and all the LP copies have either the split diamond inlay or no inlay.
However, I did find the double arrowhead inlay on a 1978 Japanese built Cortley. You can check it out here:
Statistics: Posted by VintAxe — Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:12 pm
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IMHO... Keep it, treasure it, play it. If you want a Gibson LP, get one. Not because you want to replace your Aria, but because you want another Les Paul.
Statistics: Posted by auriemma — Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:13 am
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I bought a very similar guitar to yours NEW, back in about 79.
It also had the set neck and it really WAS the most beautiful guitar.
Mine was a cherry sunburst.
I still miss it every day.
It sat within a high-quality pink fur-lined hard case.
When I bought it at a guitar fair there was a Gibson Les Paul lying on the sellers table right next to it, so I could compare the two.
Hand-on-heart the Aria was a better guitar.
Played beter, sounded better, was better made, and looked a million dollars.
Matsumoku (Japan) really DID make some superb guitars back then.
Shame about that fire.
Statistics: Posted by selkentvintageaxeman — Fri Nov 04, 2011 5:40 pm
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I've heard of Pings, they may be originals but I'm not sure.
My tuners are Schallers. I replaced the slipping originals back when I was 16... around 1980. Since that pic was taken I have replaced a few parts: the toggle switch (failed - Gibson replacement), bridge and tail piece (corroded - replaced with Gotoh), and knobs (to Gibson Speeds).
Statistics: Posted by auriemma — Fri Nov 04, 2011 10:31 am
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Statistics: Posted by jimijames — Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:04 am
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Thank you for inquiry, and being an Aria player.
We guess the production year of the guitar would be
early 80's, from its headstock shape and logo.
We started to use our "Aria Pro II" logo from late 70's.
Attached herewith is the excerpt of our 1979 catalog.
The specifications of your guitar are close to LC-500
although headstock, trussrod cover etc are in different shape.
(Pick guard would have been taken off )
We wish we could identify the model much more precisely.
Thank you again for staying with us,
Best Regards,
Taku Kawauchi
International Sales Division
Arai&Co.,Inc.(Aria Guitars)
12-2, Kandacho, Chikusaku, Nagoya, Japan 464-0077
Statistics: Posted by jimijames — Wed Nov 02, 2011 4:59 pm
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Cousin to my 77 Bradley. Note the double arrowhead inlay and shape of the headstock.
[/img]Statistics: Posted by auriemma — Wed Nov 02, 2011 1:53 pm
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Statistics: Posted by jimijames — Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:29 am
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