My newest guitars - Eric Johnson + Aria Pro II

[Spare-Flair]

The first guitar that I have owned and consequentely, the first guitar that I learned on was an old 80s Aria Pro II RS. I've recentely bought an Aria Pro II Mad Axe from the early 90s. Sadly, it's missing the original whammy bar, I'm going to have to track down a gold whammy that fits in the tremelo (threaded one, not sure on size, 6mm?). The original humbucker was also swapped for a Kent Armstrong HSDE-1 by the last owner but unfortunately they drilled a new hole in the pickguard. I may have to get a new pickguard custom made. Also, all the gold equipment is quite tarnished and not very pretty close up. Any ideas what I could use to clean it up? Finally, I'm having some problems with the electronics on the guitar, I'll post in the guitar rack forum and hopefully somebody can help me.

The other one is of course an Eric Johnson Strat, I'm not sure of the year, probably 2005 or 2006? I can't find an accurate way to check the dates on the serial numbers for those. All in all, probably one of the nicer strats available that's not a custom shop strat. Love the tinted maple neck and also, it's a unique headstock among all other strats that requires no string tree.

[Spare-Flair]

[pfslik]

very nice! That Aria is ded sexeh!

[belleswell]

How do you like the EJ model. I have entertained the idea of getting one myself. Very nice.

[deadbeans]

awesome...
i like that guitar...

[Spawn_Dooley]

Originally Posted by Spare-Flair

The first guitar that I have owned and consequentely, the first guitar that I learned on was an old 80s Aria Pro II RS.

Wow! The very first guitar I ever bought was an Aria Pro II hollow body, back in the mid 70's and I've never seen another Aria Pro II or met anyone who had a guitar made by them ... it's great to see your Mad Axe

Shame about the unwanted mods and missing whammy bar .... still looks awesome ... I would snap up any other Aria Pro II that I ever come across as I love my hollow body to bits.

I remember paying several visits to the music shop and although I liked the look & feel of the guitar, I just couldn't bring myself to part with the AUS$400 asking price, which was a lot of money back then for me.

I eventually gave in and bought it and it has served me well and I have no idea of its current value or even if it's rare or anything.

Both guitars look fantastic and I hope you have a lot of enjoyment from playing them

[MarkBass]

Hello spare-flair
I'm kinda new to this froum so dont be harsh on me please.
I actually had a question about your Aria mad axe.
Im about to buy an exact the same one, this sunday. But I can choose between an aria from 1994 and 1 that's from the eighties. Can you tell me which one to pick? I heard they made the 80s series just after they moved their factories to Korea (that when they went to using cheaper materials).

Thanks, Mark

[Cavalcanti]

I too have an Aria ProII but mine is a solid chunk of wood known as a TS-300 (Thorsound). Have had it a while but got offered more cash than it cost recently and I said no way.
Just dug it out to take a pic but it needs a clean first...

[Cavalcanti]

Heres my AriaProII



Not in as good nick as your one as I let my sonhave it for a few months in his flat and when I got it back it had quite a few nick and dents.

[Spawn_Dooley]

Fantastic! It's great to see so many Aria Pro II owners showing their guitars off!

Is it heavy Cavalcanti? Bet it's got a nice sound, do you play it much?

I used to have either a copy of your guitar or a different model ... I really can't remember ... I ended up selling it to my younger brother who may or may not still have it. I remember the split switches and all the different sounds you could get from it.

I found this youtube video:

Aria Pro II Thor Sound TS-300 Guitar

This is the only pic I have of my guitar, I wish I could recall the make/model:

[Cavalcanti]

Oh yeah it is heavy. Solid wood but that helps create a lovely tone. I dont play it a lot these days as it has a crackly pot which requires attention and I am too lazyass to try to get it fixed. One day I need to sort it out or get someone to look at it.
It's the only guitar I have ever had with the extra 2 frets.

BTW, many thanks for digging out that clip - that is the same as my guitar except it seems to have a different headstock - strange.

[Cavalcanti]

footnote: After watching that youtube vid I dug the AriaPro out and played about for a while with it. Old strings but it still has some great tones available. The bridge pickup on its own seems to be silent most of the time something wrong there but everything else was good. It has great sustain and its not that heavy after all.

It could have been doing with a decent bridge like the one in the main post - it has a crappy tuneomatic type one with little allen bolts to adjust and the top string is buzzing a little at the very high frets.

[newnew816]

Why would anyone need that much velcro? These guys sell it by the roll http://www.liangdianup.com/miscellaneous_1.htm and is
hook and look and velcro the same thing?

[marantz1300]

Originally Posted by Cavalcanti

Heres my AriaProII



Not in as good nick as your one as I let my sonhave it for a few months in his flat and when I got it back it had quite a few nick and dents.

Whats it like.Theres one near me .a thorsound t400 .Its been modded.The switching has been altered and EMGs added. Its up for £99.

[Spawn_Dooley]

Originally Posted by Cavalcanti

BTW, many thanks for digging out that clip - that is the same as my guitar except it seems to have a different headstock - strange.

I don't know if you can tell in my photo but my guitar has a cutaway section on the very bottom section where the strap hooks on ... great axe except I just don't go for weighty guitars ... the guy on that YouTube vid really knows how to put it through it's paces ... gets some really sweet tones and overall it's a versatile guitar.