1983 Aria Pro II PE-R80.

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This model is a representative of Japanese vintage guitars from Aria Pro II and is a rare, major hit product. It is well-known for being used by early fusion guitarists, including Kazumi Watanabe and the late Masaki Matsubara. The price at that time was 80,000 yen. Recently, it has been reissued, but the price has been set quite high at 200,000 yen, which makes the pricing of that era seem incredibly low by comparison.

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The woodworking and finishing are very intricate. The switch base and knob base are offset from the top in a three-dimensional shape, and even the cover for the control cavity on the back of the body is carved from maple. The fingerboard inlays are made of white mother-of-pearl, which adds to the complexity. Considering the labor involved, it can be said that it was exceptionally inexpensive.

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The original model is equipped with Classic Power pickups. Kazumi Watanabe was involved in the development of these pickups, which use Alnico magnets and were completed after over 100 prototypes based on the PAF design. The rear pickup has been replaced with a DiMarzio Super Distortion, while the front pickup is a PAF from the same company.

The laminated body made of maple-mahogany-maple was also suggested by Kazumi Watanabe. The sound produced is tighter compared to a Les Paul, and the brass nut contributes to a refined tone with minimal muddiness. This sound is likely to appeal to fusion guitarists.

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The SPT (Super Tunable) bridge, which offers a wide range of adjustments, and the QH (Quick Hook) tailpiece, which makes string changes easy, are also very user-friendly. The weight is 3.94 kg (including strings). (Updated on May 28, 2016)