Aria Pro II PE-R80 – A Benchmark of Japanese Vintage Craftsmanship

This model stands as one of the defining Japanese vintage guitars from Aria Pro II—a rare and significant success for the brand. It gained widespread recognition after being played by leading fusion guitarists of the early era, including Kazumi Watanabe and the late Masaki Matsubara.

When it was first released, the price was ¥80,000. In contrast, the modern reissue now sells for around ¥200,000, making the original price seem almost unbelievably modest given the level of craftsmanship.

The woodworking and finish are exceptionally detailed. The switch and knob bases are mounted on a three-dimensionally carved top, and even the rear control cavity cover is made from solid maple. The fingerboard inlays, crafted from white mother-of-pearl, add further refinement. Considering the precision and labor involved, this guitar was remarkably affordable for its time.

The original model came equipped with Classic Power pickups. Developed with input from Kazumi Watanabe, these pickups used Alnico magnets and were reportedly finalized after more than 100 prototypes, based on the PAF design. On this particular instrument, the bridge pickup has been replaced with a DiMarzio Super Distortion, while the neck pickup is a DiMarzio PAF.

The laminated body—maple–mahogany–maple—was another concept suggested by Watanabe. It delivers a tighter, more focused tone than a typical Les Paul, while the brass nut enhances clarity and reduces muddiness, creating a sound that fusion players in particular will appreciate.

The guitar also features the SPT (Super Tunable) bridge, which offers a wide range of adjustment, and the QH (Quick Hook) tailpiece, designed for easy string changes—both highly practical innovations.

Weight: 3.94 kg (including strings)
(Updated May 28, 2016)