1980 Aria Pro II ST-500DR

The pickguard on this guitar has an 8-screw, single-ply design, typical of a 1957-style Stratocaster, while the rosewood fingerboard reflects the 1962-style. Not that it really matters—but it’s an interesting mix. According to the catalog, the ST-500D was originally fitted with Kluson-style tuners, yet this particular instrument came with Rotomatic-style tuners instead. Curiously, the gear housings are Rotomatic, while the buttons are Kluson-style, making for a rather unique hybrid specification.

At the time, having a guitar equipped with three DiMarzio FS-1 “Fat Strat” pickups—each priced at ¥10,000—for a total guitar price of ¥50,000 was an unbelievable bargain.

Ironically, that very affordability contributed to the decline in DiMarzio’s prestige. It’s a bit like a middle-school student carrying a Louis Vuitton bag—once something exclusive becomes too common, adults quickly lose interest.

Weight: 3.82 kg (including strings) — a fairly heavy instrument.
(Updated June 15, 2016)