Aria (guitar company)

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Aria Guitars Co.

Company type	Private
Industry	Musical instruments
Founded	1956; 68 years ago (1956)[1][2]
Headquarters	Nagoya, Japan
Area served	Global
Key people	H.Noble / Noubuaki Hayashi
Products	Guitars: electric, acoustic and classical Electric basses Ukuleles
Brands	List Laule'A Mojo Gig Bags Fiesta José Antonio Pignose Kelii[3]
Website	ariaguitars.com

Aria Guitars Co. is a Japanese manufacturer of musical instruments. The company, sited in the city of Nagoya, produces electric, acoustic and classical guitars, electric basses and ukuleles through its brands Laule'A, Mojo Gig Bags, Fiesta, José Antonio, Pignose and Kelii.^[3]

History[edit]

Aria was formed in Japan in 1956 by Shiro Arai as "Arai & Co., Inc".^[1][2]

They began retailing acoustic guitars in 1960, although the company did not start manufacturing their own until 1964. Aria arranged for Matsumoku, the musical instrument maker, to build the guitars for them under contract. Arai and Matsumoku started building acoustic guitars in 1964, and then electric guitars in 1966, using Arai, Aria, Aria Diamond, Diamond, and much less frequently, Arita brand names. The Aria brandname was changed to Aria Pro II in late 1975, though this has been used mostly (but not exclusively) for electric guitars and basses. All guitars were made in Japan until February 1987, when production of less expensive models (Magna MAB/MAC and Integra IGB series) was switched to Korea (Samick-factory production actually started as early as February 1986).

In the mid-1990s a few models (including the Fender Stratocaster-inspired Fullerton series guitars and the Steve Bailey 6-string fretless signature bass) were made in the United States. ^{[citation needed]}

Gallery[edit]

Aria Pro II[edit]

• 
  LS-700 (Les Paul type)
• 
  Aria Pe Elite (Les Paul Type)
• 
  PE-R100
• 
  MA-40
• 
  RS
• 
  Tri Sound TS-600
• 
  TA-30
• 
  Space Dime
• 
  Urchin Deluxe V
• 
  SB-R80 Bass
• 
  Cardinal CSB-300 Bass

References[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

• "About Aria" (in Japanese). Nagoya: Arai & Co., Inc.
• "About Aria UK". Guildford: Aria UK Limited. Archived from the original on 2015-07-25. Retrieved 2015-07-24.

Further reading[edit]

• アリアの響 [Aria's sounds]. Japan Vintage. Vol. 5. Tokyo: Shinko Music Entertainment. 2004. ISBN 978-4-401-61885-9.
• アリアプロIIの壱 [Aria Pro II part 1]. Japan Vintage Collection. Vol. 6. Tokyo: Shinko Music Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 978-4-401-63044-8.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aria (musical instrument brand).

• Official website
• The Guitars of Matsumoku - Includes scans of many original Aria catalogs
• Shiro Arai Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2006)