Aria Pro II PE 180 (L5/400 Type)

[2bornot2bop]

Right around 1500 USD. But in Scandinavia, prices are a little higher here...

Actually, that’s an exceptional price for that guitar. I sold an Aria PE190 for $2400, and that was 4 years ago.

[lawson-stone]

A nice thing also is... many times you buy a used guitar, you have to swap out pickups, etc. to get it to sound right. The pickups on the Aria ProII PE180 (or the same Matsumoku guitar under other brand-names) are stunningly good. I replaced my neck pickup with the universally praised Seymour Duncan Seth Lover, but put the original back because it was better. And the pots and caps, whatever they are, are just right.

So assuming no damage, no warping, etc. with a little setup, these guitars out of the box are typically outstanding.

[Archie]

Actually, that’s an exceptional price for that guitar. I sold an Aria PE190 for $2400, and that was 4 years ago.

Wow!

Knowing you I'm sure it was a fine example.

[GuitarGirl81]

Can anyone identify this guitar?



I haven't been able to find another like it with a headstock that just says Aria.

It looks like this gibson:



Any idea on it's value? I might be getting it.

[citizenk74]

Can anyone identify this guitar?



I haven't been able to find another like it with a headstock that just says Aria.



It looks like this gibson:



Any idea on it's value? I might be getting it.

[Lorenz Michels]

I have a very unique Aria Pro II - PE-180 in very good condition.

It concerns a pre-serial number (and maybe even a prototype). Of the PE-180 you can find burst versions from 1977 (recognizable by the headstock) in catalogs and advertisements (eg Reverb), but no Natural versions. Or can you?

Apart from whether this 'Jazz box' is unique or not, it is in very good condition. It was used by a professional jazz guitarist (not me) who took very good care of his guitar, as evidenced by the fantastic condition the instrument is in. The frets have signs of wear, but I don't notice that while playing. According to the luthier who recently adjusted it, the comb is somewhat worn. You notice this because you can sometimes hear some 'fret buzz', for example on the loose 6th string and especially on the 2nd string.

Because I don't play it, I am not much of a guitar player and certainly not a jazz gitarist, I will be selling it on Marktplaats.nl.

For more very high-resolution pictures: Aria Pro II - PE-180-N (Natural) | Synology Photos
Sound samples (no music):

[Marc Grossman]

It looks similar to the Aria 1362G which I believe was basically a 175 copy from the early 70s, possibly late 60s. Reverb had a few listed. It also has 12 pole pieces on the pickups.

[lawson-stone]

High Pingu

I got this one for £1,300

I would say between £1,250 and £1,500 depending on condition etc is a fair price for the guitar.

It has a surprisingly thin top, like I've mentioned, so it really performs more like a bigger Es-175.

Although I would say the back and sides are quite heavy, so it does have some diminishing returns in that respect.

Thats aside, the neck is wonderful and the guitar in general when plugged in or unplugged is surprisingly pleasing.

Very clear, very articulate, yet very warm.

Sometimes I think it's more like a Gibson Tal Farlow model. Big archtop body with high quality laminate instead of solid carved. It has a thunk that is not L5ces but a bit sweeter than an ES175. At least that's how mine feels.

[garybaldy]

Greentone,
While I agree that the PE-180 was a great top-of-the-line guitar for Aria back in the late 70s and early 80s, as far as I know, the PE-180 was a model originally built for export and not for the Japanese market. I don't recall ever seeing a Japanese language catalog with the PE-180. The Japan models were the L-1000 (either single or double top-mounted humbucker) and the L-1700C (an L5C usually in natural) and as far as i know back in the late 1970s, based on my collection of Japanese catalogs, the L-1700C was Aria's most expensive guitar in its entire range at JPY 170,000 and it was a fully carved top with five-ply neck.

A 300,000 yen guitar at the time would have been unheard of, from any brand.

At the time, Yamaha's top-priced guitar was the SG-2000 at 150,000 yen (and the SG-3000 Custom was only a bit more 10yrs later) and their top carved top hollowbody was the AE-18 at 120,000 yen, moving to 150,000 then replaced at the top at 200,000 yen by 1979 when they revamped the line to up prices. (AE-2000 replaced AE-18 at 200k, AE-1200 replaced the AE-11 at roughly 120k).

How does the Yamaha AE1200 compare with the Aria PE180? I had the chance to buy a 1200 for £1350 a couple of years ago but passed on it. Mistake?