Up for sale, a 1981 Aria Pro II PE-R80 vintage electric guitar in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. An elegantly crafted spin on the classic LP design produced in Japan at the Matsumoku factory and rarely seen outside its country of origin, this PE-R80 features a traditional tonewood combination with a carved two-piece maple top, mahogany body (with a maple veneer on the back), maple neck, and thick slab ebony fretboard.
The body's radical and ergonomic carve is very player-friendly with heel-less neck construction and recessed controls on the carved top, and the instrument has a clear, rich natural response which translates well through the Maxon MMK 75 zebra bobbin humbuckers. Metering in the mid 8k ohms range, these pickups are powerful and punchy with a touch of growl, offering a meaty low end at the neck and cutting midrange bark at the bridge. The dual sound mini toggle switches are individual coil taps for the pickups, introducing a more focused, airy, and snappy single coil response. Weighing 8lbs 8oz, this Aria Pro II has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and spot-on intonation.
The maple neck has a very slender C-shaped profile carve at the nut with good shoulder and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .780” deep at the 1st fret and .935” at the 12th. The thick slab ebony fretboard has a 12” radius, featuring pearl cloud inlay and pristine stock medium jumbo fretwire. The guitar plays well in all registers up the straight neck with an ideally adjusted truss rod. Dimensions familiar to any Les Paul purist, the scale length measures 24 3/4“, and the brass nut is 1 11/16“ in width, ensuring ideal note attack and articulation. The headstock features a mahogany veneer, cream truss rod cover, and stock set of gold Aria Pro II tuners that turn smoothly and hold pitch well. The Matsumoku factory serial number has a 1 prefix for 1981.
On the body, the stock electronics work as they should, with individual Volume and Tone knobs for each Maxon humbucker, and individual mini-toggle coil taps for each pickup. The full-size Japanese pots date to 1981, and solder joints are untouched. The gold hardware includes a robust tune-o-matic-style bridge and corresponding stopbar with clean gold plating that shows modest surface patina. The top is elegantly dished around the controls, and the amber speed knobs have ridged tops for easy gripping. The original cream jackplate rounds things out with a couple small stabilized splits in the plastic. The transparent Antique Brown gloss finish is framed by multi-ply cream binding, and cosmetic wear is limited to light finish scratches mostly relegated to the body perimeter. The neck profile sports a pristine smooth gloss finish.
A gigbag is included.