From http://www.music-trade.co.jp/Aria_History.html:
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History of ARIA Pro II (Arai Co., Ltd)
The company was established in 1956 by Mr.Shiro Arai. The Aria Pro II is brand name of their electric guitar range (they use the Aria for acoustic range). The company started to import the classic guitars. The name of ARIA, they use for exporting the classic guitar for Asian countries in 1958. After that, they tried to export the Japanese made Classic guitars for overseas market.
They started to import the Fender guitars and amplifiers from the US, although at that time the Japanese market was not quite ready for the electric guitar. Mr. Arai had a very good business and marketing sense.
In 1963, they started to export the Japanese made electric guitars. It was a time Japanese first electric guitars booming. They added several new models with Aria Diamond brand. Under Aria diamond brand, they started to make the Gibson type copy mainly full acoustic electric type.
The time of guitar history was very slowly from 1967-70. The band booming was gone for a while. The Japanese guitar industries should wait a time of “Hard Rock” era.
In 1970-1972, they are starting the Gibson and Fender copy to distributing the Japanese market. Arai was also distributor of Greco Matsumoku Made distributor of Western of Japan (Eastern Japan is covered by Kanda Shokai).
In 1975, Aria Pro II was developed from Aria's custom shop making high-end models for professional users.
In 1976, Aria Pro II released its first original model, the PE-1500. This is absolutely great guitar with originality away from Gibson and Fender. The Designer of this guitar is Mr. N. Hayashi (currently the president of Atlansia Guitars). He developed the original hell-less neck. This unique design promises the very smooth fingering around the neck setting high position.
After PE, they added the RS(Rev Sound), TS(Tri Sound) and CS (Cardinal Series) as original design range. RS was designed as Japanese made Alembic style Guitar. TR was cost effective type of RS series. Now, both PE and RS are getting the historical Japanese vintage guitar with high pricing on collectors market.
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