anybuddy know about ARIA guitars?

ChrisMusic · January 2018

While on the subject, what was the reason for the Matsumoku factory closing down ?

ICBM · January 2018

ChrisMusic said:

While on the subject, what was the reason for the Matsumoku factory closing down ?

It was owned by a company whose main product was sewing machine cabinets - musical instruments were just a sideline - if I remember they were under contract to one of the major manufacturers, possibly Singer (I can't remember for sure), and lost that business. The owners then closed the factory, and the management of the musical instrument division couldn't afford to buy it.

ChrisMusic · January 2018

^^ thanks ICBM. What a shame, just goes to show that passion of ours is such a minority financial interest in the great economic scheme of things. Sad but true.

I know Japanese business is often mired in red tape, it's a pity that there was no way for a buy out to be engineered, the turnover must have been substantial back then, and it was all before the late '80s financial meltdown too, and the onset of Japanese deflation (I think).

They certainly knew how to make a great guitar.

At least I leave today a little wiser than I was before

Phil_aka_Pip · January 2018

this is american but might be of small use https://www.guitar-list.com/aria-aria-pro-ii/electric-guitars/ariaaria-pro-ii-ta-40

clarkefan · January 2018

I used to go see a Lizzy tribute band back in the late 80s, two LP players, both very good. One night one of them switched to an Aria. He even asked the audience to find him after the gig cos he wanted our opinion of the sound of his new guitar.

No comparison, it was a pale imitation. No thump/balls. Just wrong.

Order (and LP) was restored the following week

guitars4you · January 2018

ICBM said:

ChrisMusic said:

While on the subject, what was the reason for the Matsumoku factory closing down ?

It was owned by a company whose main product was sewing machine cabinets - musical instruments were just a sideline - if I remember they were under contract to one of the major manufacturers, possibly Singer (I can't remember for sure), and lost that business. The owners then closed the factory, and the management of the musical instrument division couldn't afford to buy it.

yes Singer Sewing macines - Singer later actually part owned Matsumoku and when Singer went into decline following the sewing machine market downturn, Matsumoku could not raise the capital to buy themselves out of their tie in with Singer - Furthermore, a year or so before they closed down, they also lost the Gibson contract to build Epiphone - that was moved to Korea and other factories

HarrySeven · January 2018

This thread has just reminded me that I'm still lusting after an Aria PE-1000GC Gerry Cott sig.

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anybuddy know about ARIA guitars?

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