Aria Pro II SL-ST-3

This is an ARIA PRO 2, Model SL-ST3
I think given the year of manufacture, but rather a series that Korean Japanese.
The body is curiously .... plywood! The catalogs it was appropriate to alder ... then plates glued alder?? Not massive in any case! I do not know that it is the influence of the choice of plywood on the sound but I do not see the economic benefit, however it has not persisted in this path. The neck is maple with cons, and good workmanship. Fender vibrato simple type, 5-way switch, one tone knob and volume. The mechanical oil bath, qualities just correct.
A humbucker with cover black bridge, two single-coil in the neck and middle.

UTILIZATION

The neck is what is best in violin making of this guitar. It's nice, I always felt it.
Ergonomics are good with a stomach cutting back of the body.
access to acute is good.

SOUNDS

For microphones, there is the double handle that I find nice. Certainly it is a bit messy but it gives a very good output, and for many saturations bad it does not hurt!
As against the two single-coil is throwing! They certainly give a very clean sound, but very sour and without personality. I did change the neck pickup with a Seymour Duncan SSL-1 (Start type vintage), and much more!
Well, it does not turn into a replica of Fender, but it becomes more personality and is fun in its clear blues styles. The middle pickup is always home so I do not use, but one day I will replace myself with a better quality at good prices, and it will become even more versatility. Warning replica microphones stratocater of triangular shapes need to work the body to install them, because the original format of microphones is rectangular. It is better that I find a microphone of the same shape.

OVERALL OPINION

I bought it in 1991 VPC in the pack with ARIA amp 15 watts (not so good ...) for the equivalent of 300 euros today. It was my first electric guitar, I purchased it blind because it corresponded to my tight budget and I knew nothing. I kept it because it is not bad and quite versatile, despite the purchase of three other guitars after this one. I always pleases on his sleeve. Of course when I switch guitars of superior quality to it, the difference is obvious but I am indulgent with her.
Today the Korean quality is incomparable, and even the Chinese are generally better for less.
The Aria Pro 2 models were entry level at that time, not bad for the price, but not competition animals either ... on the other hand if I believe a true 80's Japanese ARIA I throw it!

Aria is yellow, but good!
22 frets, 3 pickups, 5 position switch (1, 1 +2, 1 +2 +3, 2 +3, 3)
Plywood "massive" for the body, the rest I'm not a carpenter ... the guitar is in three pieces (of different woods): body, sleeve, button.
1 volume, 1 tone.

UTILIZATION

Handle very light, not too thick, very nice!
his side is the aria, Clean, bold and generous but also dry and clear. can aboir good bass as good mediums. a versatile guitar!

right to the end of the handle does not move, it's a very good point!

SOUNDS

I'm not a scratch metals. I like the sounds defined, and what I do, it suits me very well.

OVERALL OPINION

I have the fingers for a year, nothing to say. I recovered without knowing where it came from (long-term loan), so price aside, I do not know how much it is worth.

It is enough for me ...

- Japanese-made, 1992 (serial No.)
- D profile neck, 22 frets, maple fingerboard
- Chrome hardware, mechanical oil bath and Fender vibrato type standard
- Microphones, two simple (central stick) and a double humbucker (bridge)
- 2 pots, 1 volume + 1 tone 5-way switch.

from the information I could get, the body is alder but I'm sure.
This guitar has a violin of good quality, the finish is even higher than many current models, the frets are perfectly polished and well before the guitar since I since 1992 (bought new at the time) and not one bit blurry despite all that I had made him suffer for all these years.

UTILIZATION

This guitar is a vraimment surprising for several reasons. The overall balance is almost perfect and the weight measured. The handle is the best thing on this skyscraper. It is very comfortable, fast and precise action of the strings, very low but do not frieze, is ideal for the shred. I did tried a number of friends and are unanimous on this point.
The access to acute, for cons, is located right in the middle due to a fairly prominent heel (like Fender Start).
the original pots are a bit of precision, which is why I have changed for models for fine adjustments.
The vibrato is pretty well behind the agreement but do not make the dive-bombing with, it is not made for that.
On my guitar I had to condanné in the background and adding five springs (since I used it) to put the strings very deep draft (style baritone) and allow me to drop-D and it does not move a pet.
I use it mainly to play very heavy metal.
with this configuration and the qualities of the handle, the accuracy is diabolical.
ha yes, I forgot, this skyscraper has a sustain HUGE!

SOUNDS

The original pickups sounded not too bad but rather neutral and lacks a bit of personality. The pickups handle and go for the central side of Fender Strats, but even when missing a little something.
The bridge pickup sending well disto but drool a bit when pushed to extremes.
For my part, I changed it to a Seimour Duncan TB6 and I redid the wiring and shielding of electronics.
Now it's the Apocalypse, lol. Sound monstrous distortion with this microphone. Whatever the type of distortion employed (pedal or distortion of the amp), it can do everything a fons and it does not bleed, it is accurate and hell. Ideal for extreme play metal like Thrash, Death, Black and other stuff like that. I can not get enough, Arf.
Small point, however, the key maple neck does not generate much harmonic a rosewood fingerboard (damage).
7 / 10 with the original configuration.
9 / 10 with the changes I made.

OVERALL OPINION

I use this guitar since 1992 and is very resistant to time. Aria produces visible quality instruments that deserve that one is interested in a little closer all the fine making allows changes to improve the instrument.
Prices are often very low chance from what I saw and this is not an investment risk.
At the time, and if I remember correctly I had paid 2500 francs and opposite qualities, may have marks on the market today can boast of a quality / price ratio equivalent in this price range.
As I recall it was one of the cheapest in the store and I tried other models of different brands and more expensive that do not believe me.
I am now very attached to this guitar even if it is not perfect (the guitar is not perfect) is a registered uncommon and it has not being any street corner. I never regretted this purchase and I could not part with it even if I intend to buy more guitars.