Aria Pro II PE-R80

[JimNasium]

I just ran across a 1981 model. They want $500 and it's in great shape. What's the consensus on these? Is that a fair price?

[mc5nrg]

My consensus would be...buy it. Run, don't walk.

Is it a fair price? I don't know -I'd probably show up with cash and offer less, but the appropriate retail expression is "You snooze...". Is there a case, coil taps, lots of bling, which bridge etc.? If you play it and it seems as nice as I would expect worrying about paying a bit more for a 30 year old MIJ guitar* would probably be counterproductive to grabbing it before it gets away. Keep in mind, I am normally a skinflint and have never dropped more than $600 on a guitar and that was for a Martin O18 but sometimes being concerned about getting the best price isn't the best strategy. Search out the site devoted to matsumoku guitars if you haven't already.

* early 80s PE series are generally the bomb, to use a decade appropriate expression.

[soulohio]

yea, some of those old Aria Pro's are really great guitars. If you like it and it looks good that price is really nothing. Try and skin $100-200 bucks off that price and you might just skin yourself out of a nice axe... in other words I agree with mc5nrg...

[Alvis]

Yeah,I dont think Id pay that much ,but those were cool MIJ guitars , I haven't played one since they were new ,but I was fond of 'em as well as Ibanez ST-50 and Washburn Falcon/Hawk

[soulohio]

well...one thing I would offer is this... if you are really into the construction and assembly techniques of these old Les Paul knockoffs... and this guitar meets your expectations for this copy of an axe... then $500 is what you would pay for a new Tokai or Edwards... and with the new Edwards-Tokai the wood will be new and the guitar may not have that 30 year old "mojo"... but yea, old guitars in great shape? old Japanese guitars that originally sold for 2-300 bucks? it's your call... work it bebe.

[gulliver]

I found an '80s MIJ Fender branded strat for under $200 just before the market crash ... I think $500 is way high for that.

[JimNasium]

My consensus would be...buy it. Run, don't walk.

Is it a fair price? I don't know -I'd probably show up with cash and offer less, but the appropriate retail expression is "You snooze...". Is there a case, coil taps, lots of bling, which bridge etc.? If you play it and it seems as nice as I would expect worrying about paying a bit more for a 30 year old MIJ guitar* would probably be counterproductive to grabbing it before it gets away. Keep in mind, I am normally a skinflint and have never dropped more than $600 on a guitar and that was for a Martin O18 but sometimes being concerned about getting the best price isn't the best strategy. Search out the site devoted to matsumoku guitars if you haven't already.

* early 80s PE series are generally the bomb, to use a decade appropriate expression.
Unfortunately there's no case but both pickups are wired for coil tapping. What am I looking for with the bridge?

[treeofpain]

I found an '80s MIJ Fender branded strat for under $200 just before the market crash ... I think $500 is way high for that.

That's a super great score, but if everyone holds out for deals like that then nobody would buy any guitars.

$500 is probably a fair price for a PE series Aria in good condition. The higher line models go for even more money.

[mc5nrg]

Just google that model number and and a catalog page will be one of the hits. I found it yesterday. No new MIJ Tokai or Edwards LP is 5 bills these days in the USA. The reason I asked about the bridge was that my memory of those models is a little shaky nearly 30 years after Veneman Music retail days. There were different levels of those instruments, some had unique features. My view is that early 80s Arias were a steal at the time and the PE series were real nice.

P.S. besides things like fretwear, playability, neck stuff, I'd shy away if the hardware was badly corroded since replacements aren't easily a available. No case is a bargaining point.

[gulliver]

That's a super great score, but if everyone holds out for deals like that then nobody would buy any guitars.

$500 is probably a fair price for a PE series Aria in good condition. The higher line models go for even more money.

Point well taken ... I guess my thought process is that an Aria Pro would be on a list of guitars to buy if you find a great deal. To me, it's not something worth going after with an open wallet, but if someone owned one in the past and wants one again, more power to them. I had a couple of friends that went bonkers over them in the '80s.