The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Hi all,

I recently bought an Aria ProII guitar but don't know the model and year of production.
If someone can help me I'd be very glad

http://www.boersentrading.de/04090001.JPG
http://www.boersentrading.de/04090002.JPG
http://www.boersentrading.de/04090004.JPG

The guitar has a bolt-on neck - the word 'Artist' on the head seems to be applicated manual - (the writing looks exactly like on my 1980 Ibanez Artist - maybe its a joke).
The serial number is 074348.

Any help would be great !!

Claus

Here I got another two pictures ...

http://www.boersentrading.de/a1.jpg
http://www.boersentrading.de/a2.jpg

Hope this helps

Claus

Looks quite Vantage like.

Well, I heard back from DRK! Here's the crux of it:

This is a YS300 model, one of three in this series. Consisted of the YS500 400 & 300. Run was from approximately 80 to around late 83 or so. 3 piece maple detachable neck, rosewood fingerboard, 24 frets, Nato (mahogany/nato) body, 1 vol control, 2 tone controls, pu selector switch, coil tap, 2 Protomatic II pickups. Available in Wine red, Walnut & black finish. By the way, elec/pu configs differ on all 3 models with the 500 the best, of course. FYI, 500 had 1 vol 2 tone, pus, coil tap and 6 position tone circut. Nice!

Fotunately he had the catalog for that period! Thanks DRK!

Later!

Thanks for your deep investigation.
It's very hard to retrieve more information about old Arias or Ibanezs in the internet. I find not even a picture of the mentioned YS-series. Would be fine from the companies to offer a bit of history ... It's worth.

The guitar I got (for $100) is a wonderful to play instrument. And it's surely harder to get such an oldie than any new Sqires or other like we say 08/15-instruments. The more its a joy to play the oldies ....

Thanks Claus