Aria Guitars

Necessity is the mother of invention. In the story of Aria Guitars necessity is very much central to the company’s humble beginnings in Nagoya, Japan, in 1956.

It started when Shiro Arai, the founder of Aria Guitars struggled to find outlets in his native country where he could buy nylon strings for his classical guitar. Frustrated by the scarcity, he came up with the idea of importing classical guitar strings from Augustine, a manufacturer in New York City, also Jose Ramirez guitars from Madrid in Spain. As word spread among Japanese guitarists and demand for Augustine strings grew, Arai set up Arai & Co. Inc. to cope with the flourishing sales.

With the arrival of rock ’n’ roll, Arai also began importing electric and steel string acoustic guitars from overseas.
During the early Sixties, the company expanded into production of its own guitars, beginning with acoustic and hollowbody models in 1960, followed by the introduction of solidbody electrics in 1963, issued under the brand names of Aria (an anagram of Arai).

Soon the company began exporting guitars to various countries, including the United States. As demand grew, Aria contracted Matsumoku Industrial, a woodworking company based in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture.

In the 70s, while Japan was enjoying an enormous acoustic guitar song boom as it was happening in the USA and some European countries, Aria guitars started to develop original new design electric guitars.

In 1975 “Aria Pro II” brand was launched. It was dedicated to electric guitar productions in order to bespeak a clear distinction with other acoustic and classical guitars which was being produced under the name of “Aria” brand, and it was named with all heart of that “PRO” for maintaining a professionalism, and “II” for being one step ahead.