Embedded Files
This Timeline is based on the best available information, but not every source and every point can be guaranteed for accuracy. The effort is as objective as possible, and best judgement has been used to interpret dating anomalies and translations, and to avoid embellished facts. The focus is on key time step events, important people, major guitar design junctures, business moves, and what appears to be reasonable empirical data.
1956
Aug. - Shiro Arai creates Arai Trading Co. Ltd. to deal in imported classical guitars, strings, and sheet music. [6, 12, 42, 76]
(note: company name is also seen as Arai & Co. Inc. as of 1968 advertising; 'Arai Trading' is nonetheless the most common in translation over the years and is thus used throughout this timeline)
1958
Alleged first export of guitars, or 1959, but details are vague. [45, 76]
Arai Trading imports Fender electric guitars and amplifiers, or in 1959, but details are vague (unknown when this ended). [6, 76]
1960
Alleged first production of acoustic and hollowbody guitars, but details are vague; possibly contracted to Tokyo Sound (maker of Guyatone). [12, 25]
New Matsumoku factory constructed. [1, 4] See separate Matsumoku Timeline for integration.
1962
Kazuyuki Matsuda joins company and becomes Executive Vice President. [6]
Shiro Arai visits the USA (and/or also in 1963), shows Japanese classical guitars to potential importers and experimentally checks if guitars are stable in U.S. climate. [42, 76]
1963
Shiro Arai establishes relationship with Matsumoku factory. [4, 6, 25]
Alleged first solid body electric guitar by Arai Trading, but details are vague; possibly the first variant of the 1532 model. [6, 12, 14, 76]
First apparent catalog using original Aria brand name. [6]
(note: Aria is a simple anagram, musically representative of the name Arai)
Alleged export of guitars made by Tokyo Sound, but details are vague. [61]
1965
First use of Arai badging suggested, instead of Aria, and presumably due to trademark conflict confirmed as of 1966, noted below. [13]
1966
Aria trademark conflict with Kawai (who used the name for keyboards) leads to some use of Arai, Arai Diamond, Diamond, and Aria Diamond (and Diamonds, with an 's') as alternates until 1970 when full control of Aria name was regained. [4, 6, 14]
(note: Aria Diamond was still used into the early '70s)
Model 1532 widely introduced (but see 1963 reference above); first significant retail electric solid body designed by Nobuaki Hayashi (aka H. Noble) after early prototyping. [12, 13]
Univox UC-2 version of 1532 confirms release date of above. [27]
First (?) documentation of Aria 1202 model equivalent as Univox HR-2. The 1202 was also designed by Nobuaki Hayashi (aka H. Noble). [27, 61]
1967
Suggested Japanese guitar market shift from early-mid 60s solid body to hollowbody and acoustic, influenced by Group Sounds movement and folk music trend. [4, 6]
Aria Diamond badged 1202 semi-hollow model, and variants, and multiple contract badge names of the same build, are major Matsumoku production volume by this time point per above noted trends. [4]
1968
Arai Trading builds head office in Nagoya. [6]
Shiro Arai attends Chicago NAMM show (the show where Gibson Les Paul Standards and Customs were reissued), meets Les Paul maybe (?), returns to Japan and gives U.S. made guitar samples (unknown what models) to Matsumoku for reverse engineering. [6, 65, 73, 76]
Norikatsu Harayama noted as designer of trademark plate style combined tremolo/bridge unit seen on early 1532, 1802, and other models, from the '60s into early '70s. [3, 19]
First apparent full range brochure showing 25 models, with a mix of semi-hollow originals, a few solid body originals, and Rickenbacker/Gibson/Hofner copy variants. [62]
Coast Wholesale Music Company identified as USA distributor (possibly as of 1967). [63]
1969
Alleged first Aria Les Paul copy, made with blade style pickups and released in Japan, only 50 made and was not well received. [6, 76]
Aria folk acoustic ad from this time point shows an inset picture of 'New Model Diamond Custom' Les Paul copy, which is likely the 'DC' LP seen in the 1970 Aria catalog and a brochure, which is a variant on the Aria 5522 identified as of the 1971 catalog. (See separate 'Early Matsumoku Les Paul Customs' poster, linked from the Home page) [26, 52, 54]
1970
Yuzuru Tanaka joins company, starts in sales and advances to executive level, continues to Matsumoku's closing. [7]
First definitive electric guitar catalog with multiple solid body examples, dominated by Gibson, Fender, and Mosrite copies plus some original designs; approximate 80-20 split. Also a brochure with rare acrylic Dan Armstrong style copy. [26]
Kanda Shokai identified as Eastern Region distributor while Arai Trading maintains Western Region. [26]
Some legal back and forth with USA lawyers apparently begins and results in slight changes to Stratocaster copies in the early 70s, but details are vague. [6]
Targ & Dinner Inc. identified as USA distributor. [43]
1972
Yoichi "Jes" Saito joins company, continues to Matsumoku's closing and involved in artist relations, big name international endorsers, and signature models through late '70s into early '80s. Worked at the Los Angeles office from 1979 to '84. [4, 8]
Rickenbacker copy added to Gibson/Fender copy models. Copies to original designs is approximate 90-10 split. Some models also shown in joint Greco catalog. [29]
Arai Trading noted as Eastern Region distributor for Greco. [29]
1973
Arai Trading establishes office in Düsseldorf. [44]
1974
Marketing office set up in Hong Kong. [45]
1974 and '75 catalog documentation is virtually all copies, or close variations with some design differences. [30, 31]
1975
Exceptions to above: 1 & 2 pickup budget unbadged Sakai 6 string and unbadged Silvertone looking basses are seen in a 1975 brochure. No actual Aria badged versions are known to have surfaced, but a couple Diamond badged example have been seen of these oddities. [31]
Targ & Dinner Inc. still identified as USA distributor, but will change in 1976. [31]
Shiro Arai says that the decision to create a new badge name of Aria Pro II was encouraged by the USA distributor, and that adding Pro II to Aria simply sounded more impressive than just Aria Pro or Aria Pro I. [6]
Dec. - By the end of the year, the first Aria Pro II badged guitars are in production for 1976 release. Serial numbers for December 1975 are known for LC-750 and LD-700 models.
1976
All English and Japanese catalog and brochure documentation shows copies, or close variations with some design differences; Gibson/Fender/Rickenbacker. [32]
Catalog & brochure documentation is a mix of old Aria badging in English references, and new Aria Pro II badging in both English and Japanese references. [32]
Aria Pro II officially launched with concurrent uptick in advertising exposure. [43]
Start of the wide ranging price point LS and LC Les Paul copy models that run until 1981. [32]
Concept and prototype created for the Aria PE-1500, designed by Nobuaki Hayashi (aka H. Noble). Design and patents for PE-1500 were ultimately transferred from Matsumoku to Aria. [4]
References suggest PE-1500 originally done for Matsumoku's Westone badge, but period pictures show it badged with a logo later used for Westbury. [4, 43]
June - Unconfirmed suggestion by Yuzuru Tanaka that first PE-1500 may have been in shops in New York as early as June 1976. [7]
U.S. Musical Merchandise Corp. and Music Distributors Inc. identified as USA distributors. [32]
EMI Musical Instrument Division identified as Australian distributor. [32]
BSA Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG identified as German distributor. [43]
Japanese Aria Pro II advertising shows Gibson logo in footer with Arai Trading contact info, suggesting Gibson Japan agent/distributor relationship had been established. Also seen in subsequent year 1977 Japanese brochure advertising. [4, 33, 43] See Aria & Gibson Japan page for more details.
Arai Trading Japanese branch offices identified in Tokyo and Osaka, and sales office in Fukuoka; possibly established a year or two earlier. [32, 45]
1977
Aria Pro II launches flagship model, the PE-1500. Heelless neck joint, double carved body, matched carved control cover, in-house design bridge, are key features. [4, 6, 14, 33]
Nobuaki Hayashi (aka H. Noble) leaves Matsumoku soon after launch of PE-1500 due to Aria focus with copies and limited new attention (yet) to more original designs. [4]
Hayashi Shokai Co. Ltd. identified as maker of custom knobs on the PE-1500. [4]
Eiji Furuya appointed head of the PE project team, seemingly as a promotion from PE finisher/painter role; and/or also referred to as Painting Manager. [3, 49]
Norlin (Gibson) legal threats to Elger (Hoshino Gakki / Ibanez) begin to influence Japanese industry practices of making and exporting copy models. [12]
Most Aria Pro II catalog documentation is still dominated by Gibson/Fender copy variants, but also newly added Rickenbacker, B.C. Rich, and Hamer models. [33]
A couple new Les Paul and Strat variations show up with exotic woods, vine inlays, and body carving. A couple/few full or partial builds likely by Kasuga for the LPs specifically. [33]
High profile artist endorsements begin in advertising. [43]
Catalogs note inquiries can be done to the "Aria Service Room" at any Japanese office location; Nagoya (Head Office), Tokyo & Osaka (Branch Offices), and Fukuoka (Sales Office). [33]
Dec. - Japanese Gibson ad for LP Pro Deluxe has Aria logo and contact info as agent, in the footer [51]
(note: subsequent years of 1979/81/83 Japanese Gibson ads are also known with Arai Trading contact info in the footer)
1978
Flagship original design neck-through bass introduced, the SB-1000, and lower spec versions. [4, 34]
Lower spec PE models released. [34]
Original designs released: SH semi-hollow, FS semi-solid, and NK solid body double cut, all neck-through and all with noise cancelling circuits. [9, 34]
Shiro Arai / Arai Trading confirmed as agent for Gibson Japan, however see 1976 and '77 related references above. [4, 10]
Gigsville Limited identified as distributor in England, starting from the end of 1977. [43]
Great West Imports Ltd. and Canadian Music Supply Ltd. (as of 1979 just Canada not Canadian, and CMS Music Inc. as of 1982) identified as Canadian distributors. [43]
"Aria Pro II Guitar Care Center" noted as being within the Matsumoku factory. [34]
1979
March - Original design release: TS set neck and neck-through solid body, with some B.C. Rich type circuits; likely the best selling original design Aria Pro II model range. [7, 10, 35]
Kazuyuki Matsuda quoted as saying re TS: "It sold in huge quantities. It sold so well that production couldn't keep up." Interestingly, high spec sold better than low spec. [6, 7]
Also released: LS & LC so called 'Transition' models with new headstock design and blended PE style body with LP features. [35]
Also released: original design neck-through solid body YS (low spec, few models, humbucker) and RS (higher spec, more models, SC & humbucker). [7, 35]
May - Aria Music (USA) Inc. office established in Los Angeles, lead by Yoshi Arai, Vice President. Office also established in London by this year. [4, 8, 44, 45]
Approximately 20 smaller market worldwide distributors noted at this time point. [44]
First high profile artist signature model shown in catalogs, PE-175 Herb Ellis Model. [35]
All Japanese offices, Nagoya (Head Office), Tokyo & Osaka (Branch Offices), and Fukuoka (Sales Office), are confirmed in photos to have service/repair rooms. [47]
1980
TA semi-hollow high end spec original design introduced, TA-1500 Ike Isaacs model. [9, 36]
A couple additional smaller market distributors noted. [36]
1981
Highest spec LS copies introduced for one year (or partial year) but examples are rare, and production of the primary catalog Gibson/Fender/Rickenbacker copies also ends this year. A couple exception copies (Fender/Rickenbacker) nonetheless still get made in subsequent years, as seen in advertisements only, but examples are rare. [37, 43]
CS original design series introduced; lower spec, budget friendly, and sold very well. [4, 7, 37]
U 'Urchin' original design series introduced; U100 four curved horn body shape with complex circuitry. [9, 37]
TA-100 Titan Artist high end spec plus lower spec versions, original design thinline semi-hollow range introduced. [37]
25th Anniversary of Arai Trading; PE Anniversary model released. [43]
Tilman Distributors Inc. identified as USA distributor. [43]
1982
Introduction through advertisements, but no catalog coverage until 1983, of Black 'n' Gold versions of various models, which used new untested painted hardware finish. [7, 10, 43]
1983
XX Flying V and ZZ Explorer model types introduced with new use of silk screened graphics, concurrent with Heavy Metal market trending. [9, 38]
Kioshi Suzuki identified as designer of Urchin, XX, and ZZ model types. [57]
Shiro Arai noted as Chairman of the Japanese National Association of Musical Manufacturers Trade Committee. [57]
First appearance of locking tremolos in advertising, subsequently seen in catalogs the next year, on a variety of models. [9, 39, 43]
1984
New high end PE models introduced. [39]
New painted custom graphics on various models, e.g. zebra stripes; more Heavy Metal trending. [39]
First appearance of Super Strat with HSS specific configuration, Knight Warrior model, in advertising. [43]
On Site Music Group identified as USA distributor. [43]
1985
PE-SUPRA released as culmination of PE line and the most expensive Matsumoku era Aria Pro II catalog model. [7, 40]
First appearance of headless bass models. [40]
1986
Final push of high end PE models, a few new headless bass models, confusing mix of Super Strat types. [41]
A few models with new air brush style graphics released but examples are rare. [41]
One version of '86 Japanese catalogs contains Gibson LP and Epiphone Casino models and Gibson accessories, confirming Gibson Japan agent status for a run of the past ten or more years. [41]
Production transitions to the Samick factory in Korea, with neckplate design change dropping 'MADE IN JAPAN' stamping, and serial numbers showing some Korean models being made as early as February 1986.
1987
Feb. - Based on serial numbers, Laser Electric Classic model is last assumed Aria Pro II guitar to be made in the Matsumoku factory.
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