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[2] Ito, Masashi (aka Director TAD), the Junk Guitar Museum. 2017. Matsumoto Guitars. http://garakutaguitar.com/MatsumotoGuitars5.html. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[3] Ito, Masashi (aka Director TAD), the Junk Guitar Museum. 2017. Harayama Guitar Factory. http://garakutaguitar.com/HARAYAMAguitar.html. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[4] Ito, Masashi (aka Director TAD), the Junk Guitar Museum. 2018. Matsumoku Industries Co., Ltd. http://garakutaguitar.com/matsumotoguitars-matsumoku.html. Retrieved Oct. 2025. Plus translated & edited 2024 version at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G6fXEAT5ZzLg2GXu9PZv-HUJfS2Pkode/view. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[5] Ito, Masashi (aka Director TAD), the Junk Guitar Museum. n.d. Matsumoto Guitars "Nagano Prefecture Guitar 1956-2000". http://garakutaguitar.com/naganoken-guitar1956-2000. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[6] Shinko Music Pub. Co. Ltd. (Tokyo). 2004. Japan Vintage Vol. 5. Sound of Aria. Part 1 The History of Aria Pro II.
[7] Shinko Music Pub. Co. Ltd. (Tokyo). 2004. Japan Vintage Vol. 5. Sound of Aria. Part 2 The Greatest Four of Aria Pro II.
[8] Shinko Music Pub. Co. Ltd. (Tokyo). 2004. Japan Vintage Vol. 5. Sound of Aria. Part 3 Big Names with Aria Pro II.
[9] Shinko Music Pub. Co. Ltd. (Tokyo). 2004. Japan Vintage Vol. 5. Sound of Aria. Part 4 Aria Pro II: The Theory of Evolution.
[10] Shinko Music Pub. Co. Ltd. (Tokyo). 2004. Japan Vintage Vol. 5. Sound of Aria. Part 5 The Testimony, Special Edition.
[11] Calvosa, Antonio. 2024. Fujigen History. https://www.fuzzfaced.net/fujigen.html. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[12] Matera, Joe. 2023 July. The story of Aria Guitars: the unsung brand that has served metal shredders and jazz virtuosos alike for over 60 years. Bass Player magazine.
[13] Meyers, Frank. 2015. History of Japanese Electric Guitars. Anaheim Hills CA USA: Centerstream Publishing LLC.
[14] Japan Vintage Guitar Club. 2016. Japanese Vintage Guitars, Masterpieces Made in Japan. Tokyo: Graphic-sha Publishing Co. Ltd.
[15] Folly Publications Ltd. 1983. Guitar Special '84 - Westone, Background to a Breakthrough. Music U.K. magazine.
[16] Tom Presley, SLM Product Manager, comments as posted by Tim Jones in 2023. https://www.facebook.com/groups/westone.electra/posts/244047427785013.
[17] IPC Magazines Ltd, Northern & Shell Ltd. 1984 April. Five Days in Frankfurt. One Two Testing magazine.
[18] Torres, Dave. 1981 June. Japan, Guitar Production in the New Empire. Guitar Player magazine.
[19] Meyers, Frank. 2022 July. The Brains Behind Some of Matsumoku’s Wildest Designs. Premier Guitar magazine (Note for the record that this article includes the statement: "...Matsumoku burned down.". Matsumoku did not burn down.).
[20] Toshio Toshi Owa, R&D Section Manager, comments in 2023. https://www.facebook.com/groups/267949426704780/posts/2607338509432515.
[21] Meyers, Frank. 2020 May. Rare '60s Japanese JVC Victor Still Flies Today. Premier Guitar magazine.
[22] Wright, Michael. 2014 January. The Aria Pro II PE-R80. Vintage Guitar magazine.
[23] Bacon, Tony. 2023 October. Celebrating 150 years of Epiphone – from luxury archtop maker to budget builder and rock icon. Guitarist magazine.
[24] Fandom Music Community. n.d. Matsumoku Industrial Company. https://epiphoneguitars.fandom.com/wiki/Matsumoko. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[25] Burrows, Terry. 2023 (first published 2011). Guitar Family Trees: The History of the World's Most Iconic Guitars. New York: Chartwell Books.
[26] Aria, A Great Sound (1970 Japanese catalog) / Aria Electric Guitar Diamond Series (1970 Japanese brochure).
[27] Merson Musical Products Corporation, 1966 Edition (English brochure).
[28] Univox Guitars, Basses, Amplifiers, & Accessories (1968 English catalog).
[29] Aria & Diamond Electric Guitars & Basses (1972 English catalog) / Greco Electric Guitar Catalog (1972 Japanese catalog).
[30] Aria Classic Guitars, Electric Guitars, Banjos (1974 English catalog).
[31] Aria Guitars / Aria Guitars, Mandolins, Banjos / Aria Electric Guitars and Basses (1975 English - 2 catalogs and 1 brochure).
[32] Aria Mach 1 Guitars / Aria Pro II Professional Guitars / Aria Pro II Electric Guitars Vol. 1 / Aria Pro II Electric Guitars Vol. 2 (1976 English brochure / 1976 English brochure / 1975 Oct. [for '76] Japanese catalog / 1976 Japanese catalog [assumed to carry over into '77]).
[33] Professional Series Aria Pro II / Aria Pro II Professional Electric Guitars / Aria Pro II Electric Guitars / Aria Pro II Electric Guitars Vol. IV / Aria Pro II Electric Guitars Vol. V / The Aria Pro II Masterpiece Prototype [identified as Vol. VI; possibly 2 versions]) / Aria Pro II New Lineup is Here (1977 English brochure / 1977 English brochure / 1977 English catalog / 1977 Japanese catalog / 1977 Japanese catalog / 1977 English brochure / 1977 Japanese Brochure).
[34] Electric Guitars Aria Pro II Prototype Series / Aria Pro II Electric Guitars Vol. VII / The Aria Pro II Prototype Line (1978 English catalog / 1978 English catalog / 1978 Japanese catalog).
[35] Aria Quality / Electric Guitars Aria Pro II Prototype Series / Electric Guitars Aria Pro II / Aria Pro II Electric Guitars / Aria Pro II Tri Sound Series Vol. IX / Aria Pro II Electric Guitars Full Line Up Vol. X / Electric Guitars Aria Pro II Vol. XI (1979 English catalog / 1979 English catalog / 1979 English brochure / 1979 English catalog / 1979 English brochure / 1979 English catalog / 1979 English catalog).
[36] Aria World Wide / Aria Pro II Electric Guitars 1980 New Lineup (2 versions) / Aria Pro II Rev-Sound Series / Aria Pro II Electric Guitars (1980 English catalog / 1980 Japanese catalog / 1980 English brochure / 1980 Japanese catalog [rare version]).
[37] The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II / LS and Others '81 Collection / The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II Catalog All Line Up / The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II NEW Models (1981 English catalog / 1981 Japanese catalog / 1981 Japanese catalog / 1981 Japanese catalog).
[38] The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II '83 General Catalog / The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II Get the Aria Advantage (1983 Japanese catalog / 1983 English brochure).
[39] The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II '84 Catalog (3 versions) / The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II (1984 English catalog x3 / 1984 English catalog).
[40] The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II '85 Electric Guitar Catalog / The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II Gear 1985 Spring Edition / The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II Electric Guitars & Basses '85 Catalog / The Heavy Metal Axes '85 Winter Edition, The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II (1985 English catalog / 1985 English catalog / 1985 English catalog / 1985 English catalog).
[41] The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II '86 New Line Up / The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II Gear '86 Electric Guitar Catalog (2 versions) (1986 English catalog / 1986 English catalog x2).
[42] NAMM Oral History Program. n.d. Shiro Arai. video (dated 2006) at: https://www.namm.org/video/orh/shiro-arai and summary at: https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/shiro-arai. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[43] advertising brochures and music magazine advertisements and review articles from respective years on the timeline; Japanese/English/German.
[44] Aria's Distributors World Wide 1979. – insert pages to the ‘Quality’ 1979 catalog; listing of worldwide distributors and offices.
[45] The Aria Story 1979. – insert pages to the ‘Quality’ 1979 catalog; brief article and some historical details.
[46] United States Tariff Commission. 1968. Summaries of Trade and Tariff Information. Schedule 7 Volume 3. United States International Trade Commission. 1987. Tariff Schedules of the United States, Annotated.
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[47] Aria Pro II Guitars, Manual Book. 1979.
[48] Earl Hooker - Live at the American Folk Blues Festival [Colourized] 1969. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-HyCz6pHaI. Magic Sam - Live [Colourized] 1969. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Oc8GFE5OHk.
[49] Amethyst Guitars, 2017. 1980 The Aria Pro II PE-1000 Antique Brown. https://amethystguitars.hatenablog.com/entry/15459252. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[50] Visit Matsumoto / Tag: Nanbu Park. 2025. https://visitmatsumoto.com/tag/%e5%8d%97%e9%83%a8%e5%85%ac%e5%9c%92/. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[51] Gibson Japan music magazine advertisements 1977/78/79/81/83.
[52] Aria Electric Guitars and Basses (1971 English catalog).
[53] Vintage Guitar & Bass. 2025. Shaftesbury guitars. https://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/shaftesbury/. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[54] Aria Detachable Series. 1969 (or 1970) Japanese music magazine advertisement.
[55] Westone fan site contributors. 2021. Matsumoto City, The Real Home of Westone. https://westoneguitars.net/history/matsumoto-city/. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[56] Burrluck, Dave. 1985 August. Westone Spectrum GT Bass. International Musician & Recording World magazine.
[57] Folly Publications Ltd. 1983. Guitar Special '84 - Aria, the Importer's Tale. Music U.K. magazine.
[58] Tom Presley, SLM Product Manager, comments in 2019. https://www.facebook.com/groups/105720173875/permalink/10156991614073876.
[59] Yochin's blog. 2022. https://ameblo.jp/youchin1214/image-12758539927-15159868606.html. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[60] Aria Guitars. 2025. History of Aria Guitars. https://ariaguitarsglobal.com/about-aria/. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[61] Ito, Masashi (aka Director TAD), the Junk Guitar Museum. n.d. 1967 Arai Diamond 1202T. http://garakutaguitar.com/AraiDiamond1202T.html. Retrieved Oct. 2025.
[62] Aria Diamond Electric Guitars (1968 Japanese brochure).
[63] Coast Wholesale Music product binder, dated 1968.
[64] Ito, Masashi (aka Director TAD), the Junk Guitar Museum. 2025. Part 1: The History of Nisshin Onpa Seisakusho. http://garakutaguitar.com/matsumotoguitars-maxon. Retrieved Dec. 2025.
[65] Wright, Michael. 1998 Feb. Univox Guitars, Merson/Unicord Part 1. Vintage Guitar magazine.
[66] Patton, Tim. 2001. The Univox Page. vintageunivox.com/guitars & /catalogs. Retrieved Dec. 2025. (Note for the record that the 'History' page on this site includes the statement: "...a disastrous fire shut Matsumoku down...". Matsumoku did not burn down.).
[67] Vintage Guitar & Bass. 2025. Rose-Morris 1970 “Exciting Electrics, Wonderful Westerns, Celebrated Classics” & 1971 “Exciting Electrics / Wonderful Westerns” retail catalogs. https://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/rose-morris/catalogues/1970_index.php. https://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/rose-morris/catalogues/1971_index.php. Retrieved Jan. 2026.
[68] Bell Musical Instruments Ltd. 1970 & ’71 “Guitars, Amplifiers, and Accessories” retail catalogs.
[69] Aria Electric Guitars Diamond Series (1973 English catalog / possibly spanning '73-'82).
[70] Folly Publications Ltd. 1985 September. First Bass. Music U.K. magazine.
[71] Undated catalog page excerpts: Jedson, Santana, & Ventura.
[72] Beat Publications. 1974 September. AMII Report, New and Interesting Items Seen at Brighton; & FCN ad copy. Music World & Beat Instrumental & International Recording Studio magazine.
[73] Wright, Michael. 2002 July. Stratospheric Variations, A History of Offset Double Cut Guitars. Vintage Guitar magazine.
[74] Aria Classic Guitars / Konzert Gitarren / Guitares Classiques (1984 English/German/French catalog).
[75] Beat Publications Ltd. 1969 October. B.I. Tours the 69 Instrument Fair, Our Verdict: Bigger & Better Sounds. Beat Instrumental & International Recording Studio magazine.
[76] Alcantara, Paul. 2006 November. From Arai to Aria. Guitar Buyer magazine. (incl. "FACTORIES WHERE THEY'RE MADE" – titled inset to main article).
[77] Japan Patent Office, Industrial Property Information and Training Center. 2026. https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1801/TR/JP-1959-008308/40/ja. Retrieved March 2026.
[78] Klaus D. Bohler (Publisher). 1977 March. Aria Pro II LS-700BS Test. Fachblatt MusikMagazin (German).
[79] Roesberg, Dieter. 1978 March. Aria Pro II LS-700, Ibanez 2650, Sigma Les Paul Custom, Comparison Test. Fachblatt MusikMagazin (German).
[80] Aria Pro II Catalog Electric Guitar All Line Up / Aria Pro II Electric Basses, Electric Guitars, Herb Ellis Model (1982 Japanese catalog / 1982 English brochure)
[81] Bacon, Tony. 2018. Electric Guitars, The Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Chartwell Books.
[82] Music Trades Corporation. 1969-1987; available monthly issues of The Music Trades, and Annual Editions of The Purchaser’s Guide to the Music Industries, containing specific reference and/or advertisements regarding Arai Trading/Aria/Aria Pro II, and USA & Canadian distributors.
[83] Aria Dreadnaught, Good Face, Good Sound / Aria Dreadnaught, Mainstream, Unchanging / Aria Dreadnaught Custom Order System (x2 versions) (n.d.1970s assumed brochure and 3 advertisements).
[84] Gibson Guitars Quality Prestige Innovation (1981 Japanese catalog).
[85] Gibson, A Product of Norlin Music (1975 English-Japanese catalog).
[86] Gibson Price List, Nihon Gibson Ltd. (1978 English catalog).
[87] Grover Jackson fan page. https://www.facebook.com/GroverJackson/photos_albums.
[88] Japan Music Trades. 2010 November. https://web.archive.org/web/20180507065152/https://www.musictrades.co.jp/english/webnews/archive/2010/11/meet-the-founders-school-guitar-ensemble-can-raise-future-guitar-players---shiro-arai-chairman-arai.html. Retrieved Aug. 2026.
[89] Dallas Arbiter Ltd. 71/72 London England (manufacturer & distributor catalog).
[90] The Vox Guitar (1982 English catalog).
[91] Marshall Blog, Japan & Reverb News and Reviews. 2018. http://www.marshallblog.jp/2018/02/namm-2018-misce-4197.html & http://www.marshallblog.jp/2018/04/post-7f5c.html & https://reverb.com/ca/news/new-products-and-highlights-from-winter-namm-2018. Retrieved Aug. 2026.
[92] Henry, Lawrence. 1986 Sept. Aria Gets Visible. Music Connection magazine.
[93] Rittor Music. 2020 Dec. Guitar Magazine LaidBack Vol.5 (Japanese).
[94] Gruhn Guitars. 2019. The Dan Auerbach Collection. https://guitars.com/dan-auerbach-collection. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[95] Faith No Man - Under the Gun 1983 Live in San Francisco CA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkRiV6E9gUA. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[96] Neil Murray and Aria Pro II. https://ariabasses.blogspot.com/2011/02/neil-murray-and-aria-pro-ii.html. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[97] Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul Hard Rock Interview 2004. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS1tWvgoPg4; and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dimebag_Darrell_guitar.jpg. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[98] Style Council – Head Start for Happiness Live Japan 83. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWZF1dmPQIE. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[99] Duran Duran: Anyone Out There. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uQ4wZ5eJTY. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[100] McIver, Joel. Lost Classics, The Sister of Mercy. 2026 May. Guitar World magazine; and https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/155624/aria-pro-ii-rs-800-12-string-mh-i-pickups. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[101] GroundGuitar. n.d. Kurt Cobain’s 1980s Aria Pro II CS-350. https://www.groundguitar.com/kurt-cobain-gear/kurt-cobains-1980s-aria-pro-ii-cs-350/; and Julien’s Auctions. 2018. “Kurt Cobain Stage Played and Smashed Guitar”. https://www.juliensauctions.com/en/items/36332/kurt-cobain-stage-played-and-smashed-guitar. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[102] Reddit, r/Metallica. 2024. https://www.reddit.com/r/Metallica/comments/1gcrtll/rare_photo_of_kirk_actually_using_his_aria_pro_ii/; and Getty Images. https://www.gettyimages.ca/search/2/image?family=editorial&phrase=kirk%20hammett%201986&sort=mostpopular. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
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[105] Kerrang Issue 109. 1985 December.
[106] “You Can Run" - A Flock Of Seagulls - US Festival (1983). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSHMkyLMdWo. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[107] Mike Oldfield Musical Instruments. https://tubular.net/instruments/?by=photo. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[108] Kim Deal's Aria Pro II Cardinal Bass. https://equipboard.com/submissions/84365; and The Pixies - THE HOLIDAY SONG / NIMROD'S SON / BONE MACHINE (Live in London Parte 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz9agmiRT20. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[109] Jerry Reed & Glen Campbell - Southern Nights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr5V3m6JMwY. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[110] The Jam – Beat Surrender. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHP0UxBuuGQ. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[111] The Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star (Official Music Video). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8r-tXRLazs. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[112] Former Bon Jovi Bassist Alec John Such Dead at 70. https://rockandrollglobe.com/hard-rock/former-bon-jovi-bassist-alec-john-such-dead-at-70/. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[113] N. Hayashi Profile Page. n.d. or 2013? https://www.atlansia.jp/profile.htm. Retrieved Sept. 2026.
[114] Ultimate Guitar. 2017. John Petrucci: How We Left Berklee to Pursue Dream Theater. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/john_petrucci_how_we_left_berklee_to_pursue_dream_theater.html; and https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/john-petrucci-early-guitar.1794071/. Retrieved Oct. 2026.
[115] Music Trade Japan. 1977 September (?). The PE-1500 Development Story, Aria Pro II Original Guitar. Musician magazine No. 13 (Japanese).
[116] '87 Electric Guitars & Basses/Effects The Advanced Electrics Aria Pro II (1987 Japanese catalog).