Aria Guitars

History of Aria Guitars

Shiro Arai founded Arai and Company in 1953 as an importer of classical guitars. In 1960, Arai contracted Guyatone to manufacture guitars. At the time, Guyatone was one of Japan's leading musical instrument manufacturers. However, Guyatone could not meet Arai's production requirements, and in 1964, Arai and Company contracted musical instrument manufacturing with Matsumoku.

The relationship between the two companies was both amicable and symbiotic. Aria focused on sales in both domestic and export markets and provided design development. Matsumoku devoted its energies on engineering and building guitars and other stringed instruments. Throughout its 22 year business relationship, Aria remained Matsumoku’s principal client. Matsumoku often preferred using Aria as its business agent, and many of Matsumoku's contracts were written by Aria with Matsumoku stated or implied as sub-contracted manufacturer.

Design engineer Nobuaki Hayashi became part of Matsumoku's engineering team beginning in the mid 1970s. Hayashi's pseudonym, "H. Noble," appeared on many of the instruments he designed. He is best known as the designer of the Aria Pro II, SB-1000 bass.

Arai and Company guitars were briefly labeled Arai, and then switched to the familiar Aria around 1966. Aria Diamond was a name chosen for its early export guitars, and from 1975 onward, all guitars were labeled Aria Pro II. Matsumoku built all Aria guitars, banjos, and mandolins from 1964 through 1986.