Aria introduced a range of ES-335 style hollow bodied electric guitars and basses in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These were made by Matsumoku in Japan - some of these Aria intstruments are identical to other brandnames also made by Matsumoku - for example early 1970s Epiphone ES-335 copies.
Aria 5020The Aria 5020 was the bass version of Aria's 5002 (Barney Kessel) model. It had similar specifications and hardware to the 5120T bass (except for its Florentine cutaways): twin pickups with dual controls, deluxe heavily chrome-plated machine heads. Sunburst or red finish on the body with a blonde finished adjustable maple neck. Rosewood fingerboard with offset pearloid dot position markers. Chrome plated adjustable bridge wtih a custom desgined spring type mute. Trapeze trail-piece with wooden insert. Source: Aria 1971 catalog | |
Aria 5120The Aria 5120 was a hollow bodied bass made by Matsumoku from 1970 to the mid 1970s. It had twin pickups with dual controls, deluxe heavily chrome-plated machine heads. Sunburst finish on the front and back with an adjustable maple neck. Rosewood fingerboard with offset pearloid dot position markers. Chrome plated adjustable bridge wtih a custom desgined spring type mute. Trapeze trail-piece with wooden insert. This model was identical to the Epiphone 5120 bass - both were made in the same Matsumoku factory. | |
Aria 5520The Aria 5520 was the hollow bodied bass version of the ES-335 style Aria 5502 guitar, made by Matsumoku from 1970 to the mid 1970s. It had twin pickups with dual controls, deluxe heavily chrome-plated machine heads. Red finish on the maple front and back with an adjustable maple neck. Rosewood fingerboard with offset pearloid dot position markers. Chrome plated adjustable combination bridge & tailpiece. | |
Aria 783The Aria 783 was a hollow bodied bass made by Matsumoku in the late 1960s. The 783 had a trapeze trail-piece with wooden insert and a bridge with mute option. In 1971 this bass was renamed/replaced by the identical 5120 model. Aria described the ES-335 shaped 783 bass as follows in their 1969 catalog: |
Specifications:
Model | Image | Dimensions | Finish colors | Finish effects | Made in | Number of strings | Scale length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aria 5020 1970 to 1973 | 45.125 × 15.75 × 2 in | red finish | sunburst finish | Japan | 4 strings | 30.5 inches scale-length | |
Aria 5120 1970 to 1975 | 45.125 × 15.75 × 2 in | - | sunburst finish | Japan | 4 strings | 30.5 inches scale-length | |
Aria 5520 1970 to 1974 | 45.125 × 15.75 × 2 in | red finish | - | Japan | 4 strings | 30.5 inches scale-length | |
Aria 783 1969 to 1970 | - | - | sunburst finish | Japan | 4 strings | 30.5 inches scale-length |
Model | Controls material | Number of control knobs | Pickup selector controls | Tone controls | Volume controls |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aria 5020 1970 to 1973 | black controls | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Aria 5120 1970 to 1975 | black controls | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Aria 5520 1970 to 1974 | black controls | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Aria 783 1969 to 1970 | black controls | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Model | Pickups configuration |
---|---|
Aria 5020 1970 to 1973 | 2 double coil pickups |
Aria 5120 1970 to 1975 | 2 double coil pickups |
Aria 5520 1970 to 1974 | 2 pickups |
Aria 783 1969 to 1970 | 2 double coil pickups |
Model | Body style | Hollow body | Pickguard material | Soundhole |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aria 5020 1970 to 1973 | ES-335 style | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes |
Aria 5120 1970 to 1975 | ES-335 style | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes |
Aria 5520 1970 to 1974 | ES-335 style | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes |
Aria 783 1969 to 1970 | ES-335 style | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes |
Model | Fingerboard material | Fingerboard position markers |
---|---|---|
Aria 5020 1970 to 1973 | rosewood fingerboard | offset dot fingerboard position markers |
Aria 5120 1970 to 1975 | rosewood fingerboard | offset dot fingerboard position markers |
Aria 5520 1970 to 1974 | rosewood fingerboard | offset dot fingerboard position markers |
Aria 783 1969 to 1970 | rosewood fingerboard | offset dot fingerboard position markers |