One of the earliest Aria thinline electrics was the model 781 introduced in 1968, it was an ES-335 style thinline hollow bodied electric. The early 1970s saw the expansion of the thinline range as Aria introduced various hollow bodied electric guitars and basses typically made by Matsumoku. These models had a four digit model number starting with 5 - models ending with a "T" had a Bigsby style tremolo tailpiece. By 1977 only the 5502 thinline guitar and 5520 bass were featured in the Aria catalog. In 1976/1977 Aria Pro-II branded thinlines were introduced - the models were prefaced with "ES" and included the ES-700, ES-800 and later the ES-500.
Aria 5002T (Barney Kessel)The Aria 5002T was a double Florentine cutaway thinline hollow bodied electric - with a design based on the Gibson Barney Kessel signature model. Apart from the cutaways it was very similar to the Aria 5102T model. The 5002T had a bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, tune-o-matic style rocker bridge (with Teflon covered rollers) and vibrato tail-piece (with wood-insert). | |
Aria 5102GThe Aria 5102G was a thinline ES-335 style hollow bodied electric. Available in sunburst or cherry it was similar to the 5102T - but had a trapeze tailpiece, gold hardware and covered humbucking pickups. It also had a bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, tune-o-matic style style bridge. It had a maple laminate body (almost hollow except for a 3/4" square solid block underneath the bridge), | |
Aria 5102TIntroduced around 1970, the Aria 5102T was a thinline ES-335 style hollow bodied electric. Available in sunburst, cherry or green finish (but green finish was only available in 1970-1971). It had a bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, tune-o-matic style rocker bridge (with Teflon covered rollers). vibrato tail-piece (with wood-insert). It had a maple laminate body (almost hollow except for a 3/4" square solid block underneath the bridge), The 1971 5102T was advertised with exposed coil two humbuckers - in 1974 the pickups appear to be two P-90 style units. | |
Aria 5112The Aria 5112 was the 12 string version of the ES-335 style Aria 5102T. This was the only 12-string in the Aria thinline range at the time. It also had different fingerboard inlays to the other thinline 6-strings, with offset dot position markers. | |
Aria 5202 (Trini Lopez)The Aria 5202 had a design based on the Gibson Trini Lopez signature model. It was similar to the 5102T model except it had diamond shaped soundholes, 6-in-a-row headstock and a trapeze tailpiece. Available in sumburst or cherry finish, it had a bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with block inlays and tune-o-matic style rocker bridge (with Teflon covered rollers). | |
Aria 5502Introduced around 1970 the Aria 5502T was a top-quality thinline ES-335 style hollow bodied electric. Available in red finish. It had an unusual bolt-on adjustable neck joint, with two screws and a small neck plate - from the look of it seems likely that there is a mortice and tenon joint and these screws lock it in place. It had a 24.75 inches scale length, ebony fingerboard, gold plated hardware, roller-bridge with trapeze tail-piece | |
Aria 718Introduced around 1969, the Aria 718 was a thinline ES-335 style hollow bodied electric. This model was possibly identical to and was replaced by the Aria 5102T that appeared in 1970. |
Specifications:
Model | Image | Dimensions | Finish colors | Finish effects | Made in | Binding | Number of strings | Scale length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aria 5002T (Barney Kessel) 1970 to 1973 | 41.5 × 15.75 × 2 in | Three tone sunburst, red finish | sunburst finish | Japan | body binding, neck binding | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | |
Aria 5102G 1970 to 1975 | 41.5 × 15.75 × 2 in | Three tone sunburst, red finish | sunburst finish | Japan | body binding, neck binding | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | |
Aria 5102T 1970 to 1975 | 41.5 × 15.75 × 2 in | Three tone sunburst, green finish, red finish | sunburst finish | Japan | body binding, neck binding | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | |
Aria 5112 1970 to 1974 | 41.5 × 15.75 × 2 in | Three tone sunburst, red finish | sunburst finish | Japan | body binding, neck binding | 12 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | |
Aria 5202 (Trini Lopez) 1970 to 1973 | 41.5 × 15.75 × 2 in | Three tone sunburst, red finish | sunburst finish | Japan | body binding, neck binding | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | |
Aria 5502 1970 to 1975 | 41.5 × 15.75 × 1.75 in | red finish | - | Japan | body binding, neck binding | 6 strings | 24.75 inches scale-length | |
Aria 718 1969 to 1970 | 41.5 × 15.75 × 2 in | Three tone sunburst | sunburst finish | Japan | body binding, neck binding | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length |
Model | Controls material | Controls shape | Number of control knobs | Pickup selector controls | Tone controls | Volume controls |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aria 5002T (Barney Kessel) 1970 to 1973 | black controls | top hat controls | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Aria 5102G 1970 to 1975 | black controls | top hat controls | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Aria 5102T 1970 to 1975 | black controls | top hat controls | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Aria 5112 1970 to 1974 | black controls | top hat controls | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Aria 5202 (Trini Lopez) 1970 to 1973 | black controls | top hat controls | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Aria 5502 1970 to 1975 | black controls | top hat controls | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Aria 718 1969 to 1970 | black controls | top hat controls | 4 control knobs | 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Model | Pickups configuration |
---|---|
Aria 5002T (Barney Kessel) 1970 to 1973 | 2 humbucker pickups |
Aria 5102G 1970 to 1975 | 2 humbucker pickups |
Aria 5102T 1970 to 1975 | 2 humbucker pickups, 2 soapbar pickups |
Aria 5112 1970 to 1974 | 2 humbucker pickups |
Aria 5202 (Trini Lopez) 1970 to 1973 | 2 humbucker pickups |
Aria 5502 1970 to 1975 | 2 humbucker pickups |
Aria 718 1969 to 1970 | 2 humbucker pickups |
Model | Bridge | Hardware color | Tailpiece |
---|---|---|---|
Aria 5002T (Barney Kessel) 1970 to 1973 | tune-o-matic bridge | chrome hardware | Vibrato tailpiece |
Aria 5102G 1970 to 1975 | tune-o-matic bridge | gold hardware | trapeze tailpiece |
Aria 5102T 1970 to 1975 | tune-o-matic bridge | chrome hardware | Vibrato tailpiece |
Aria 5112 1970 to 1974 | tune-o-matic bridge | chrome hardware | trapeze tailpiece |
Aria 5202 (Trini Lopez) 1970 to 1973 | tune-o-matic bridge | chrome hardware | trapeze tailpiece |
Aria 5502 1970 to 1975 | tune-o-matic bridge | gold-plated hardware | trapeze tailpiece |
Aria 718 1969 to 1970 | tune-o-matic bridge | chrome hardware | Vibrato tailpiece |
Model | Fingerboard inlay material | Fingerboard material | Fingerboard position markers |
---|---|---|---|
Aria 5002T (Barney Kessel) 1970 to 1973 | pearloid fingerboard inlays | rosewood fingerboard | block fingerboard position markers |
Aria 5102G 1970 to 1975 | pearloid fingerboard inlays | rosewood fingerboard | block fingerboard position markers |
Aria 5102T 1970 to 1975 | pearloid fingerboard inlays | rosewood fingerboard | block fingerboard position markers |
Aria 5112 1970 to 1974 | pearloid fingerboard inlays | rosewood fingerboard | offset dot fingerboard position markers |
Aria 5202 (Trini Lopez) 1970 to 1973 | pearloid fingerboard inlays | rosewood fingerboard | block fingerboard position markers |
Aria 5502 1970 to 1975 | pearloid fingerboard inlays | ebony fingerboard | block fingerboard position markers |
Aria 718 1969 to 1970 | pearloid fingerboard inlays | rosewood fingerboard | block fingerboard position markers |
Model | Hollow body | Pickguard material | Soundhole | Body style |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aria 5002T (Barney Kessel) 1970 to 1973 | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes | - |
Aria 5102G 1970 to 1975 | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes | ES-335 style |
Aria 5102T 1970 to 1975 | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes | ES-335 style |
Aria 5112 1970 to 1974 | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes | ES-335 style |
Aria 5202 (Trini Lopez) 1970 to 1973 | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes, diamond shaped soundhole | ES-335 style |
Aria 5502 1970 to 1975 | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes | ES-335 style |
Aria 718 1969 to 1970 | hollow body | black pickguard | 2 f-holes | ES-335 style |
Model | Neck joint | Neck material | Number of frets | Tuner layout | Neck width |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aria 5002T (Barney Kessel) 1970 to 1973 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 21 fret | three-each-side | - |
Aria 5102G 1970 to 1975 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 21 fret | three-each-side | - |
Aria 5102T 1970 to 1975 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 21 fret | three-each-side | 1.69 inches wide at nut |
Aria 5112 1970 to 1974 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 21 fret | six-per-side tuners | - |
Aria 5202 (Trini Lopez) 1970 to 1973 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 21 fret | six-in-a-row tuners | - |
Aria 5502 1970 to 1975 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 21 fret | three-each-side | - |
Aria 718 1969 to 1970 | bolt on neck | maple neck | 21 fret | three-each-side | - |