Used 1978 Aria Pro II LS-600 Model - Les Paul Standard - In rare and beautiful gloss Antique Red finish - Made in the famous Matsumoku factory in Japan - MIJ.

• Serial Number: None
• Body: Beautiful 2 piece centre seam solid maple top on a pancake mahogany body
• Neck: 3 piece mahogany
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: About 12"
• Fret Edge Binding: No
• Inlays: Acrylic silver trapezoid inlays
• Frets: 22 x Medium Jumbo (1.0mm tall x 27mm wide)
• Nut Width: 43.1mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 43.8mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 51.5mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 20.8mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 25.3mm
• Nut: Plastic or Corian
• Tuners: Original chrome torque adjustable tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original Japanese made chrome L.S. bridge & LP-S tailpiece
• Pickups: Original Aria Pro II EXTRA-I humbuckers with double cream bobbins
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 15.24K ohm
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 15.43K ohm
• Pots: Original 500K pots (no date codes)
• Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 9.52lbs
• Non Original Parts: Jack plate - missing pickguard & pickguard bracket
• Case: New quality made Profile G05TX gig bag
• Truss Rod: Works as expected - it's tight but there is room in both directions

This is a 1978 Aria Pro II LS-600 in rarely seen, and super beautiful, gloss Antique Red (AR) finish. This was a new model in 1978, and only appeared in the 1978 and 1979 Catalogs. This finish was only available on this LS-600 model, along with the LC-600 and LC-700 models.

Although there is no serial number on this guitar (which is normal for 1978), by 1979, all models had serial numbers - so this would make is a 1978 model - likely made earlier in the year.

In 1977 Aria started making their solid top Les Paul models (Standard and Custom). 1977 was a big year for Aria, their lineup grew significantly, and in my opinion, this is when they started to make some of their best guitars (some of the best I've owned).

This LS-600 features a solid 2 piece maple top, on a pancake mahogany body, with a 3 piece mahogany neck (although the catalog calls for a maple neck - this one is mahogany) with long Matsumoku neck tenon, rosewood fingerboard, and silver acrylic trapezoid inlays, 3 screw truss rod cover, single-ply binding all around, and chrome hardware.

This guitar arrived to me with the pickguard missing, and the jack plate was cracked, so I replaced the jack plate with a new one.

Other than the jack plate, and a vintage style locking strap button on the top strap button (a common modification made to vintage Japanese guitars), everything else appears original on this guitar, including the pickups, bridge, tailpiece, pots, caps, knob pointers, pickup rings, lower strap button, switch, poker chip, chrome torque adjustable tuners, nut, medium jumbo frets, inlays, truss rod cover, jack, control & switch covers.

The original Aria Extra-I pickups are high output humbuckers. They are built using 3 thick ceramic magnets - very similar to a Gibson Dirty Finger from this era. They are the same pickups that Aria used in their high end Mockingbird MK-1300 and MK-1500 models (except those had 4 wire leads and were called Extra-III). These pickups can scream, but can also clean up if you roll down the volume. I really like these pickups, and I find that they can really keep up with fast picking and legato runs and all the notes are clear, and can handle chugging well.

This guitar is in good player's grade condition, and has lots of typical dings, dents, chips, and scratches on it, but nothing major.

Like most Aria Les Paul's from this era, the neck starts out relatively thin at 20.8mm at the 1st fret, but gets much thicker by the 12th fret making its way to 25.3mm at the 12th fret, and it has a comfortable & typical Aria D carve to it, and a really nice dark brown rosewood fretboard.

The 22 medium frets have been played, and there's play wear across the neck, mostly on the plain strings on frets 1-12, but there's lots of life left in them, and the guitar plays well up and down the neck.

Like all the guitars I sell, I test, thoroughly clean, and setup my guitars completely before I list them. Anything that is missing, damaged, or non original is mentioned in the listing.

I setup all my Gibson style guitars to Gibson factory specs - including neck relief, action, pickup height, intonation, and tailpiece height. So this guitar will be ready to play out of the box (after you tune it up - I ship my guitars with the strings loosened).

Comes with a new quality made Profile G05TX gig bag.

Overall, this is rare and beautiful guitar that looks and sound great.

If you're a player looking to rock out on a vintage MIJ Les Paul Standard, you won't want to miss this one.

CONDITION ------------

Overall it's in good condition.

I've tried to capture all of the flaws in the photos.

The jack plate and upper strap button are not original.

The pickguard, pickguard bracket and mounting screws are missing.

There are a multiple dings, dents, scratches, chips, staining and swirling across the entire guitar, but nothing major given the age of the guitar.

The chrome hardware, bridge, tailpiece, tuners, and screws, and pickguard bracket, have varying degrees of corrosion, pitting, tarnish and slight rust on them, but most of them they do still have shine to them.

The cream & black plastics and rear black plastics have typical scratches, pick marks, and light staining on them.

Around the strap buttons there's strap marks/swirling.

A black light inspection shows no signs of a headstock, heel or any other repairs.

The frets have been played, and there's fret wear mainly on the plain strings from frets 1-12, but overall there's lots of life left in the frets.

The original chrome torque adjustable tuners all work as expected.

The bridge screws and saddles all work fine, and the intonation has been set.

SHIPPING ------------  

Every shipment is expertly packed with great care and includes tracking, signature required on delivery, and full insurance coverage for both the purchase price and shipping.

Every guitar is fully wrapped in bubble wrap, in a cardboard box meant for guitars, with proper support inside. To reduce environmental impact, the packing material (paper, newsprint, gift wrap, bubble wrap, air packets, foam, carboard boxes and/or tube supports, etc...) used may be recycled.

Package dimensions are 118cm x 47cm x 17cm

Note: if you want an exact shipping quote, just send me a note with your postal/zip code, and I'll get a proper quote for your address. 

Note: If you're buying from outside of Canada, you as the Buyer may be required to pay import duties, tariffs, taxes and/or VAT upon delivery, depending on your location and the purchase price.

QUESTIONS ------------

Any questions? Want more photos or detailed shots? Measurements? Shoot me a message, and I'll be happy to answer them, or send more pics, or take any measurements you want/need.

Thanks for looking!