Aria Pro II LS-800VD Leopard Model 1980 - Brown Sunburst (Tobacco Burst) - Les Paul Standard - Flame Top - Made In Japan - MIJ

1980 (1981 Catalog) Aria Pro II LS-800VD Leopard Model - Les Paul Standard - In Brown Sunburst (looks like Tobacco Burst) finish - 1 Piece Mahogany Neck - Made in the famous Matsumoku factory in Japan - MIJ.

• Serial Number: 006081 (June 1980)
• Body: Flamed Maple veneer on a maple top, with a pancake mahogany back
• Neck: 1 piece mahogany, with glued on wings, and a heel cap
• Fretboard: Rosewood - very dark beautiful grain on this one
• Fretboard Radius: About 10"
• Fret Edge Binding: Yes
• Inlays: Real mother of pearl trapezoid inlays
• Frets: 22 x Medium Jumbo (1.1mm tall x 2.7mm wide)
• Nut Width: 43.2mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 44.5mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 52.0mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 20.1mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 23.7mm
• Nut: Bone
• Tuners: Aria Pro II branded double-ring Kluson style tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Nickel Japanese made ABR-1 style bridge and tailpiece
• Pickups: Non original Gotoh black open humbuckers
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 11.44K ohm
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 11.62K ohm
• Pots: Original - 03 (March 1980) Pot Code Dates
• Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 10.56lbs
• Non Original Parts: Gotoh humbuckers, mew Allparts nickel pickguard bracket, vintage brass jack plate
• Case: Original brown leather gig bag
• Truss Rod: Works as expected with room in both directions

The LS-800VD didn't show up in any known 1980 catalog, only in the 1981 catalog, but every LS-800VD I have ever seen was made in 1980 based on the serial number. So this was a 1981 catalog model, that was made in 1980 - although it's possible there's another 1980 Aria catalog out there, since I have seen screenshots of this model outside of the 1981 catalog.

1981 is the last year for the Aria LS and LC (Les Paul) models.

The "V" in the model stands for "vintage" spec - this was the first time Aria was trying to make a vintage style Les Paul (rather than their other models which were like modern Norlin era spec Les Paul's of the time). They used nickel hardware instead of chrome, a true ABR style bridge and tailpiece, a different more accurate top carve, different binding. They also used real mother of pearl inlays, my personal favourite, which are always nice to look at and play on.

The "D" stood for DiMarzio - since this model originally came with cream DiMarzio DP103 PAF's.

The 1981 catalog says that the LS-800VD has a 3 piece maple neck. However, this guitar has a 1 piece mahogany neck. To my knowledge, other than the incredibly rare 1981 LS-1500 and LS-1800 models, this is the only other Aria LS that came with a 1 piece mahogany neck. Previous years and other models used 3 piece maple or mahogany necks, even for the LS-900 or LS-1000 models.

I have seen this model in 4 variations now: 1 piece mahogany neck or 3 piece maple neck. And each of those either came with DiMarzio uncovered PAF's or Aria's covered MMK61 pickups. The mahogany neck variants are much more rare in my experience. I have seen all of these different variants run in parallel so they were made during the same time.

Other than the neck and the pickups, the 4 variants appear to be very similar (I've had both) - and all are excellent for sure.

This one arrived with a pair of mismatched non original pickups, so I replaced them with a set of Japanese made Gotoh humbuckers I had that sound great - they are hot, but not too hot. It also had an incorrect pickguard bracket, so I replaced that with a proper nickel bracket - although the screws for the pickguard and bracket are all original. It also arrived with a brass jack plate installed - which can be a nice upgrade from the original plastic jack plates that often crack.

Other than those items, everything else appears to be original, and the guitar is in good players grade condition. This one has had a rock'n'roll life, and there are scratches, scuffs, swirling, dings, dents, chips, all over this guitar - like everywhere - but nothing that affects the playability or sound of the guitar, and the overall patina is consistent across the guitar - it's got real deal mojo.

Many of the Aria's guitars before 1980 were hollow or chambered style bodies - but by 1980, they were all solid maple tops on Mahogany backs.

This one has a really nice 2-piece centre-seemed flamed maple veneer on top of a maple cap which is on a pancake mahogany body.

The neck has comfortable and typical Aria "D" shaped carve, and it starts out is relatively thin for a Les Paul at 20.1mm at the 1st fret and making it's way up to 23.7mm at the 12th fret.

The 22 medium jumbo have been played a lot, and there is lots of play wear across the fretboard, mainly on the plain strings, but overall there lots of life left in these original frets, and the guitar plays well up and down the entire fretboard.

All the guitars I sell, I test, thoroughly clean, and setup 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 the original brown leather (pleather) gig bag, that is in used condition, and has sticker residue on the back.

Overall, this is rare and classic looking, sounding, and playing guitar you'll love - it plays well, looks great, is built really well, and sound awesome.

If you're looking for a Japanese Les Paul, don't miss this one.

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

Overall it's in good player grade shape.

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

The pickups, pickguard bracket, and jack plate are not original.

There is a top coat finish crack on the back of the headstock - that only runs a couple inches. It is only in the finish and not the wood, the neck is solid.

Over the entire guitar, including the top back and sides of the body, back of the neck, and front, top and back of the headstock, there are multiple dings, dents, chips, scratches, scuffs, and swirling - with most of it on the sides and back of the body, and the top edge of the headstock.

Under the jack plate, there is a recess in the jack hole - it's mostly hidden when the jack plate is installed.

There are some indents into the back of the neck.

The nickel hardware, bridge, tailpiece, tuners, are in relatively good shape, with varying degrees of corrosion, tarnish, pitting and/or rust. Everything works as expected.

All of the front cream front plastics, and back black plastics have scratches and swirling on them.

Except for the neck volume knobs, all the other knobs have cracks in them - although they work properly without any issue.

All of the Aria Pro II nickel plated Japanese made Kluson style tuners are all straight and work properly.

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

There is fret wear across the fretboard, mainly on the plain strings, but overall there's lots of life left in the 22 medium jumbo frets, and the guitar plays well up and down the entire fretboard.

The truss rod works as expected with room in both directions.

There are no signs of a heel or headstock repairs.

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!