Vintage 1980 Aria Pro II PE-175 “Herb Ellis” – Early Matsumoku Build with Gibson Hardshell Case

Up for sale is a stunning, highly collectable 1980 Aria Pro II PE-175 Herb Ellis signature model. Built in February 1980 at the legendary Matsumoku factory in Japan, this guitar is from the highly desirable early production era and because it was crafted in the very opening weeks of 1980, it retains the identical wood choice, electronics, and construction methods of the 1979 catalog run of the lawsuit headstock guitars.

For Jazz guitarists and vintage collectors alike, these Matsumoku-era PE-175s are widely considered the absolute best alternative to a vintage Gibson ES-175, offering incredible Japanese craftsmanship at a fraction of the cost.

Key Features & Specifications

·Year/Origin: February 1980, serial no. 002032, Matsumoku Factory, Japan (MIJ)

·Body/Weight: Laminated Maple top, back, and sides. Full hollowbody jazz-box construction with a deeply mortised set-neck, 24-3/4” scale. 7lbs. 5oz.

·Neck: Mahogany, “C” shape, 1-11/16” nut, 1st fret .81”, 9th fret 1.00”.

·Fretboard: Premium dark Ebony with split parallelogram mother-of-pearl inlays, 20 fret, 9.5” radius.

·Headstock: Post-lawsuit shape with lawsuit era cursive script logo, and improved Japanese engineering three-screw triangle cover preventing buzzing against the headstock under heavy string vibration, a common issue on older jazz boxes.

·Pickups: Original Alnico II high-output AL-7s wound at the legendary Maxon (Nisshin Onpa) factory during the absolute golden age of Japanese guitar building. Alnico II is highly prize because it produces a smooth, warm vintage tone with excellent note separation and sweetness in the high end–ideal for traditional jazz styles. Maxon’s proprietary winding techniques during the late ‘70s an early ‘80s are widely considered on par with Gibson’s vintage PAF formulas.

·Hardware: Distinctive engraved “Pro II” gold trapeze tailpiece.

Condition & Case Details

This instrument is in Excellent condition and has been preserved with the utmost care.

·Playability: The neck is perfectly straight, the truss rod works flawlessly, and the frets show no sign of wear.

·Cosmetics: Entirely free from blemishes, breaks, or repairs. The body binding was professionally replaced about 12 years ago, a common issue from this era of Japan built guitars. A light vintage patina on the gold hardware fully consistent with a well–loved 45+ year-old instrument.

·Case Upgrade: While the original hardshell case is not included, the guitar will ship securely housed in a more recent, premium, Gibson acoustic hardshell case, offering exceptional safety and structural protection.