can anybody help me identify this 12 strings guitar? (aria aa401)

[wdreamsmaycome]

so I finally bought my first ever 12 strings guitar (yay) and I was wondering if anybody knew anything about it: it's an Aria AA-401 according to the label inside, but there is no serial number and the aria website does not say anything about an AA series (which makes me think it's been made pre-1976).

Does anybody know anything about this series? (materials etc.) its previous owner had it tuned at concert pitch and the neck is straight, which seems to speak of fairly good construction.

It does sound quite nice, and I am enjoying it quite a bit strumming, however I'd like to finger pick on it and I guess I have some work ahead of me given my (lousy) results when I first tried it

[MattSkibaIsGOD]

pics?

[wdreamsmaycome]

here are some pics

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2129/2105172898_6b143cbb2a_o.jpg (front)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2278/2105173188_624cb3f49f_o.jpg (back)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2402/2104394649_28839eec0b_o.jpg (head)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2225/2105172992_20333293eb_o.jpg (model #)

[Terry Allan Hall]

My first 12-string was an Aria of the same vintage (early 70's), but it was the cheap 745 w/ the bolt-on neck, total lam. contruction and adjustable bridge...a piece of poo-poo, actually.

Yours has a solid top, laminated "mystery wood" (looks kinda like mutant rosewood?) back and sides...

Seeing as yours has help up for 30+ years, celebrate by getting it a hardshell case and a decent set of mini-Grover gears!

[Samilyn]

Congrats! Welcome to the world of 12-string. Very nice looking git.

Have a look inside and see if there is a serial number stamped on the neck block. Some manufacturers put one there, but I don't know about Aria.

Just keep working on the fingerpicking. I fingerpick more than I strum on my 12-er and it can be done with beautiful results. The sound of the octave strings chiming in with the "regular" strings will seem different to you at first, but once you improve your picking technique, I think you'll really like what you hear.

It does take some practice to learn to pick both strings evenly so the octave string doesn't "twang" and overpower the other one. I use only skin and fingernails, never any finger or thumb picks. I keep the thumbnail of my picking hand cut waaayyy down to avoid "twang-ing" an octave string. That's only personal preference, though. Many players use picks with very nice results.

12-ers also respond nicely to flat picking. If you have it set up with real low action, don't be overly surprised if you get a tiny bit of buzz if you get on it real hard with a flat pick. No, I'm not saying all 12-ers will do it - that's just been my experience because of the way I have mine set up in combination with ultra-light strings.

In Freeman Keller's words to me, "The 12-string is the grand piano of the guitar world." Having played one most of my life, I certainly agree.

Enjoy!!

[C70man]

Here ya go......



http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://daion.client.jp/catalog/08aria_c.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAria%2BAA-401%2B%26hl%3Den%26lr%3Dlang_en%26rlz%3D1T4HPIC_en___US209%26sa%3DX

[C70man]

Here ya go...... http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://daion.client.jp/catalog/08aria_c.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAria%2BAA-401%2B%26hl%3Den%26lr%3Dlang_en%26rlz%3D1T4HPIC_en___US209%26sa%3DX

And check these out while you are at it. Talk about knockoffs!

[Samilyn]

Oh, my. That certainly jogs an old memory of the first time I ever saw one of those 'bird knockoffs. Having never heard of Aria, I thought "what the...?????"

 

Still not bad looking gits, though.

[guitarist21]

"Mahogany color back and sides"?? The marketing language has certainly changed since then.

 

Ellen

[wdreamsmaycome]

thanks for the help (in identifying the guitar and the finger picking advice), it does sound quite nice and no, I couldn't find a serial anywhere even looking inside (there is just another 'made in japan' stamped on the neck block) so I guess it's not possible to pinpoint when it was made (seller said before 1970, but I'm not sure they were the original owner).

The back looks a bit brighter than it does in real life in those pictures (probably the flash) but in any case it does sound quite nice... funny to see it advertised as 'mahogany color' I also wonder what it means to have a 'cello bound fingerboard' (in the higher end 402 model), definitely the marketing language has changed!

BTW, looking carefully at the sound-hole it does seem this is a laminated top, strange the catalogue doesn't say for sure.

[JerseyGuy]

Congrats! Welcome to the world of 12-string. Very nice looking git. Have a look inside and see if there is a serial number stamped on the neck block. Some manufacturers put one there, but I don't know about Aria. Just keep working on the fingerpicking. I fingerpick more than I strum on my 12-er and it can be done with beautiful results. The sound of the octave strings chiming in with the "regular" strings will seem different to you at first, but once you improve your picking technique, I think you'll really like what you hear. It does take some practice to learn to pick both strings evenly so the octave string doesn't "twang" and overpower the other one. I use only skin and fingernails, never any finger or thumb picks. I keep the thumbnail of my picking hand cut waaayyy down to avoid "twang-ing" an octave string. That's only personal preference, though. Many players use picks with very nice results. 12-ers also respond nicely to flat picking. If you have it set up with real low action, don't be overly surprised if you get a tiny bit of buzz if you get on it real hard with a flat pick. No, I'm not saying all 12-ers will do it - that's just been my experience because of the way I have mine set up in combination with ultra-light strings. In Freeman Keller's words to me, "The 12-string is the grand piano of the guitar world." Having played one most of my life, I certainly agree. Enjoy!!

I heartily endorse Samilyn's advice on playing a 12, dead on in every respect. Nothing like a 12 string. When I started playing in college I used to say "playing a G-C-D progression on a 12 string sounds like the NY Philharmonic." Okay, I mighta been exaggerating a little, 60s and all that, but still. You can't do a simple strum or simple arpeggio and have it sound as good. Congratulations and good luck.