Aria Pro II History

In 1979, Aria Pro II—which had shaken up the market with its versatile “TS” model—immediately followed up with another ambitious creation: the “RS (Revolution Sound)” series.

The most distinctive feature common to both models is the “Center Slave Pickup” positioned in the center, which appears to be a third single-coil pickup. This is a special pickup that does not directly output sound; it served entirely different roles—providing hum cancellation on the RS-850 and generating mix/phase sounds on the RS-750.

In terms of design, they featured an asymmetrical six-string headstock similar to the TS, along with a double-cutaway body reminiscent of a Stratocaster. Furthermore, they showcased cutting-edge innovation throughout, including the early adoption of the “Super Tunable Bridge” and “Quick Hook Tailpiece”—features later incorporated into the PE-R.

The evolution of the RS continued unabated. In 1983, the headstock shape returned to a six-string design, but with a sharper, more refined look than the early models—a design that has been carried forward to the current RS and MA series. At the same time, the lineup expanded to include the “RS Deluxe-V” and “RS SPECIAL-V,” which featured specifications closer to the traditional Stratocaster.

The RS series has always been sensitive to the trends of the times, never shying away from bold model changes, and has continued to reinvent itself. It is perhaps this spirit of exploration and flexibility that is the primary reason the RS has become the long-selling model it remains today.

The decision to modify the bridge and controls to specifications closer to Gibson’s Les Paul is thought to have been heavily influenced by the historical context of the time—specifically, the heyday of domestic Les Paul copy models and the era when Gibson itself began rolling out its vintage reissues in earnest.

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