Aria Pro II History

The Sound of Revolution: Exploring the Aria Pro II "RS"

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.

True to its name, the RS series was built on the concept of “revolutionizing sound.” While the TS was influenced by B.C. Rich, the RS was strongly inspired by Allen & Emick, considered the premier guitar brand of the time. This influence is clearly evident in the placement of the pickup selector and the shape of the knobs. Alongside the TS, the RS was a model that crystallized Aria’s spirit of exploration: how to elevate the cutting-edge technology of the era into something uniquely their own.

The Innovation of the First-Generation RS: A Guitar with Two Hearts

The initial lineup consisted of two models: the "RS-850" and the "RS-750." While they appeared similar at first glance, their core circuits were entirely different.

  • RS-850 : Equipped with the active "RS-CIRCUIT Type-I" circuit. Featuring a low-pass filter and a 3-position filter switch for each pickup, it enabled versatile and precise sound shaping.
  • RS-750 : Equipped with the passive "RS-CIRCUIT Type-II" circuit. It featured a phase (reverse phase) switch for each pickup, producing a unique sound.

 

 


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 in the RS-850 and generating mix/phase sounds in 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 advanced features throughout, such as being among the first to incorporate the “Super Tunable Bridge” and “Quick Hook Tailpiece”—features later adopted by the PE-R.

 

The Expanding RS Universe and Diversifying Specifications

In 1980, the RS series rapidly expanded its lineup.

The "RS-1000Z," featuring a zebrawood top and equipped with the same passive "RS-CIRCUIT Type-II" circuitry as the RS-750, debuted as a high-end model. Furthermore, the budget-friendly "RS-600" was added, featuring the newly developed "RS-CIRCUIT Type-III," which omitted the phase switch from the Type-II design.

Furthermore, in response to the demands of the times, the "RS-HUMBUCKING" series, equipped with humbucker pickups, was launched. With the addition of the "RS-750D," featuring DiMarzio Dual Sound pickups, and the "RS-650H," equipped with Aria's original MH-1 pickups, the RS universe expanded even further.

Evolution into the New Identity: "RS-X"

In 1981, the RS underwent a major model change.

The headstock was changed to a symmetrical 3:3 shape, similar to the PE-R. The humbucker models incorporated the new "Xtronic-I" circuit, which included Dual Sound, Phase, and Clean/Overdrive boost functions.Furthermore, major updates were made to playability, such as changing the neck scale from 650mm to a 630mm medium scale, and the model name was changed to "RS-X."

A timeless bestseller loved across generations

The evolution of the RS continued unabated. In 1983, the headstock shape returned to a six-tuner 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 a traditional Stratocaster.

The RS series has always been sensitive to the trends of the times, never shying away from bold model changes, and has continuously reinvented itself. It is perhaps this spirit of exploration and flexibility that has been the primary reason for the RS’s enduring success as a long-selling model to this day.

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