The Legend of the Aria Pro II "TS": A Revolutionary Instrument That Defied the Times

At the time, B.C. Rich was a cutting-edge guitar brand, and its innovative approach shocked many Japanese builders. It is said that Aria’s development team, deeply impressed, borrowed a Mockingbird that had arrived at a music store and conducted everything from taking measurements to disassembling and analyzing the circuitry at their Matsumoto factory.

Thus, the MK series was born under the concept of “surpassing the original.” The technological achievements cultivated there—such as the through-neck construction, booster, and diverse switch configurations—were transplanted almost entirely into the TS series. The TS series was proof that Aria had taken the cutting-edge technology it had absorbed and elevated it into its own original model.

Its innovative design was met with enthusiastic support from users, and it became so popular that at one point, factory production could not keep up with demand.

At the height of its popularity, the TS, like the PE, underwent a minor redesign around 1981. The headstock shape was changed to the same symmetrical 3:3 design as the PE-R, and the bridge was updated to a 2-way specification allowing for both under-saddle and tailpiece string routing, among other practical improvements.

However, its glory did not last long. The TS series, which had enjoyed such immense popularity, suddenly vanished after the 1983 catalog, bringing its brief production history to a close.

Although it did not have as many model variations as the PE series, there were distinctive models characteristic of Aria, such as Metallic Blue and Black & Gold, which left a lasting impression on many guitarists.