Had an ex-GF in college who had the identical guitar, same chip case as in the Goodwin link, label and headstock logo font date it circa 1970 (I had a 12-string dread with the same label/logo, bought new in May '70); unlike the upscale instruments made by Matsumoku (this one's made by Arai) the serial number has no special embedded code or significance in this case. Definitely a low-end piece - lam top, back/sides look like hog veneer over nato or luan, basic tuners; she paid about $60 for hers back then, probably not worth much more than that today. Bottom line: if it plays well and serves your needs, just enjoy it and don't sweat the dollars and cents. From Vintage Guitar: Early Arias don't have serial numbers.

Serial numbers began to be used in the mid 1970s. At least for the Aria guitars made by Matsumoko. The serial number contains the year in the first one or two digits (Y##### or YY###). Thus, a guitar from 1979 might begin with 79### or from 1981 with 1####. I feel silly resurrecting a five year old thread, but if this info above is solid, would it be safe to assume an Aria MIJ acoustic with a serial # beginning with 0 was made in 1980?

Okay, generally speaking, I hate serial number systems that aren't straight-forward. This on I hate. In any case, I gathered some info on various Aria Pro II (Korea) guitars, their serial numbers and their (claimed) year of production. I hate maths, so I'll let you decypher their system.

Thanks for any replies.

'Dating Aria guitars is a mix of fair precision and historical triangulation. The early guitars did not contain serial numbers, so you have to go by the rough historical outlines here. There are no pot codes. In the mid-'70s serial numbers began to be used. At least for Aria guitars made by Matsumoku, the serial number contains the year of manufacture in the first one or two digits (Y##### or YY####).

Thus, a guitar from 1979 might begin with 79####. One from 1981 might begin with 1#####. The scheme becomes less sure after 1987. Some Korean- made guitars use a serial number with year and week indicated in the first four digits (YYWW####).

Thus 9628#### would be from the 28th week of 1996. However, this is not the case on all guitars, and some have serial numbers which are not date-coded.' ********** 'Look at it this way: think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of 'em are stupider than that.' - George Carlin 'It shouldn't be expected that people are necessarily doing what they appear to be doing on records.'

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