This particular Aria Pro II TA guitar (I'm not quite sure of the exact designation - the binding and gold hardware would imply that it isn't the basic bolt-on neck TA-40 model; it's possibly a TA-60) is finished in a very dated 1980s "crackleburst". I'd quite forgotten about finishes like this. Didn't Washburn produce a similar "magma" finish? Whatever, it really is quite awful and doesn't do the guitar any favours.
This guitar is currently listed on eBay UK with bidding currently at £51. I'd expect a guitar like this to sell for up to £200. I personally wouldn't want to spend more for a Korean-made TA, but a Japanese example would be worth forking out more for.
G L Wilson
EDIT: Sold for £186.89 which seems fair enough but is in the region of the upper limits of what you'd want to spend on a Korean-made Aria TA.
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Best version of one of the worst stock finishes ever. It looks like an old bit of furniture that had white paint over the varnish. Now the lime green, lemon yellow or glowing orange and black crackle is shameful. Someone made a mistake in the finishing process and some marketing person’s kid said it was cool. I had to deal with bicycles of that finish during that era. Don’t miss that day at all.
ReplyDeleteThe finish is totally at odds with the style of guitar. I think you may be right about the marketing person's kid.
ReplyDeleteDanelectro annd Axl still do the crackle finish.
ReplyDeleteGot one in red crackleburst, realy nice and good sounding guitar! The looks??....well, you will get lots of attention when you are on stage! ;-))
ReplyDeleteI played a Ta-30(japanese) for years and ,yes, they are superb. Been trying to find a new one ever since my original had a nasty accident.
ReplyDeleteKeep checking eBay - they come up for sale every now and again.
DeleteI have that exact same guitar that I bought at a music store in Frankfurt Germany, 1988. Great components and still plays and sounds fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI have ARIA PRO II Titan Artist TA-50-VS.. for sale :)
ReplyDeleteI still have an Urchin. I can find images of the U60 and the over-the-top U100 but none of the U80 so mine might even be rare. $350 at a pawn shop about 25 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI read that the Japanese copies had 7 digit serial, the Korean, 8.... Any thoughts.. Mine has 7..!! Am I simply clutching at straws to instantly improve my copy! :)
ReplyDeleteI have a TA60 for sale 81" , its almost never Being played on 0032 495900198
ReplyDelete