User Reviews : Aria PE-R80

1. Aria PE-R80 - 1 year ago - Whitehead (England)
Purchase year : 1984        Price paid : 380 GBP

In 1984ish, I had an early series PE R80 in Japan Brown. I had a moment of madness sometime in 1989, and sold it to a shop in Edinburgh, Scotland. I need another one because they are perhaps one of the best, Les Paul inspired guitars this side of a Paul Reed Smith Single Cut. I already own the aforementioned PRS and Gibson LPs, but I can honestly say that the PER 80 is right up there with them both. It had the advantage of a through neck design, (The slightly cheaper PE R 60 had a set neck)and as such access to the upper frets was superb. The fingerboard was a delight, with unusual inlays (for the 80s). Add to this Dimarzios, the option to coil tap, and or put them out of phase (I rarely did because they sounded great untapped), and you had (have) a guitar to saviour...why the hell did I get rid of it?!!!!
If you can find one, you are doing well. If you find one, but don't like it, please tell me!
Cheers
Rick Whitehead