Re: Aria AM-500??
Here's some stuff from Blue Book Publications; don't know how much weight to give it, though:
Mandolins currently produced in Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, and/or Spain since the mid-1970s. Currently distributed in the U.S. by Hanser Music Group (previously HHI) in Hebron, KY. Previously distributed by Aria USA/NHF of Pennsauken, NJ. The Aria trademark was established in 1956.
Aria is the trademark of the Arai Company of Japan, which began producing guitars in 1956. Prior to 1975, the trademark was either Aria or Aria Diamond. Original designs in the 1960s gave way to a greater emphasis on replicas of American designs in the late 1970s. Ironically, the recognition of these well-produced replicas led to success in later years as the company returned to producing original designs. The Aria trademark has always reflected high production quality, and currently there has been more emphasis on stylish designs (such as the Fullerton guitar series, or in bass designs such as the AVB-SB). Mandolins first appeared in the mid-1970s with an F-5 copy. In 1975, Aria started using the Aria Pro II brand that was primarily used on electric guitars - acoustic guitars and mandolins still used the Aria trademark. By the late 1970s, Aria was producing a full line of mandolins based on the popular Gibson A-style and F-style designs. Early series that were only produced in the mid- to late 1970s, include the PM and FM model lines. By the late 1980s, most production of Aria instruments was moved to Korea. In the 1990s and 2000s, some production has shifted to China as well. By 1994, the only mandolin series was the AM Series. Aria offers a full line of acoustic guitars, electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, banjos, and ukuleles. For more information, visit Aria's website or contact Hanser directly (see Trademark Index).
Aria also produced a model called AM500, but very little information is known about it (solid spruce top, select maple back and sides, last MSR $975 in 1991). A mandolin package that included a mandolin (unnamed model), gig-bag, pitch pipe, strap, instruction book, and picks was available during the late 1990s and early 2000s by Aria as well.
Note: Aria usually releases catalogs and price lists, but the two often don't coincide with one another. Since the marjority of Aria guitars are built overseas and distributed throughout the world, the instruments that make it to the U.S. are very unpredictable. Hanser* releases a catalog that includes all instruments that are supposed to available (this may not be updated for several years), but they'll release a price list that reflects what they have in inventory currently and what they are expected to get. Whenever possible, we use the price list to create model production years, but often times we only have a catalog.
Contact Information:
2395 Arbortech Drive
Hebron, KY 41038
www.ariaguitars.com
859-817-7100 (phone)
859-817-7150 (fax)
800-533-0796 (toll free)
Distributed by Hanser Music Group
Hanser may be a possible source of more specific info on the AM-500.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Bookmarks