Last Updated on April 19, 2025 by Chris
Table of Contents
Does Aria Make Left-Handed Guitars?
Absolutely. Aria offers a selection of left-handed models designed to cater to southpaw players.
Read on to find out more about the company, or go to the left handed Aria guitars here.
Please note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, if you decide to make a purchase when you click through I may get a small commission. If you do buy something, then I’d like to say “thank you so much”! It really does help me keep this website going.
Who Are Aria Guitars?
Aria Guitars began as Arai & Co. Inc. and was founded in Nagoya, Japan, in 1956 by Shiro Arai. He initially imported classical guitar strings and Jose Ramirez guitars from Madrid, Spain.
When rock ‘n’ roll became big in the fifties, Arai began importing electric and steel-string guitars from abroad, and by 1960, they started producing their own acoustic and hollow-body guitars.
In 1963, the company introduced its own electric models under the Aria brand name, which is an anagram of Arai. The success of these guitars led to them being exported to other countries, including the USA.
The company continued to grow throughout the 1970s, and in 1975 introduced the Aria Pro II brand, dedicated to electric guitar production.
The brand was soon seen in the hands of well-known guitarists such as Andy Summers (The Police) and Neal Schon (Journey). Later bassists Cliff Burton (Metallica), Michael Anthony (Van Halen), and Billy Gould (Faith No More) were all seen with Aria Pro II instruments, as well as guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen (Alcatrazz) and George Lynch (Dokken).
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo often plays an Aria SB bass when performing Cliff Burton-era songs.
Koby Dhima of Aussie hard rockers Mixed Up Everything plays lefty Aria basses.
Over the years, the brand has built a reputation for its craftsmanship and innovative approach to guitar manufacturing, and over six decades has become a respected name in the industry, known for producing instruments of high quality and value.
What Do I Think of Aria Guitars?
I must admit, before researching this post, I didn’t know a great deal about Aria guitars, but I do remember seeing various magazine ads for Aria Pro II guitars back in the nineties. The Aria Pro II logo stuck in my mind ever since then.
I really like that there’s quite a big range of different models suitable for various playing styles, and they aren’t all just Strat or Les Paul-inspired guitars (although some of them are).
Aria guitars are very reasonably priced and make for an attractive purchase if you’re a beginner, striking a commendable balance between quality and affordability, making them suitable for both beginners and seasoned players.
While they may not have the same widespread recognition as some other brands, Aria’s dedication to quality and value is evident.
Pros and Cons of Buying an Aria Guitar
If you’re thinking of getting an Aria guitar, here are a few things you may want to consider:
Pros:
- Quality Craftsmanship: Built with precision, ensuring great durability and reliability for the money.
- Affordability: Very competitively priced, which makes them accessible to a wide range of musicians.
- Variety: A diverse selection of models caters to different musical genres and preferences.
Cons:
- Limited Availability: Some models may be harder to find, especially in certain regions.
- Brand Recognition: While respected, Aria may not have the same widespread recognition as other brands.
Related reading:
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Left Handed Harley Benton Bass Guitars
Left Handed Michael Kelly Guitars
Left Handed Revelation Guitars and Basses
Left Handed Sire Guitars
Left Handed Sire Bass Guitars
Left Handed Vintage Guitars & Basses
Different Types of Aria Guitars
Aria offers a broad spectrum of guitars, including:
- Electric Guitars: Models like the STG Series and PE Series are popular for their versatility and tone.
- Acoustic Guitars: Instruments such as the 500 series are designed for rich, resonant sound.
- Classical Guitars: Traditional designs suitable for classical and flamenco.
- Bass Guitars: Including the STB and 313 series, there’s a different model to suit many different styles.
Which ones are available to us lefties? Have a look below…
Left-Handed Aria Guitars
Please note: Where lefty guitar or bass images haven’t been provided on the official website, I’ve flipped the right handed image to show what the left handed version might look like.
Left Handed Aria Electric Guitars
Aria Pro II STG 003 LH
£157.99 MSRP
Specs:
- NUMBER OF STRINGS: 6
- BODY: Basswood
- BODY FINISH: 3-Tone Sunburst, Black
- SCALE: 25.5″ (648 mm)
- NECK: Bolt-on Maple
- FINGERBOARD: Stained Walnut with dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 9.5″ (240 mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 1.65″ (42 mm)
- FRETS: 22
- HARDWARE COLOR: Chrome
- BRIDGE PICKUP: OS-1 Single Coil
- MIDDLE PICKUP: OS-1 Single Coil
- NECK PICKUP: OS-1 Single Coil
- CONTROLS: Volume, 2x Tone, 5-Way Selector
Check price/availability at:
Aria Pro II STG 004 LH
£164.99 MSRP
Specs:
- NUMBER OF STRINGS: 6
- BODY: Basswood
- BODY FINISH: 3-Tone Sunburst
- SCALE: 25.5″ (648 mm)
- NECK: Bolt-on Maple
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 9.5″ (240 mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 1.65″ (42 mm)
- FRETS: 22
- HARDWARE COLOR: Chrome
- BRIDGE PICKUP: OH-1 Humbucker
- MIDDLE PICKUP: OS-1 Single Coil
- NECK PICKUP: OS-1 Single Coil
- CONTROLS: Volume, 1x Tone (Push/Pull Coil-tap), 1x Tone, 5-Way Selector
Check price/availability at:
Aria Pro II 714-MK2-L ‘Fullerton’
Also from the Hot Rod Collection, featuring a flamed maple top, roasted maple neck, and alnico-5 pickups, available in Marble White finish.
£345.99 MSRP
Specs:
- NUMBER OF STRINGS: 6
- BODY: Poplar
- TOP: Flamed Maple
- BODY FINISH: Turqoise Blue
- SCALE: 25.5″ (648 mm)
- NECK: Heel-less Bolt-on Roasted Maple with Spoke Wheel Truss Rod
- FINGERBOARD: Roasted Maple with dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 9.5″ (240 mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 1.65″ (42 mm)
- FRETS: 22
- HARDWARE COLOR: Chrome
- BRIDGE: Wilkinson WOV06
- BRIDGE PICKUP: CPH-1 “Classic Power II” (Alnico-5)
- MIDDLE PICKUP: OS-5 (Alnico-5)
- NECK PICKUP: OS-5 (Alnico-5)
- CONTROLS: Volume, Tone (Push/Pull Coil-tap), 5-Way Selector
Check price/availability at:
Aria Pro II 615-MK2-L ‘Nashville’
Part of the Hot Rod Collection, this guitar boasts a flamed maple top, roasted maple neck, and three alnico-5 pickups, available in Turquoise Blue finish.
£364.99 MSRP
Specs:
- NUMBER OF STRINGS: 6
- BODY: Poplar
- TOP: Flamed Maple
- BODY FINISH: Turqoise Blue
- SCALE: 25.5″ (648 mm)
- NECK: Heel-less Bolt-on Roasted Maple with Spoke Wheel Truss Rod
- FINGERBOARD: Roasted Maple with dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 9.5″ (240 mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 1.65″ (42 mm)
- FRETS: 22
- HARDWARE COLOR: Chrome
- BRIDGE: Wilkinson WOT03
- BRIDGE PICKUP: TB-5 (Alnico-5)
- MIDDLE PICKUP: OS-5 (Alnico-5)
- NECK PICKUP: TN-5 (Alnico-5)
- CONTROLS: Volume, Tone, 3-Way Switch
Check price/availability at:
Aria Pro II DM-206-L
A modern take on the classic ’60s DM series, featuring mini-humbucker pickups and a wrap-around bridge.
It takes inspiration from the Mosrite Ventures model, or a Univox Hi Flyer, which was itself inspired by the Mosrite.
£419.99 MSRP
Specs:
- NUMBER OF STRINGS: 6
- BODY: Basswood
- BODY FINISH: 3-Tone Sunburst
- SCALE: 24.75″ (628 mm)
- NECK: Maple with Spoke Wheel Truss Rod
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (305 mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 1.65″ (42 mm)
- FRETS: 21
- HARDWARE COLOR: Chrome
- BRIDGE: ATW-2 wrap-around bridge
- BRIDGE PICKUP: AMH-1 (Mini-Humbucker)
- NECK PICKUP: AMH-1 (Mini-Humbucker)
- CONTROLS: Volume, Tone, 3-Way Switch
Check price/availability at:
One to Consider For a Project?
£399.99 MSRP
THIS IS NOT A LEFT HANDED GUITAR!
This is a right handed model from Aria’s Tribute Collection, the 714-JH ‘Fullerton’, which is inspired by guitar hero Jimi Hendrix. This guitar is made up of a lefty body, but everything is flipped and fitted with right handed parts. If you had the desire or inclination, you could modify this guitar and convert it to a left handed guitar with relative ease.
Check price/availability at:
Left Handed Aria Electric Bass Guitars
There are nearly thirty electric bass models available from Aria. However, there is only one lefty model available:
Aria Pro II DMB-206-L
A bass guitar that inherits the heritage of the original sixties’ DM series, updated with modern specifications to suit contemporary players’ needs.
Its short scale and smaller body are perfect for players with smaller hands.
£439.99 MSRP
Specs:
- NUMBER OF STRINGS: 4
- BODY: Basswood
- BODY FINISH: 3-Tone Sunburst
- SCALE: 25.5″ (648 mm)
- NECK: Maple with Spoke Wheel Truss Rod
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (305 mm)
- NUT WIDTH: 1.5″ (38 mm)
- FRETS: 20
- HARDWARE COLOR: Chrome
- BRIDGE: VFB-1C
- BRIDGE PICKUP: AMH-1B (Mini-Humbucker)
- NECK PICKUP: AMH-1B (Mini-Humbucker)
- CONTROLS: Volume, Tone, 3-Way Switch
Check price/availability at:
Left Handed Aria Acoustic Guitars
Although there are almost forty right handed Aria models, there are no left handed versions available at the time of writing.
Left Handed Aria Acoustic Bass Guitars
There are currently three right handed Aria acoustic basses. None of them are available left handed at present.
Left Handed Aria Classical Guitars
Even though Aria makes nineteen classical guitar models, none of them are made as left handed versions at the time of writing.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a left-handed guitarist seeking quality and affordability, Aria guitars are a solid choice. With a rich history of craftsmanship and a diverse range of models, Aria offers instruments that cater to various musical styles and preferences. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to add to your collection, Aria provides options that deliver both performance and value.
Photo credits: ariaguitarsglobal.com and the Aria Guitars Facebook Page