Aria Pro II PE Series: Japan’s Legendary Les Paul-Style Icon

The Aria Pro II PE is Japan’s own take on the Les Paul-style guitar: developed by Aria with the Matsumoku factory, it became a true Japanese vintage classic. This guide covers how the PE-1500 started it all, what makes a PE a PE, the PE-R80, Neal Schon’s custom model and the PE series today. For the brand as a whole, see the Aria Pro II guide.

Prefer to watch? This article is based on my own video below.

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1976: How the PE-1500 Started It All

The story goes back to Aria’s founder, Shiro Arai, who had seen the Les Paul up close on trips to the US. Rather than build one more copy, he wanted Aria to make something original, and the job went to the Matsumoku factory, which built Aria’s guitars.

The result was the PE-1500, designed by Matsumoku’s Nobuaki Hayashi. According to the period catalog, it was announced in October 1976 as the first model of “The Aria Pro II Prototype Line” and became the leader of the PE (Pro Electric) series. Its headstock read “Designed and Approved by H. Noble,” putting the designer’s name front and center, which was almost unheard of on a Japanese guitar.

When the PE-1500 reached America it sold for around $850, more than the roughly $800 a Les Paul Custom cost at the time. That price says a lot about how seriously Aria took it.

What Makes a PE a PE

Two features defined the PE-1500 and then the whole series: the carved top and the heel-less cutaway.

So the PE looks Gibson-inspired, but the original one plays partly like a Fender. That mix is a big part of why it doesn’t feel like just another Japanese Les Paul copy.

Early 1980s: The PE-R Series and PE-R80

After the PE-1000, PE-800 and PE-600 joined the line, the PE-R series arrived at the start of the 1980s. The famous PE-R80 brought the design closer to a traditional Les Paul, with a 24.75-inch medium scale and a two-volume, two-tone layout. Many players see it as the high point of the PE.

The original PE and the PE-R side by side. Image: Aria Pro II catalogs (1979 and 1980)

In the mid-1980s, the hard rock and metal boom also brought Kahler-equipped versions such as the PE-R80KV.

Neal Schon: The PE’s Most Famous Player

The most famous PE player is Neal Schon of Journey. He played a custom PE with a built-in guitar synthesizer unit, and a version of his custom model was later sold to the public, often with a flame maple top.

In this 1983 Aria Pro II ad, Schon says the PE is always his main guitar on stage, and that of all his PEs he especially likes the ones fitted with a Kahler tremolo.

The Aria Pro II PE Series Today

The PE series is still alive today, with many modern variations. Japan-made reissues of models such as the PE-1500, PE-R80 and PE-R100 sit at the top, while more affordable imported PEs keep the carved top and heel-less cutaway at a lower price.

Which Aria Pro II PE Should You Buy?

Vintage PE-1500

Go for this if you want the original 25.5-inch, Fender-feel PE with the H. Noble headstock.

Vintage PE-R80

Go for this if you want the most Les Paul-like PE from the Matsumoku era.

Japan-Made Reissues

Go for these if you want the PE design new, without the condition questions of a 40-year-old guitar.

Final Thoughts

To me, the PE is the clearest example of Japanese makers moving beyond copies. It borrowed the Les Paul’s silhouette, then mixed in a Fender scale and a heel-less cutaway to become something of its own. What’s your favorite Japanese Les Paul-style guitar? You can compare the copy side of the story in Japanese Les Paul Copies: Tokai vs Greco vs Burny.

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