Aria Proll/Tree of Life Reviews

Aria Proll/Tree of Life submitted 11/17/2007 Submitter HD&RB4 (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased Boones Mill,Va Year Purchased 1976 Price Paid 595.00 ($US) Sound I 've had this Banjo since 76 bought it new it gets listed wrong on most websites.it is a Proll with the vine up the neck .They called it the tree of life but it's still a Proll.I love to play it it has a very mellow tone not as loud as my RB4 but if you ever get a chance at one I don't think you'll be sorry Sound Rating 9 Setup Setup?in 1976 you took it out of the case and if you wanted it to play better then,you better get crackin.I put a new bridge on it ,adjusted the head ,replaced the top nut(strings were to high)and still use Vega light strings on it Setup Rating 5 Appearance To a 16 year old kid who'd been playing a Harmony Banjo for 2 years.this was the most beutiful banjo I'd ever seen most of the banjos you saw were a collection of Walnut and mahogany and heres this banjo with a maple neck and pot ,gibson style neck with vine inlay and it was 1/3 the price of a RB250 I sold Veal Calves for money $50-60 dollars each time so I had $600 I could have bought a car to drive Didn't get a car till I was 20 Appearance Rating 10 Reliability It's held up great through the years.Aria had made some really good quality Guitars and like Yamaha were trying to get into the american market by offering a Great quality banjo that had the Gibson look at a price that was affordable Reliability Rating 10 Customer Service The Warrenty was a year ........I think it ran out Customer Service not rated Components the Bridge I think it was pine (Laughing) That thing sagged like a 2x4 with a truck sitting on it .but the rest of it ,the fit and finish will always be a 10 Components Rating 10 Overall Comments overall I don't think you'll find a better banjo for the price .Your gonna get a banjo that souds great with 30 year old wood thats built like a tank and I would think by now has all the bugs out of it Overall Rating 10