The mission started out with research into the material that has been used for instrument building since time immemorial: wood. Studies of different types of top quality wood led to a technical study of cell structures and the mutual differences between them. By answering the question, “What happens to a sound wave in a material at cell level?” it was subsequently possible to design the ideal cell structure.
It soon became clear that, if this material could be developed, it would have acoustic properties that no one would have thought possible before. The material would have the kind of resonance that even the best piece of wood in the world could only deliver in an instrument maker’s wildest dreams.
Result
Fifteen years of research led to a tonematerial with amazing acoustic features. The possibility to build an one-piece construction combined with the unique cell-structure of the material resulted in a revolutionary property: the sound waves could resonate three dimensional without any disruption throughout the whole instrument.
The mission was accomplished and Arium is the result.
Aristides OIO & O5O
In January 2010, Aristides presented the OIO to an international audience at the NAMM tradeshow in Los Angeles. The first version of the O5O bass guitar was also presented at that same show. The new factory in Amsterdam is currently in full production on both the OIO and the O5O.
The revolutionary Aristides guitars are made with dedication by carefully selected and experienced builders in our workshop based in Amsterdam. The building process of our instruments is a flawless combination of conventional working methods and the advanced technology used to create Arium.
Handmade Instruments
The process begins with applying layers of special materials done by a fully-trained guitar builder to protect the Arium. When every layer has the correct thickness the unique tonematerial Arium is added according to a unique and licensed method only known by Aristides and his master builders. After a refined surface treatment it getting prepared for the next steps in which we carefully apply the lacquer and install high-quality hardware and electronics.
