Aria's a good brand, when I was a kid in the early 80s they were just as well regarded as other Japanese brands like Ibanez and Washburn. Of course Ibanez then came up with the Jem/RG and went stratospheric, Washburn kept totally changing their line but stayed reasonably well known... but Aria stayed fairly obscure. I suppose they've never really had big name endorsers (I can only think of Gerry Cott from the Boomtown Rats!).
Like those other brands, Aria have instuments build in different locations covering a huge price range, and I don't know where the Excel series fitted in. But it must be a good deal at that price. :)
