Something special

[paul, the]

I've just seen this on Ebay - it ends in just under 4 hours

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1981-ARIA-PRO-II-CARDINAL-CSB-380-BASS-MADE-IN-JAPAN_W0QQitemZ230137300436QQihZ013QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1981-ARIA-PRO-II-CAR...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]


It's a Medium scale passive (which the seller hasn't mentioned) bass. A three day listing with a reserve. So out of the few people that do see it, few of them will bid.

It's the first I've seen in the two months I've been looking. If I wasn't so happy with my p-special and full-scale in general, I would have a go for about £160 myself.


Here's a sound clip, it's certainly one of my favourites on the site:

[url="http://clanesb.free.fr/bass/fichiers/190420061741574f381a1ff4ffd4c3885de761cbb3b80a.mp3"]http://clanesb.free.fr/bass/fichiers/19042...761cbb3b80a.mp3[/url]

(http://sondebasse.c.la/)

---

Please let me know if this is the wrong place to post this sort of thing, or whether it should be in 'basses for sale' thread,

Cheers,

Paul.

Edited June 3, 2007 by paul, the

[Brother Jones]

I have this weird suspicion that the market in second hand or 'vintage' Matsumoko Arias is about to go bonkers...

Jones

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='Brother Jones' post='12646' date='Jun 5 2007, 07:43 PM']I have this weird suspicion that the market in second hand or 'vintage' Matsumoko Arias is about to go bonkers...
Jones[/quote]

It's been creeping up if prices on the 'bay are anything to go by, but bargains are still there to be had... for the moment.

Speaking of being had, I think these two are pushing the boundaries

Exhibit A: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-PRO-SB-R80-BASS-GUITAR-PADUK-RED_W0QQitemZ140125138165QQihZ004QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]SBR-80[/url] Probably the most desirable colour, but I take issue with the phrase "EVEN FURTHER IMPROVED WITH THE CUSTOM ADDITION OF 2 EMG ACTIVE PICKUPS , GIVING THIS GUITAR AN AMAZING PUNCH" (apologies for the shoutyness - cut 'n' paste). From my experience, one thing these do not lack is punch. Aaron Armstrong will do replica Pro II soapbars at £75 a pop, which makes the total a very borderline £350 + p&p for a Matt with a huge hole in its originality. No mention of case or bag either.

Exhibit B: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Guitar-Vintage-Aria-Pro-SB-60_W0QQitemZ220118499170QQihZ012QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]SB-60[/url]. One slight problem... "The only fault with this guitar is that the pickup isn't functioning properly which is I understand is quite common there is also a control knob missing" - so 400 notes is probably being a lot optimistic.

Pickup failure on the early SBs is not unheard of (my SB-1000 has suffered from this) and the early active circuitry is quite novel, issues anyone contemplating getting one of these beasties ought to be aware of.

No bids on either yet - I'm not overly surprised.

On the possible bargain front is [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-PRO-II-2-BASS-SUPERB-QUALITY-VINTAGE-AND-RARE_W0QQitemZ220118549443QQihZ012QQcategoryZ112668QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]this oddity[/url] - looks like a hybrid Aria/Vantage. Certainly in need of a bit of TLC, be interesting to see what it ends up at.

Pete.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='12734' date='Jun 5 2007, 11:02 PM']On the possible bargain front is [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-PRO-II-2-BASS-SUPERB-QUALITY-VINTAGE-AND-RARE_W0QQitemZ220118549443QQihZ012QQcategoryZ112668QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]this oddity[/url] - looks like a hybrid Aria/Vantage. Certainly in need of a bit of TLC, be interesting to see what it ends up at.

Pete.[/quote]
Been GASing in that thing's general direction myself - it doesn't appear in any of the Aria catalogues or listings on Matsumoku.org - but I have seen one before. Back in the 80s I was big into a band called The Armoury Show - their bassist, Russell Webb, played the exact same thing. Sounded great, too.

Just did a bit of digging & found a pic:

[attachment=468:armouryshowbass.jpg]

Jon.

[paul, the]

I don't really see the Aria Pro IIs going up in value. Except perhaps the SB range. I don't think people really took them seriously. I've read reviews with serious artists taking them into studios and then getting laughed at (I think it happened with The Pixies with the CSB-380, although I don't have a source). They're brilliant instruments that will probably always be priced below their worth. Although that pleases me because beginner and intermediate bassists will be able to afford something of quality - which is far more humbling than something like investment potential. It's just a shame they don't get the recognition they deserve.


[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='12734' date='Jun 5 2007, 11:02 PM']On the possible bargain front is [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-PRO-II-2-BASS-SUPERB-QUALITY-VINTAGE-AND-RARE_W0QQitemZ220118549443QQihZ012QQcategoryZ112668QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]this oddity[/url] - looks like a hybrid Aria/Vantage. Certainly in need of a bit of TLC, be interesting to see what it ends up at.

Pete.[/quote]

That's the [url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/catalogs/78_pb1500_slick/78_pb1500_slick.jpg.html"]PB-1500[/url]. I saw one on Ebay that sold for £158.

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='paul, the' post='12770' date='Jun 5 2007, 11:45 PM']They're brilliant instruments that will probably always be priced below their worth. Although that pleases me because beginner and intermediate bassists will be able to afford something of quality - which is far more humbling than something like investment potential. It's just a shame they don't get the recognition they deserve.
That's the [url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/catalogs/78_pb1500_slick/78_pb1500_slick.jpg.html"]PB-1500[/url]. I saw one on Ebay that sold for £158.[/quote]

Well... They're all over,

The PB 1500 went for a tad over £160, which seems very reasonable
The SB-R80 fetched up at £250 - probably not too sad considering that the EMGs should have a fair resale value (which I admit to overlooking previously)

And the star prize.... No Bids for the £400 non-functioning SB-60. Now there's a surprise.

In other news, your correspondent kept schtum about a relisted SB-900, and as a consequence I now owe a nice man in Brum some money - pics when it arrives.

Pete.